I'm getting around to chain hooks on my bucket (or perhaps on my pallet forks, still considering).
In the USA there are a lot of options, and in particular bolt on hooks. In NZ there doesn't seem to be the same range.
I'm seeking a bit of advice on what sort of chain hook I'd need. In my mind I probably need two hooks, one either side of either the bucket or the fork frame. That then would let me loop chain around something and back to the bucket.
I see hooks like this that are inexpensive. They need to be welded on, and my welding skills aren't brilliant. But I can weld and grind and weld and grind and weld until I get something strong enough. It doesn't have to be super pretty I guess.
Obviously the risk there is that I weld badly, it breaks off, and I drop something or hurt myself. I'm pretty careful in not having people near when lifting things, and the things I lift are mainly things that would tolerate being dropped.....so probably a manageable risk.
Questions for the forum:
1. What is grade 70 chain - is that probably going to be the chain I already have? Is 7.3mm and 8mm also likely to be the chain I'm using (I have a few that I inherited in various ways, some thicker some thinner, are they probably 7.3mm and 8mm? Looks like that's probably 1/4 inch and 5/16 inch?)
2. How many hooks would people typically put on? I think I've seen three sometimes, but I'm not super keen on loading the centre of the bucket, so one each side in line with the cylinders seems more sensible.
3. I've seen both chain hooks and loops. The hooks seem more useful to me, but what do the people use?
4. Is there any benefit to bolt on (I could buy and ship out of the US, quite a bit more expensive though), or is that just a solution for people who can't weld and/or don't want to have to touch up their paint?
5. Do people have thoughts about chain hooks on your bucket v's on your pallet fork frame? I care less about my pallet forks, so I probably prefer to use them for things like chains that scratch up the paint. But in reality my bucket is on more often, and I've never actually used chains with the pallet forks - I always seem to have the bucket on when I'm doing chain things. My pallet forks are also much more light duty than the bucket. Perhaps the real answer is to mount on both? For pallet forks my main thought is to not put the hooks in a place where they reach out and bite me as I walk past, otherwise probably just low and inside the fork frame.
Thanks for any advice or thoughts.
In the USA there are a lot of options, and in particular bolt on hooks. In NZ there doesn't seem to be the same range.
I'm seeking a bit of advice on what sort of chain hook I'd need. In my mind I probably need two hooks, one either side of either the bucket or the fork frame. That then would let me loop chain around something and back to the bucket.
I see hooks like this that are inexpensive. They need to be welded on, and my welding skills aren't brilliant. But I can weld and grind and weld and grind and weld until I get something strong enough. It doesn't have to be super pretty I guess.
Obviously the risk there is that I weld badly, it breaks off, and I drop something or hurt myself. I'm pretty careful in not having people near when lifting things, and the things I lift are mainly things that would tolerate being dropped.....so probably a manageable risk.
Questions for the forum:
1. What is grade 70 chain - is that probably going to be the chain I already have? Is 7.3mm and 8mm also likely to be the chain I'm using (I have a few that I inherited in various ways, some thicker some thinner, are they probably 7.3mm and 8mm? Looks like that's probably 1/4 inch and 5/16 inch?)
2. How many hooks would people typically put on? I think I've seen three sometimes, but I'm not super keen on loading the centre of the bucket, so one each side in line with the cylinders seems more sensible.
3. I've seen both chain hooks and loops. The hooks seem more useful to me, but what do the people use?
4. Is there any benefit to bolt on (I could buy and ship out of the US, quite a bit more expensive though), or is that just a solution for people who can't weld and/or don't want to have to touch up their paint?
5. Do people have thoughts about chain hooks on your bucket v's on your pallet fork frame? I care less about my pallet forks, so I probably prefer to use them for things like chains that scratch up the paint. But in reality my bucket is on more often, and I've never actually used chains with the pallet forks - I always seem to have the bucket on when I'm doing chain things. My pallet forks are also much more light duty than the bucket. Perhaps the real answer is to mount on both? For pallet forks my main thought is to not put the hooks in a place where they reach out and bite me as I walk past, otherwise probably just low and inside the fork frame.
Thanks for any advice or thoughts.
