I've seen plenty of Tongs used to move logs/cants around, but I havn't seen any Tongs designed for beams. Some may not want to have pointed tongs dig into their timber, especially if it's softwood. Does anyone make lifting tongs for beams? I am familiar with tongs used to open stamping dies. Something like that with angle iron on the end of the jaws is what I'm thinking. Of course a second person may be needed to guide and steady the beam via a rope on one end. So does anyone sell or have these? If not, why not? I could see it used with the crane to raise girts into position etc., but I am also thinking of this with respect to hanging it by a chain on the end of the forktruck. I'm thinking this would limit the damage done to beams from picking up with forks or regular tongs.

My logger had a set of regular tongs modified to add two pieces of angle iron above the regular points to create a set of beam lifting tongs.
He has since sold them after he finished his house many years ago.
You could just add some wide angle iron to a set of regular tongs above the hooks and wider then the hooks to make a set for yourself.

We (and most people I know) use load rated endless polyester round slings to lift timbers with a hoist or crane. Also to hook comealongs to timbers and countless other uses.

You can also pad your forks with carpet to keep from marking timbers.

gabel

All good suggestions. I'm surprised though that they aren't readily available for beams with all of the timberframers now.

I think I would prefer the sling method over the tongs. A sling is less likely to slip or fall off, and is cheaper than a set of modified tongs. You can get good straps for $25, welded tongs would costs many times that. Using two slings as chokers allow you to hoist the timber in such a manner that the timber can be liftd level as well. The tongs would also work, as long as you are not lifting very high (overhead).


Dave

Point taken.