lifting limestone blocks

[Spoony 2]

Need to know of some methods of manually lifting 500x350x250 blocks on my own to build a wall two courses high. Using reconstituted blocks and they are heavy. Is there a tool that is available?

Ta

[keith53]

Yep! Its called a bobcat.

[Bleedin Thumb]

There are a few different things you can hire like star lifts etc but most of these need really smooth floors or overhanging supports, so the bobcat may be what you need.
You may find it cheaper to hire a labourer if its a small wall.
this link should give you some ideas but I wouldn't know if you can get this stuff where you are.


http://www.conveyorandhoist.com.au/index.php

Edit if all else fails try skyhooks.

[BobL]

It depends how accurate and professional a finish you want.

Assuming you can use a sack trolley to move the blocks to the position you want, you can then roll/slide/lever the first course into place. For the second course you can use then use a ramp and trolley to get these into place. see picture. I did a 72 block 2 course limestone wall like this by myself. It's not pretty but it's effective. By then I was fit enough to pick the individual blocks up by myself and managed to do a couple of dozen as a 3rd course. All in the middle of january summer heat of course.

Other tips, Get some long leather welders gloves to protect your forearms or these things will tear your forearms/hands to shreds. I also bought a back support like the guys wear in Bunnings. They are very good and saved my back.

Cheers

[Bleedin Thumb]

Isn't this the reason God invented Pommy backpackers?

[chromis]

Those blocks are around 50kg each...We used a two person limestone lifting clamp which made them easy to lift...

One person though...

Maybe you could get your hands on one of these

http://www.abc.net.au/newinventors/txt/s1441764.htm