come alongs or cable pullers

[Daver]

Hi, I am looking to buy something to raise the post and beam walls but I don't want to overspend... Before I spend $184.00 for a Maasdam 6000S 3 ton comealong is there another type that would work to raise a 8x8 post and beam wall 18ft long x 14ft high. Any tips are appreciated..

[Buzz-sawyer]

How about 2 hefty pulleys and a length of cable hooked to your truck......I pulled a tractor out of a ditch on a hills side this way at an idle speed .

[Daver]

Hi I don't have space for the truck I will be using trees to pull from... Thanks! anyway..

Dave

[Buzz-sawyer]

Well , then a GOOD come along never goes out of style you can use it the rest of your life, and you sure want something solid holding your frame :D

Is your structure comepletely surounded by trees, for over 25'? you can go at right angles to lift with cable out as far as is reasonable.....

put the pulley where you plan to put come along, then back to the truck......
Get some pics and show of the fun ;)

[Daver]

I have pics in the "raising the walls section in the same discussion list... Take a look.. You can't see the trees but they are in the brush a little...

[Jim_Rogers]

Dave:
I think I just went to either Wal-Mart or Home Depot and got the one they had on hand. You really don't need anything that great or strong because if the load exceeds the strength of one come-a-long you use two in tandem.
the way to figure it out is do the math and figure your board-foot totals of all the timbers in the bent you intend to raise and then multiply by 2.92 pounds per board foot for pine and 5.75 for oak. If you have some other types of wood let me know and I'll look in my chart and see how much they weigh.
Then once you've got that total you can subtract about 1/2 to 2/3's as the feet of the posts are on the ground and you aren't truly lifting them up into the air, your just pulling them upright. I'm sure the rating on one come-a-long will not exceed 1/2 to 1/3 the total weigh of your bents but again if it does just buy two they're not that expensive.
Also, after you have the first bent up and braced and have inserted the girts to and braced them, move the kickers over to the other bent before you try and pull that one up. Also, you probably shouldn't pull it up by hooking to the standing bent. You should follow your plan to use a nearby tree.
Be sure to figure your lengths correctly so that you will have enough "travel" of the cable out of and into the come-a-long.
After I send you a private email, Daver, I went and found my 2-ton come-a-long still in the box brand new. The box has a tag on it $19.95. Again I'm not sure if it's a home depot tag or a Walmart tag, but you shouldn't be paying that much more for a three ton come-a-long.
Look around your area at different handling equipment stores before you buy one for that much money.
And when I say you them in tandem, I mean side by side or one on the left and one on the right, not both in the same line.
I can draw you a diagram if you need one.
Good luck.
Jim Rogers

[Jim_Mc_Dade]

hi, the masdam pullers are a quality product. I use them in the fence business and they hold up and you can get replacement parts.

[hillbilly]

                I'm sure that your walls are'nt heavy enough to pull over your trees but be carefull and watch them if you hook up very high on them.
                lots of rain,wet muddy ground and just the right amount of leverage ;D accidents do happen.
                 hillbilly    

[Daver]

I got two comealongs for $26 they should do the job. I appreciate all your advices.. I will be raising it toomorow... Hope it goes well...  

Dave

[Furby]

Not sure how you are doing your rigging, but the proper way would be to hook the cable or strap low to the ground, as low as possible. Then use a pole (can't think of the term) to raise the angle of the pull. The strap would come off the base of the tree, go up and over the pole, and back down to the wall. The pole needs to be a sturdy one and braced on the ground so it don't slip. It should still be able to swing as the wall goes up. It will take a lot of force to pull the wall up on a straight pull. Ya never know about those trees either.

It's actually pretty easy to raise something with this method, once you figure things out. They raise antennas and other towers this way, and pull with a truck. That would keep you from running out of line with the come along.

[Daver]

Would two two by sixes nailed together work?

[Furby]

If that's what ya have, give it a try but have a back up ready just in case.  ;) If you have three of them you could make an H shape, like an I-beam. Might be stronger, and have less flex. The first part of the lift puts the most stress on every thing, no matter what method you use. If your pair of 2x6's starts bowing real bad under the strain, back off and regroup.
You also need to keep the strap or cable from slipping off the top of the pole.

If it was me, no matter how I tried to lift it (well unless it was a crane or something  : ) I'd go up a little and then place some sawhorses  or something under it and reassess the situation. NEVER get under the wall, EVER!!!!!!

Also be prepared so that you don't go "up and over"! Had that problem with a truss yesterday...........it don't work!  ;)

[Jim_Rogers]

There are many methods and rigging that will lift a bent.
One set of poles or timbers is called a set of shear legs. One single pole is called a "gin" pole.
To raise a gin pole sometimes a raising pole is used.
Careful research and planning are needed in order to attempt using any one of these methods.
I agree on being careful that you don't pull your tree out of the ground, and about placing some sawhorses under the frame once it's high enough to slip them under.
Additional temporary bracing can be added from the outsides to hold any bent part way raised while rigging is re-adjusted, if necessary. But you should try and plan to pull from start to finish in one continuous pull.
And again I agree on having a safety rope to prevent pulling over to far. And to maintain tension on all safety ropes until temporary bracing is attached.
Work safely.
Jim Rogers

[JoeyLowe]

Just my two cents worth here.  Sometimes it makes good sense to just bite the bullet, break open the wallet and spend a little bit of money to do something safely.  For instance, raising a bent will be one of the most dangerous things you will do in timber framing.  Unless you are very experienced and have plenty of help and the RIGHT equipment, you may get hurt or worse, DEAD.  

The expense of a crane is relative.  If the bents are large or numerous, then the crane costs more.  If the bents are smaller in size and number, then the crane costs less.  Either way, the expense of a crane pales in comparision to a lengthy stay in the hospital.

Have you checked into what it would cost to rent a crane and operator around your parts?  Here in Texas, you can expect to spend anywhere between $45 - $150.00 per hour depending on the size and time needed.  

One other thought, you have probably spent a lot of time and effort to cut out and join your bents.  It would be a shame to risk breaking them during the raising.  If you are bent (no pun intended :D) on raising the bents with a gin pole or shear legs or with the use of trees (pretty risky in my eyes), then get the proper hands-on training from some one who knows how to do this.

To borrow a phrase from an old TV show, "Let's be careful out there!"  Okay, I'm climbing down off of my soapbox and putting it away now.

Have fun and be safe!

[Daver]

An update,  I have raised one side yesterday, I used a homemade Gin pole out of a 2x6 + 2x4 nailed together then I cut a "v" in the top of it so the cable stayed in place. I was a bit nervous because I don't like dealing with this kind of weights.. I used my 2 comealongs one after another... Amazingly it all worked so far.. I was able to attach the three cross beams for the second floor and that is supported by my temporaray framing, and of course I nailed braces.. I have to make some small adjustments on one brace... But it was amazing to see it all come together so well... But before I get too happy I have the other wall to lift... I may do that Monday because I'll need to wait for another set of eyes to be with me... I don't feel comfortable doing it all by myself... So I will wait for monday.. Thanks again for your tips.. even your soapboxes I don't mind "a live dog is better than a dead lion"...

[Furby]

 8) 8) 8)