Chain sling use and fab? Anybody tried this?

[Kingcreek]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DA...cm_sp=IO-_-IDP-_-RR_VTV70300505&cm_vc=IDPRRZ1
I saw one of these hanging in my uncles garage and I thought it looked useful. I asked him about it but he had never used it.
I'm thinking of fabbing one up from a piece of heavy plate.
Anybody with experience or thoughts?

 

[olthumpa]

As your uncle has never used his, offer to store it safely for him or see what he will sell it to you for.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I personally think strap slings are safer and do less damage to anything you need to lift.
And they are a heck of a lot cheaper!

 

[FTG-05]

Notice the use of Grade 80 chains, typical for over head lifting operations. That, and the over head lifting certifications are why these type of slings are so expensive.

A couple of china-mart or tractor-mart slings don't have the same safety margins and are certainly not certified for over head lifting.

But whatever works.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I used to use something like that but bigger when I was a wrecker driver, they worked great to help over turn and upright vehicals. Beyond that I've never really had a use for a chain basket.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've got extra chain laying around and was just thinking about plasma cutting a piece of 3/8 or 7/16 plate. It would only be used for lifting with the FEL so nothing over head or over 1100 pounds but it would be a way to lift with 2 points and keep it level.

 

[Toolchaser]

The ones I've used were forged, if you make one out of plate stock, it will probably be more likely to bend. That being said, they are very handy for leveling an out of balance load