Vertical plate lifting clamp - anyone make their own?

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Looking at the prices of lifting clamps, I know some of you guys have made your own. Please show pics if you have.GraysOrnamentalIron.com
Reply:I know we have a large pool of talent here, but given the weights to be handled and sharp edges, would you build your own seat belt, fire extinguisher, etc?? We all want to build needed, yet if bought, expensive tools. A plate dog is something I'd rather have designed and built to do the job rather than not know it if it will do the job in a critical situation.                                            MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:I built 4 billet lifting tongs for a customer. I tried to talk them out of it, telling the customer that the tongs can be bought online. The customer bought and tried them but didn't like them. They returned the tongs and had me make them, anyway.The tongs had to be sent out to a company to be certified for weight capacity. That company charged more to test and rate the tongs then I charged to fabricate them.Rich
Reply:Magnetic base lifting eye. Buy one.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Ok guys. Thanks for the advice. I'll purchase one made for the job.GraysOrnamentalIron.com
Reply:I made one about 30 years ago and it has lifted many tons of steel by now. I patterned it off of a strand grip and it has worked fine all these years and never even had a slip let alone a failure. Attached Images
Reply:If for personal use and that's the route you want to go build them. But if you are working with others or have passers by not involved in your work .who could be hurt if there was a failure . Why wouldn't you want the liability. It would be pure ignorance not to buy a set that is certified and rated. I'll tell you first hand what a dyi job not done by a certified person almost cost me my life. Luckily I only got a plate and eight screws in my arm and not a 3 1/2 ft. Piece of tube steel in my head.It's nice to build for your shop but when liability for others shouldn't mess around.