Simple basic beam lifting clamps

[Frank S]

In getting ready to raise the top plate beams for my shop I needed a pair of clamps of beam hooks to hang from my spreader bar to assist in safely lifting the 68ft long beams
the clamps are made from 3 x5 x3/8" angle iron and 5/8 sucker rod





they don't match but hanging from a chain who cares as long as they do the job I wasn't about to spend a lot of time on them anyway.

[DIYer]

Thanks Frank S! We've added your Beam Clamps to our Clamps category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Beam Clamps by Frank S

tags: clamp

[jdurand]

For anyone going to copy these, be aware these wouldn't be good for heavy loads without something to keep them closed. For general shop use they're fine with some care in use.

Common would be running thread run through both sides and a spacer at the bottom so you can snug them up to the beam. This way it doesn't fall off right when you have your head under the load.

Here's a commercial clamp for ideas...

[Frank S]

For anyone going to copy these, be aware these wouldn't be good for heavy loads without something to keep them closed. For general shop use they're fine with some care in use.

Common would be running thread run through both sides and a spacer at the bottom so you can snug them up to the beam. This way it doesn't fall off right when you have your head under the load.

Here's a commercial clamp for ideas...

Your looking at it upside down the clamps at not for hanging under the beam they are lifting the beam the weight of the beam plus the curvature of the loop maks them next to impossible to come unhooked while lifting
as you can see they will not come unhooked even when the beam rolls over while lifting

[jdurand]

Ah, sorry. When I hear beam clamp I immediately think of hanging things FROM beams. In that case a loose clamp has the nasty habit of falling off.

[Toolmaker51]

Lifting or hanging, beam clamps are reliable simple mechanisms. What makes them work accordingly differs; one being sufficiently sized could do either job. I'd hesitate same task with the other.
All of this shows what a little combination of resources, ingenuity and material can do. I'm convinced ingenuity the biggest factor of capability. Very often there is a moment twixt "this will work" and "we need something different".
During concept and execution both of those can avert "we should of..."

[mwmkravchenko]

Nice Frank. Simple, useful, and totally effective.

[Frank S]

Over the years I've probably made at least a hundred of them.
The best way ever inverted to carry beams on a forklift. You make the loops to fit the forks slide 1 or more over each fork then hook the beams carry as many beams as you have clamps for and they will never fall off or slip off to the side when you get where you need to place them you just lower to the ground and in hook no need to locate a 4x4 to put under the beam.
Yes it means the lard butt forklift driver has to actually do something but most of them need some exercise anyway.
I've made some that had a locking feature with a tether to unhook them from the ground actually safer than a pair of slings because there is no chance of roll over works great for hanging beams or lattice bar joists.
I've even made the big clamps for lifting those concrete jersey beams
Here is a picture of the cad drawings

[mwmkravchenko]

That's one hefty clamp!

Thanks Frank.

[Gadgeteer]

Love that nifty HF rod bender. I looked for one at HF, and was told they are, still, stuck on a container ship, off-shore from LA. Probably, not here in time for Christmas.