Saw a crane operator lift a load with a 4-block setup last week and it changed how I rig

I was on a job site in Charlotte last Thursday, and this older guy shows up with a 4-block reeving on his crawler crane. I always used a 2-block setup because that's how my trainer taught me 8 years ago. He lifted a 40-ton HVAC unit smooth as butter, no sway at all. I asked him about it after the lift, and he said it cuts the line speed in half but gives you way more control on delicate picks. I tried it on a smaller load the next day, and I'll be honest, it felt weird at first but the stability was night and day. Has anyone else switched up their reeving pattern after years of doing it the same way?

2 comments

2 Comments

jason734d ago

Buddy of mine from a different crew used a 6-block on a 150-ton pick down in Charleston. He spent years with a straight 2-block, swore by it. First time he tried the multi-block he damn near clocked out early because the rhythm was off. Now he won't run anything else for tight spots like in those old factory buildings downtown.

faithbarnes4d ago

Blew my mind the first time I saw a guy run a 6-block on a big lift. Different rhythm entirely. He looked like he was dancing with the machine, all smooth and careful. Then he told me about a buddy who tried switching and almost took out a wall. Said the extra blocks mess with your head if you're not ready for it.