WHAT TYPE OF HOIST?

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  Electric Chain Hoists
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  Lever Hoists
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  Hand Chain Hoists
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  Air Chain Hoists
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  Hoist Accessories
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HOW TO CHOOSE A HOIST

Factors in Choosing a Hoist
 
Capacity
 
How much does the material you are trying to move weigh? Most of the time, this is a simple decision. Obviously, you don’t want to undersize your hoist, or choose a hoist that cannot safely lift the load. Another less obvious problem is oversizing your hoist. If your load is 750 lbs,  why not just buy a 1 ton hoist rather than a ½ ton if the price isn’t that much more?
 
This may be okay, but if you do decide to oversize the overhead hoist you choose, be sure to keep in mind that a high capacity hoist may weigh more, or have a larger frame size that could prove to be troublesome when it comes to installation. Make sure you have the clearance and capacity on the support structure!
 
Power
 
Now that you know your capacity, how will your hoist be powered? When choosing a hoist, you have three main options: Manual, Electric, and Air.
 
Manual hoists are powered by hand. The two most common versions of hand-powered hoists are ratchet levers (also known as comealongs) and hand chain hoists (commonly referred to as “chain falls”.)
 
A ratchet lever hoist is powered by a ratcheting mechanism located at the body of the hoist. Common applications for a ratchet lever or come-along  hoist are for short lifts or for horizontal pulling. While ratchet levers can be fitted with long lifts, the jerky motion associated with lifting takes a good deal of energy.
 
For longer vertical lifts, a hand chain hoist or chain fall can be a good solution. A hand chain hoist operates by pulling a “hand chain” over a wheel. The smooth, constant hand over hand motion of lifting or lowering a load makes it a good choice for manual hoist applications requiring longer lifts.
 
Electric hoists are another option. If you have power available to the hoisting area and you are making multiple lifts within a short amount of time, an electric hoist can be a great solution.
 
Common information to know before choosing your electric hoist is voltage and phase of your power. Also, when planning to purchase an electric hoist, be mindful of how you are going to get the power to the hoist itself. Simply allowing the power cord to drop down from the hoist can lead to tangles with the lifting chain, so be sure you have a plan in pace as to how to route your power.
 
Air Hoists are another great option. Although generally a bit more expensive than an electric hoist, an air hoist is usually considered to be better equipped to perform heavy duty hoisting functions. Because they are powered by air, they run cooler than electric hoists. Also, because they are pneumatic, they have no electrical contacts that can generate an arc. 
 
Lift (Height)
 
Lifting height is fairly self explanatory, but too often, consumers will buy a hoist and guess at the height. While a hoist with too much lift can still be used, a hoist without enough chain can be useless!
 
One other factor with lift is the height of the operating controls. For a chainfall, this means the hand chain. For an electric or air hoist, this means the controls. Most manufacturers provide hand chain hoists with 2 feet less drop than the lift on the hoist. For electric hoists and pneumatic hoists, the controls are usually around 4 feet less than overall lifting height.
 
Duty 
 
Need to lift a load once or twice a month in a non-production type environment? You’re looking at a light duty application. Need to make a lift more frequently or in a production type environment where downtime is lost money? You need to be in the market for medium or heavy duty hoist.
 
We get asked this question a lot. “What’s the difference between the hoist in XYZ Import catalog and the hoists you are selling?” The answer is, actually quite a bit. Usually, the cheap hoists sold by discount tool catalogs are extremely light duty. You may find a ½ ton “hoist” in a catalog for $169.00, but if that hoist makes 100 lifts before the end of its life, you will be lucky. That hoist probably weighs between 30 and 50 lbs, but a reliable medium duty hoist that is serviceable and maintainable is likely going to be at least 100 lbs.
 
Why all the added weight? Well, a larger motor, a larger brake, cast housings, heavy duty chain, heavy duty contactors, etc all provide a long-life reliable hoist that will still be lifting in 30 years if maintained properly.
 
If you have a question as to what type of hoist best fits your application, feel free to give us a call at 866.579.0160, or email sales@hoistexperts.com and we can help you price a hoist that will best fit your application.
 
Lifting Speed
 
Lifting speed is a simple concept. Is faster always better? NO! While faster may seem better, the faster your hoist lifts a load, the higher the likelihood of product damage is. If you are hoisting a 1 ton block of raw steel, and you hit the ground fast, that’s no big deal. Now what if you’re handling a 1 ton helicopter engine, machined parts, or nuclear fuel assembly? If you’re dealing with delicate products, a slower hoist may be more cost effective!
 
Electric hoists are also usually available with multiple speeds, which can solve the dilemma of needing precise control over your load while also allowing high speed lifting and lowering to decrease labor costs.
 
Mounting
 
Hoists have many different mounting options. If you already have something to mount to, a top hook mount hoist may be your best bet. Another option is a trolley, which allows the hoist to travel horizontally along a beam. Trolleys can be either manual or electrically controlled. Different applications call for different options, so feel free to give us a call at 866.579.0160, or email sales@hoistexperts.com and we can help you price a hoist that will best fit your application.

Hoist Parts

Finally, go with a hoist that has a replacement parts program. Buying from a manufacturer that stands behind their hoists with hoist parts and crane parts can mean the difference in your hoist lasting 2 years and a hoist lasting 30. Hoist Experts offers the best variety and inventory of hoist parts and crane parts with a full time distribution staff to help keep your hoists running strong. Let us know how we can help you! Email us at parts@hoistexperts.com or see our parts page for a form!