Ratchet binders

Lots of Ac places require ratchets and under the rubrail at that

 

I like snap binders for their ease of use but we've been slowly getting away from them.

You've just got to be careful with snap binders. I've seen more than one cheater pipe go flying across the parking lot from people not knowing what they were doing. I've also got a friend that is blind in one eye because he had his head where he shouldn't when he released a snap binder.

 

Enlighten us.

 

Depending on the load..ratchets loosen just as often as snaps

 

I have had snap binders settle more than ratchets.. Maybe I was doing something wrong..
Yes every now and then I might have a ratchet settle a bit.

 

I've found a lot of guys don't know how to properly get them as tight as possible without being stupid or dangerous.

Generally speaking when I utilize a snap binder, I'll choke the chain on at least one end, both if I can. Set the binder to where it'll pull free to about 1/2 closed, then slip your snipe pipe over the handle. If it's just a bit beyond what you can tighten, drop one link on the choke, not at the binder. This length change equates to half a link, rather than a full link which typically over-loosens the binder. Using a choke on both ends gives you a bit more flexibility in terms of slack in the chain when tightening.

And as always, snap the binder with your pipe once you've closed it, as this helps lock the binder closed.

Snap binders also perform significantly better in certain situations. The old example is hauling any sort of pipe, when the binder ends up having to sit along the pipe itself. A ratchet-binder does a horrid job of tightening if it has to sit on a rounded surface like pipe, snap binders can sit along a rounded edge a lot more effectively. Whenever I'd be hauling trench boxes and spreader bars, the snap binders always went to the spreader bars first.

I also, generally, think they're better at long pulls with a chain, like when you have to do a high cross-chain. If you're not hooking a ratchet to the rail in this situation, as you tighten it causes the chain to roll, which means eventually the binder wants to roll with it. Anyone who's pulled a flatbed, stepdeck, or lowboy is well familiar with this. Drop a throw-over on it and with a good pull it's tight.

Ratchets have their place, but, if I had to make a choice between strictly ratchet and strictly throw-overs, I'd go with throw-overs. As far as I'm concerned, their superiority comes from their simplicity.

A couple of mishaps from lack of thinking or attention will get you wise about using them. I've about thought I've broken an arm when I was loosening one and didn't pay attention to where my other arm was, you don't make that mistake twice.

 

If you stuff the pointed end of your winch bar thru the big link in the ratchet binder as you tighten the ratchet, your chain doesn't roll or twist

 

Done that, short pulls it works fine, but, the slack in long cross-pulls (10+ft) they're still wanting to roll. Twice the headache as using a throw-over.

 

I don't understand how length or direction of pull has anything to do with it, the chain still won't twist with a bar in the link