Hand Chain Hoist vs. Lever Hoist: Which Should You Use?
Hand chain hoist and lever hoist are two popular manual-operated hoist models. Find out when you should use one over the other.
Transcript
Introduction: Choosing the Right Manual Hoist
– Manual hoists and pullers are important lifting and rigging tools that are versatile and can help you accomplish many different tasks. So, how do you know which is the correct purchase for your needs, or how do you know when to use one or the other?
– My name’s Henry Brozyna. I am the Industrial Product Trainer for Columbus McKinnon. We’re here today to talk about some of the differences between a manual chain fall, in this case, the LHH-NC, and, of course, the lever tool that I have hanging here, which is an LSB-NC.
What Is a Hand Chain Hoist (Chain Fall)?
A chain hoist, or some people call them chain falls, are covered under B30.16. It’s a device that has gears in it that gives the operator a mechanical advantage to be able to lift very, very large loads, 10 tons and even upwards of 20 tons and higher with one individual all by hand.
What Is a Lever Hoist (Come Along)?
A lever hoist, also in the industry known as a come along or a puller, they’re covered under ASME B30.21. It does the same thing. It gives you a mechanical advantage. The mechanical advantage is in the lever itself. The longer the lever, the more leverage you get, you can move larger loads.
Smaller lever tools like the one I have here, this one incorporates a lever as well as gears. So it has two mechanical advantages that we’re working with, a lever and gears.
Chain Hoist vs Lever Hoist: Key Differences
The differences between the chain fall and the lever tool is how they operate. All right? This one has hand chain that comes off of it where the operator needs to pull the hand chain, and either the hook will either go up or it’ll come down.
On the lever tool, we actually need to operate the lever itself, and in this case, there’s a smaller lever up here near the knob where we can go from, in this case, it’s in the up direction. We can go into neutral, which basically means the chain is in neutral, and I can literally pull on it like so. All right? And then of course we can put it in the other direction, which means now it’ll go in the down direction, but I need to operate the handle in order to do that.
Best Use Cases for Chain Hoists
Chain hoists are used in a multitude of areas. Anywhere you can use an electric hoist, you can use a chain fall. The difference here is one, I don’t need any power for this. If you are looking to pick up a load and then position it just in such a particular spot, in other words, you want some precise positioning, a chain fall comes in handy simply because how fast this chain fall goes is how fast can I pull on this hand chain. A powered unit, once you hit the button, it’s operating at a certain speed. This guy here, I can control the speed.
Best Use Cases for Lever Hoists
Lever tools are known as come-alongs or even pullers. They are built to a hoist standard. So they are technically a hoist. They are a lifting device. This lever tool here can be used horizontally, could be used vertically.
This guy here, the chain fall itself, primarily it’s being used vertically, but you could use it horizontally. Dealing with a hand chain in the horizontal position is a challenge, I’ll put it that way, all right? Whereas on the lever tool, we don’t have a hand chain hanging free. We just have that lever. So primarily in the horizontal position, I would gravitate towards a lever tool. If you’re just trying to pull the load, well then obviously a lever tool would be the way to go.
How To Choose: Chain Fall vs. Come Along
If you’re going to lift something, you can go with either one. If you’ve got plenty of room, nothing’s obstructing you, a chain fall would probably be a good way to go.
If you are in an area where it’s tight quarters, maybe you don’t have a whole lot of room, a lever tool might be the way you want to go. These are good for tight quarters. If you’re working at different types of angles, lever tools are good for that as well.
You know, are you going to mount it to a trolley or some other anchor point in the ceiling or on a beam? If you have, say, a 10-foot ceiling, that means my lever’s up there too; you’re going to go with a chain fall like this because the lever will be out of your reach. Obviously, unless I’m a giant, that’s going to be a little bit difficult.
As far as application goes, if you have plenty of headroom space and you plan on maybe leaving the hoist there for a while because maybe it’s some kind of a job site and you’re going to be there for a week, two weeks, three weeks, whatever it may be, but the important part is you got headroom, a chain fall like this would work out perfectly.
