Recommended Hand Winch For Hoisting Piece of Steel Sculpture

Updated 09/09/2015 | Published 09/07/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Dutton-Lainson Hand Winch - Worm Gear - Loop Drive - 2,000 lbs

(288)

$111.64

Dutton-Lainson Hand Winch - Worm Gear - Hex Drive - 2,000 lbs

(288)

$107.94

Hand Winch Cable with Safety Hook 3/16" Diameter x 50' Long - 1,800 lbs.

(8)

$41.24

Question:

I need to mount a manual winch to a tree to raise and lower a piece of steel sculpture. The design requires the cable to exit the winch, rise vertically along the line of the trunk to a pulley about 14 feet above the ground, then horizontally about 15 feet to another pulley suspended by a chain. After passing this second pulley, the cable would then to connect to the top of the sculpture. The sculpture weighs about 500 pounds. A standard winch, when mounted to a tree, will not work because the tree is large and stops full rotation of the handle. I believe a worm gear winch, such as your 10970 Worm Gear, Regular Drum Handle Drive - 2,000 lb by Dutton-Lainson Model WG2000, if mounted directly to the tree, would allow this design to work since the handle rotates horizontally in reference to the trunk. Said another way, when mounted to the tree, the winch handle would rotate like the hands of a clock and not intercept the tree at any point.The wire cable would still exit the upper side of the winch traveling upward along the trunk. Am I missing anything here or are my assumptions about the feasibility of using a worm gear winch correct allowing the cable to exit the winch at a 90 degree angle to the angle of rotation of the handle? Thank you for taking the time to review my situation,

asked by: Robert M

Expert Reply:

You're certainly on the right track. The handle on a worm gear winch would indeed rotate in such a way that it wouldn't hit the tree. A worm gear also has the advantage of not freewheeling when you let go of the handle, so the load won't get away from you.

The Dutton-Lainson # DL10974 worm gear winch you mentioned is a good choice, but the one problem with worm gear winches is the gear ratio. 40:1 is a common gear ratio for a worm gear winch. This means that the handle will need to be rotated 40 times before the winch drum revolves once. Because of this, I'd recommend you use a worm gear winch that can be powered by a heavy duty variable power drill with a 5/8 inch socket like the Dutton Lainson # DL11001. The wire rope, like # DL24044 is sold separately.

expert reply by: Mike L