FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Tips & Techniques

Beam Boom

By Charles Miller Issue 6

An old-timer showed me this device for lifting heavy timbers single-handedly. I have used it to raise 22-ft. long 4-in. by 16-in. laminated beams with surprising ease. The device requires two block and tackles or ratchet come-alongs with locking devices, a boom, various lengths of chain or cable, miscellaneous hardware, and a tree or equally substantial mooring.

Construct a boom as shown in the drawing. It should be long enough to be at roughly 60° to the floor when the beam is lifted to its finished height. Lag-bolt a heavy block (at least a 4×4) to the floor to prevent the bottom of the boom from moving and position the boom over the timber at its center point by adjusting the two comealongs. Drill a bolt hole at the balance point in the beam, attach it to the vertical come-along, and lift away. Control over the arc of the boom and the elevation of the beam is easily adjusted with the two come-alongs, allowing precise horizontal and vertical positioning.

After raising a beam to the desired height, I add a second chain wrapped around the top of the boom and attach it to the tree as a safety measure; it has proved to be unnecessary, but makes me feel more secure while the beam is aligned and pegged into place.

—Robert Von Drachek, Missoula, MT

Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller

From Fine Homebuilding #6

Sign up for the Fine Homebuilding Tip of the Day and get daily tips and special offers delivered to your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

View Comments

  1. Waterflogger | Jan 16, 2017 06:28pm | #1

    Nice tip - and a couple of modifications could apply. Instead of a bolt through the beam use straps or rope to fashion a sling - leaves the beam undamaged. Secondly, try a chain fall to raise the beam instead of the come-along. The third tip: keep the handle of the come-along controlling the back-guyline on the beam side so you can reach it from the top of the boom and move the beam into position. Lastly, for safety, add a front guy-line to keep the boom from falling backward if/when it gets unloaded/unbalanced.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Tips & Techniques

View All
  • Cleaner Tile Demo
  • Handy Hose Holder
  • Pipe-Stand Bucket for Plumbing Jobs
  • Avoid Rotten Posts
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Industry-First Cordless Rebar Cutter and Bender

A brushless motor and 36v batteries power Metabo HPT’s cordless rebar bender and cutter.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • The Hole Truth: How to Properly Place, Cut and Drill Holes in TJI’s
  • How to Frame an I-Joist Roof
  • Installing Joist Hangers With Inconsistent Lumber
  • LVLs & PSLs: What’s the Difference?

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • The Hole Truth: How to Properly Place, Cut and Drill Holes in TJI’s
  • Earthquake-Resistant Housing
  • Framing the First Floor Exterior
  • Installing Floor Joists and Laying Subfloor
View All

Framing

View All Framing Articles
  • Raising a Post Frame
    How to Raise a Post-Frame Home
  • top plate building codes
    The Evolution of Top-Plate Building Codes
  • straightening studs
    Straighten Studs
  • conditioned mechanical cavity
    Simple Air-Sealed Ceiling for a High-Performance Home
View All Framing Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2021 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Outdoor Projects
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job
  • Issue 308 - July 2022
    • Pretty Good House Book Excerpt: Copper Farmhouse
    • 10 Dos and Don'ts for Electric In-Floor Heat
    • A Sturdy Rail for Outdoor Stairs
  • Issue 307 - June 2022
    • How to Raise a Post-Frame Home
    • Trimming Deck Stairs
    • Evolving an Energy-Efficient Envelope
  • Issue 306 - April/May 2022
    • Framing Stairs to an Out-of-Level Landing
    • Building a Zero-Energy Home for Less
    • Good-Looking and Long-Lasting Traditional Gutters
  • Issue 305 - Feb/March 2022
    • The Steady Surge in Residential Solar
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: William B. Rose
    • How Good Is Your Air Barrier?

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in