Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ashley Brothwood on September 17, 2014, 05:44:45 pm

Title: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on September 17, 2014, 05:44:45 pm: Hi What's the best manhole lifter that doesn't cost the £500-£800 ive seen on the internet?

I've got plenty of manhole keys and rods I can lift up standard sized covers but every so often I get the ones that are a lot heavier with the block paving / slabs over the top.
I don't really want to spent upwards of £500 to get a lifter I might use once a month or so if there's possibly a cheaper option. Has anyone ever made their own or found one that's value for money

Thanks
Ashley
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Matt Gibson on September 17, 2014, 07:49:59 pm: Ive seen drain guys lifting the big square monoblock covered ones with two keys. Its a two man job.
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: JandS on September 17, 2014, 08:06:49 pm: Yep 2 man job but all you need is 2 T keys, slip in and twist and lift.
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Rob_Mac on September 17, 2014, 08:20:16 pm: http://www.hss.com/g/69313/Man-Hole-Lifters.html

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on September 17, 2014, 09:41:49 pm: Yes something like the link Rob put up.

I was looking at something similar for when I attended drains on my own but didn't really fancy paying the £800 price tag of that equipement. I was looking at making one up myself or getting a fabricators to do one for a lot less
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Rob_Mac on September 17, 2014, 09:52:00 pm: Ashley

I thought the same.

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Roger Oakley on September 17, 2014, 10:10:23 pm: Most builders merchants sell drain keys, that's where I got mine from, Jewsons or Travis Perkins and not the £500+ price tag.
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: BDCS on September 17, 2014, 10:18:06 pm: You lot need to man up - a lot of my work in drains, I work mostly alone and can honestly say I lift them on my own. The very big concrete filled ones take a grunt but I can lift them with a pair of 18" keys- these allow you to keep your back straight and use your legs. I get all my gear from a firm called wardsflex

http://www.wardsflex.co.uk/acatalog/Manhole-Cover-Access.html
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on September 18, 2014, 05:56:59 pm: Yes I've got some of the bigger type from wardflex but some of the newer ones there laying on new high streets round here are a lot heavier and quite big so they're awkward to lift.

I've looked at making some simpler hydrolic lifter with a basic square frame and a hydrolic Jack either side just to lift up the bigger ones
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: BDCS on September 18, 2014, 06:17:53 pm: Why are you lifting inspection covers on High streets ? Do you have street works and a contract with the Sewage provider ? I have been told by the company that I sub for that do road jobs now want safe contractor - as part of it they want me to write a bomb scare policy and MS
Title: Re: Drain manhole lifter
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on September 18, 2014, 08:37:55 pm: No its when I've done ones for the local swimming pools that have the newer type of pathement outside and some of the shared local housing flats / old people's homes have the heavy drain covers. I do it for a maintance firm and housing association mostly but don't very often get them types of drains