Shears

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Toepopper
Patriot ⭐ Construction, Shelter
Patriot ⭐ Construction, Shelter
Posts: 1229
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 12:03
Location: Southwest Oregon

Shears

Post by Toepopper »

Need to do some heavy lifting? When in a remote location or when you are unable to afford to rent a boom truck or a crane for picking up heavy loads, setting trusses in place or lifting logs to construct a log cabin, you can build a set of shears to get the job done. Shears are 2 poles about 5 to 6 inches in diameter lashed together at the top. The length of the poles will be determined by how high you need to lift your material. Twenty feet is about maximum, any longer and you will need a 5 man crew to move the poles during construction. You dig 2 holes 16" deep, about 8 feet apart. Lay the 2 poles next to the holes in a figure "V" and proceed to lash the top together. Attach a long rope to the top where you have tied the 2 poles together, then set the other pole ends in the holes. Using a winch, block and tackle or a crew of family members, have some push the pole ends up while others pull the rope to lift the poles into a 45 to 60 degree angle and tie off the long rope to a tree trunk or bury the end of the rope around a log and use as a dead man to hold the shears up in place. The rope must be large enough to carry the weight of the poles plus the weight of whatever you are going to lift. One inch manilla rope works well for this. Then drive a stake next to the pole ends in their holes and lash the poles to the stake to hold them in place. You can attach a double block pulley or a chain hoist or block and tackle where the poles are lashed together to lift heavy loads into position. The shears can be adjusted up or down or left and right to place loads precisely where you want them. This system is an old homestead way of lifting things and works well but requires a lot of muscle energy and time but when in a pinch it will work. The best or most efficiant angle to place the poles is from 60 to 80 degrees. Any lower and more pressure is placed on the rope and you will increase the chance of the rope breaking. When working with shears you must always remember that if that rope snaps you don't want to be under the shears when they come down! Keep from walking directly under the shears when not necessary.
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