If you plan on moving the unit around from point to point, doing various loads from different locations, and you do have very limited headroom space, then I would suggest going more with a lever tool.
One of the, I’ll say, disadvantages of a lever tool is that they are traditionally not very fast. Chain falls, manual chain hoists, as fast as you can move your hands, that’s how fast the load’s going to go up with the hand chain. With the lever tool, you’ll see that this one, I’m going in the down direction. You can see it’s not going down very, very quickly, all right? It’s going to take its sweet old time.
Where to Buy Manual Hoists + Get Expert Help
So either of these hoists are available through our distributors like Mazzella. Mazzella’s got access to all of these, so if you have any questions, talk to their sales personnel.
Whenever you’re trying to decide whether to go with a chain fall or a lever tool, manual products in general, talk to someone, talk to a sales individual. They’re there, they have the knowledge, they can help you decide which product to go with because they’re going to know the questions to ask. We want to get the customer what they actually need, and that’ll go a long way to having a much happier and safer work environment and a much happier customer.
– Choosing the correct tool for the job is important not only to your safety but the safety of those around you. We understand that it’s not always easy to determine which is the best piece of equipment for your needs. That’s why our experts at Mazzella are standing by to help talk you through all of your rigging needs.
We have a huge supply of hoists, whether you’re looking for chain falls, come alongs, or electric hoists, not to mention, we can help you with rigging, wire rope, overhead cranes, lifting devices, inspections, service, and training.
If you found this video useful, informative, entertaining, or you just feel like being friendly, then hit that Like button so we can get this information out to everyone who needs it. Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a video. If you have a question, drop it in the comments so we can get you an answer. Remember, safe rigging is smart ring. My name is Ben. Stay safe out there.
Any overhead crane system relies on a hoist to lift and lower a load. Riggers also rely on hoisting tools to accomplish difficult lifting and winching tasks.
But as you go through your research process, you will see many different hoist configurations out there, ranging in size, shape, and price.
For some applications, the best option will be manual-operated hoists, and the two most popular options are hand chain hoists and lever hoists. While they have a similar purpose, each model has its advantages, disadvantages, and ideal applications to consider. So, how do you know which is the correct device for your application. When should you use one over the other?
Mazzella has partnered with some of the most respected hoist manufacturers in the industry, and our article will inform you on the following topics:
- How Can You Decide Between a Chain Hoists and Lever Hoist?
- What Industry Standards Impact Hand Chain Hoists and Lever Hoists?
What Is a Hand Chain Hoist?
A hand chain hoist, sometimes called a chain block or a chain fall, is an overhead hoist that uses a metal chain to vertically lift and lower loads and gives operators a mechanical advantage to lift heavy material.
Chain hoists are highly regarded for their durability, affordable prices, low maintenance, and ergonomic design. These factors make them a popular option for construction and excavation companies, but they can be used in many other industries and applications, like repair shops, warehouses, and barns.
Anywhere you can use an electric hoist, you can use a chain fall, but they are especially useful for environments without reliable power or electricity.
Because there’s no drum on a chain hoist, it’s more compact, making it easy to store and great for applications with little room. And, since the hoist can be dismantled with simple hand tools, it’s easy to inspect and repair. Typical capacities for a hand chain hoist range from 1/4-ton to 50-ton.
What are the Benefits of a Hand Chain Hoist?
Easy to Operate
Their simple design makes hand chain hoist an easy tool for any rigger to use, regardless of their experience level. Plus, the hoist allows riggers to lift and move heavy loads without much manual labor, reducing the chances of injuries and creating a safer work environment.
For example, Columbus McKinnon’s Coffing LHH Hand Chain Hoist has lubricated bearings and heat-treated gearing that ensures smooth lifts without much effort.
Increased Durability
While they are designed to be portable and lightweight, hand chain hoists are also built to withstand demanding environments. Their hardened load chain provides increased resistance and chain lift compared to a wire rope. Some chains are zinc-plated for extra durability. The hoist’s body is also made from a combination of cast aluminum and steel for extra durability.
