Ice picks

[Scag48]

I suppose I don't know the correct term for them, but the device that you can hang from a chan and pick up blocks, trees, whatever and it squeezes as you lift. Anyone know where I can score one quick? My dad just landed a contract for a retaining wall and it's on a gnarly slope and the required blocks are 80 pounds. We'd like to sling them down the slope with an excavator instead of trying to manhandle them.

[Dirt Digger2]

its not exactly what you are looking for....but its close...we have a set at the shop that is really nice, they have a 1"x2" "grip pad" instead of the points on the bottom so it lifts concrete block, etc... with ease

http://www.cspoutdoors.com/lifskidton.html

[Scag48]

Thanks man, kinda what I'm looking for. Tong is the better word for sure to describe what I'm looking for. The flat, rubber pads would be nice for handling stone. Trying to find something by maybe next Thursday.

[coopers]

Scag, I thought maybe you needed icepicks for our crazy weather!! haha.

On a serious note, I thought I had something that showed what you were looking for but I can't locate it. What kind of blocks are they? Not ecology blocks cuz 80lbs is too light....you should hit up some landscape companies and/or nurseries to see what they used and where they got 'em.

[Construct'O]

If you need something right away you might have to take a block and go to a welding shop and have something fabed up for you to use.

Might have to do an internet search and see what is out there for the welder guy to get the idea of what you want.Good luck.:usflag:

[ken gustafson]

If you were to view www.baileysonline.com and look at the log skidding tongs they may be just what you are looking for. Prices are from $85 to $220 Ken

[Mjh Excavating]

Scag

Try PROBST. They make all kinds of lifting tools for block.

[Mjh Excavating]

Probst tools at pavetech.com

[Gravel Rat]

If the block has a thin enough web one of these pallet pullers might work

www.bosstoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3665

[bobcatuser]

I have used a pallet puller for placing allen block walls. http://www.gilmorekramer.com/more_info/pallet_pullers/pallet_pullers.shtml

[Scag48]

Thanks guys. Not sure what my dad is going to decide to do, we might just score a 48" cleanup bucket and swing them down to the course of block. I'm headed back home on Wednesday to dig the footer for the wall, we'll be laying block by Thursday AM. Engineer will be on site to test the footings before we lay any block. We have a 312 coming in with a hoepac to compact the fill courses between GeoGrid on Tuesday. Will try to get pics, trying to knock this job out in about 5 days before I have to head back to start my first week of training.

[wanabe]

Why do you need something to lift 80 LB blocks? Last year we did a couple with 78lb blocks and they were not that hard to just lift and install.

[Scag48]

There is no access from the bottom of the wall, so when we bring blocks in, they have to come in from the top of the cut. It's a long way to carry them by hand, obviously placing them by hand is no big deal, it's just getting them to the wall course to install them is the issue.

[bobcat9957]

Heres what we use. http://www.kenco.com. We dont do much with those small block but they have alot of different stuff. We have them for jersey barriers and building T-walls and they work great.

[ksss]

There is no access from the bottom of the wall, so when we bring blocks in, they have to come in from the top of the cut. It's a long way to carry them by hand, obviously placing them by hand is no big deal, it's just getting them to the wall course to install them is the issue.

Whatever you do, don't post any pictures of your wall.

[Scag48]

Whatever you do, don't post any pictures of your wall.

Yeah, otherwise everyone on here, regardless of whether they've ever built a wall before or not, will claim to be an expert.

[RockSet N' Grade]

Hmmm......I seem to remember a comment that was directed towards me. Something like " Dude, your work sucks..." from some kid who pushes lawnmowers. I can't remember who it was, but I prefer to post nothing now of any of what I have or do.

[RockSet N' Grade]

Scag........to move your material from top to bottom, how bout renting a conveyor system. Rental yards have small systems that may work.

[Scag48]

I had thought about the conveyor, but have had no luck finding one to rent. Living in a small town sucks sometimes, the rental capabilities are pretty limited.

[nac]

why nor just use the 312 you are going to rent. We have 2 #10 rebar about 5' long we slide in the block pallet and with a 4 way lifting chain we move the whole cube with the excavtor.

[Scag48]

Nac, I thought about that too, just slinging the whole pallet down there. We've ruled out using the tongs, just too much time handling each and every block. Right now I'm on the idea of slinging the pallets.