Bought a cheap knockoff hoist rope in Toledo and it snapped after 8 months

I saved maybe $150 going with the generic brand instead of a proper Crosby or CM. The thing just gave out during a routine lift in a downtown office building... had to shut the shaft down for a full day while we got a real replacement. Anyone else been burned by off-brand rigging gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin3mo ago

Read an article where a rigger said cheap gear is just renting trouble. You're not saving money, you're just paying later with downtime and risk. That snapped rope proves it.

zara4473mo ago

Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way with a cheap sling. It frayed on a simple pick and dropped a steel beam from like three feet. Scared the hell out of everyone. Now I just bite the bullet and buy from known suppliers, even if the boss grumbles about the cost.

cameron_webb22d ago

3/8" nylon slings from a reputable place ran me about $40 each last order. I get the argument for quality gear, I really do. But I've been using the same no-name polyester slings from a local hardware surplus for four years now, not a single thread pulled. They see daily use on light picks under 500 pounds and I inspect them every time before they go on the hook. I think the danger comes more from using gear outside its rated capacity or not checking for wear, not just the brand name.