What Is a Lever Hoist?
A lever hoist, also referred to as a come along or puller, is a popular manual lever-operated device that uses a cranking lever and gears to give operators leverage when lifting or pulling a load. Lever hoists can be fitted with different sized levers as well. The longer the lever, the more leverage you will get, but shorter levers will benefit riggers working in smaller spaces.
Lever hoists are great for the precise moving and positioning of heavy loads, like setting pipes in manholes and moving steel beams at a construction site. Lever hoists can be used in vertical lifting and horizontal pulling applications, making them great for multiple industries and applications. The typical capacity range for lever hoists is from 1/2-ton to 9-ton.
Where are Lever Hoists Used?
The lever hoists’ compact design makes it a great option for tight, confined spaces, especially those with low ceiling room. Lever hoists are most effective in horizontal pulling applications.
Lever hoists come in a variety of sizes and models, making them great for multiple applications. Like hand chain hoists, they’re popular on construction sites and iron work sites, but they can also be used in:
- Mining operations
- Iron work
- Offshore oil production
- Petroleum production sites
- Ship building
- Utility work and maintenance
- Steel fabrication
How Can You Decide Between a Chain Hoists and Lever Hoist?
A chain hoist and lever hoist were built with the same purpose in mind: to help workers lift heavy loads without exerting much manual labor. But there are several questions you should answer before using one, including:
What Is Your Application?
Dealing with the hand chain in the horizontal position is a challenge because of the excess chain hanging free. So, in the horizontal position, you would want to use a lever tool. But if needed, you can use a hand chain hoist—just be extra cautious about the working load limit.
If you are lifting a heavy load vertically, a chain block is your best option.
How Much Headroom Is Available?
What kind of headroom are you working with? If you have plenty of headroom, a chain fall will be the ideal choice, whereas low ceiling environments are better suited for lever hoist.
Also, are you going to mount the system to a trolley? Are you going to mount it to a swivel hoist ring fastened to an I-beam, or an anchor point in the ceiling? You’ll also want to consider those regarding height.
Will You Be Moving the Hoist?
If you plan on moving the unit from point to point at a job site, lifting various loads from different locations, a lever tool would be a good choice. If you have a job where you’re going to leave the lifting equipment there for a while, consecutive days or weeks, and it needs to be mounted from a fairly high point, you will want to consider a chain fall.
What Industry Standards Impact Hand Chain Hoists and Lever Hoists?
Hand chain hoists and lever hoists fall under different ASME standards. Lever hoists fall under ASME B30.21 standards, which covers testing and inspection requirements. Whether your lever hoist is new or has been repaired, it must pass an operational and load test to ensure the device is compliant.
Meanwhile, hand chain hoists adhere to ASME B30.16 Overhead Underhung and Stationary Hoists. This standard gives guidance on many components, including hoist testing.
How Can You Purchase an Overhead Hoist?
A big part of creating safe work environments is picking the right equipment. And if you’re deciding between a chain fall or lever hoist, we hope this article explained when to use one over the other.
Manual-operated hoists are great for multiple reasons. They are affordable, great for temporary applications, and ideal for environments without reliable energy sources. To pick the right tool for your next project:
- Consider your application
- Evaluate the environment’s headroom space
- Determine if the hoist will be stationary or not
- Are you hoisting or pulling?
It’s also important to remember that you are sacrificing lifting speed when choosing any manual chain hoists. If you need faster lifting speeds—and have suitable electric power—you may want to consider an electric, air, or pneumatic hoist. You would also want to consider electric, air, or pneumatic hoists if you are lifting heavier loads.
If you’re still unsure on which to use, reach out to one of Mazzella’s Rigging Specialists. They can help you decide which product to go with because they have decades of experience helping companies of all industries and sizes.
Mazzella is also a proud Columbus McKinnon distributor, one of the largest hoist manufacturing companies in the United States. Contact one of our Sales Representatives to purchase one for your organization.
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