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Material Handling · Drum Clutchers
Drum Clutchers Rated 1000 lb For 30 and 55 Gallon Steel Drums
A drum clutcher grips a steel drum under its rolling hoop and tightens as the load comes on, so a hoist or crane can lift a sealed drum without a sling. S&L lists two sizes, for 30 and 55 gallon steel drums, both rated 1,000 lb.
Product Overview
What This Product Is and Where It Fits
The mechanism is self-tightening. Lifting force pulls the jaws inward against the drum's chime, so the grip increases with the load rather than relying on how tightly someone set a clamp.
That is the argument against slings. A sling around a smooth drum body depends on friction and on the drum staying vertical, and neither can be assumed once the drum is in the air.
Both sizes are listed for steel drums specifically. A clutcher works on the chime of a steel drum, so plastic and fibre drums need a different method.
Net weights are 18 lb for the 30 gallon clutcher and 23 lb for the 55 gallon, light enough for one person to hook on and unhook without help.
Key Benefits
Three Reasons Buyers Specify This Line
Grip increases with the load
The jaws tighten as lifting force comes on, rather than depending on a preset clamp.
No sling under a smooth drum body
The clutcher takes hold of the chime, which is a positive feature of the drum rather than a friction fit.
Light to handle between lifts
18 lb for the 30 gallon size and 23 lb for the 55 gallon.
Application Scenarios
- Hoist and crane lifting of sealed steel drums
- Loading drums onto a mezzanine or a vehicle bed
- Transferring drums between floor levels
- Drum handling where a fork truck cannot reach
Who It Is For
- Plants lifting steel drums with an overhead hoist
- Chemical and lubricant stores with a crane rather than a fork truck
- Operations replacing sling lifting with a purpose-built clamp
- Distributors supplying drum lifting equipment
Problems It Solves
- Sealed drums lifted on slings and chains
- Drums slipping out of a friction grip in the air
- No fork truck access to a drum store
- Clamps that have to be set by hand before every lift
Technical Features
What Is Actually Published For This Line
1,000 lb capacity
Published rating for both drum sizes.
30 and 55 gallon steel drum sizes
Two models covering the standard steel drum sizes.
Self-tightening jaws
Grip increases as lifting force is applied.
18 and 23 lb net weight
Light enough to hook and unhook by hand.
Specifications
Drum Clutchers Specification Table
Every figure below is transcribed from the specification sheets S&L published for this line. Where a figure is not published, it is marked rather than estimated.
| Acceptable Drum Style | Capacity lbs | Net Weight lbs |
|---|---|---|
| 30 gallon steel | 1,000 | 18 |
| 55 gallon steel | 1,000 | 23 |
Source: S&L drum clutcher sheet published by S&L Dock Equipment.
Product Photography
Drum Clutchers As Supplied
Every photograph below is from the S&L product records for this line. Nothing is a stock image or a rendering.
Materials
Materials and Finish
Steel arms, pivot linkage and lifting eye. Finish confirmed at quotation.
ManufacturingHow It Is Made
Arms and linkage are cut and welded, pivot pins fitted, the lifting eye attached, then the clutcher is cleaned and finished.
Quality Control
What Is Checked Before Packing
Jaw closure is checked against a drum chime, pivot movement is checked through the full range, and welds at the lifting eye and arms are inspected.
CertificationsCertification Status
No third-party certification is published for Drum Clutchers in S&L's own documentation, so this page marks it TBC at quotation rather than implying one. A clutcher is lifting equipment on many sites, so a test certificate may be part of your regime. That is not published as standard here, so raise it in the first email.
Customisation
Options Within The Published Range
- 30 or 55 gallon drum size
- Finish confirmed at quotation
- Supplied bare or with a lifting shackle as agreed at quotation
Comparison
How It Compares With The Alternatives
| Option | When To Choose It |
|---|---|
| Drum clutcher | Lifts a sealed steel drum vertically with a hoist or crane. |
| Fork mounted drum grab | Lifts a drum with a fork truck rather than a hoist. |
| Drum caddy | Moves a drum on the floor. No lifting involved. |
Use Guide
Getting It Right On Site
- Confirm the drum is a steel drum with an intact chime before hooking on
- Seat both jaws fully under the rolling hoop before taking the load
- Lift smoothly so the jaws pull in rather than snatch
- Inspect the pivot pins and jaw faces at the intervals your lifting equipment regime requires
Questions
Drum Clutchers Questions
What is the rated capacity?
1,000 lb for both the 30 and the 55 gallon model.
Will it work on a plastic drum?
No. The clutcher grips the chime of a steel drum. Plastic and fibre drums need a different method.
How much does the clutcher weigh?
18 lb for the 30 gallon size, 23 lb for the 55 gallon.
Does it need to be adjusted before each lift?
No. The jaws are self-tightening, so grip comes from the lifting force rather than from a preset clamp.
Is it supplied with a shackle?
Supply arrangements are confirmed at quotation. State the hook or shackle you are lifting from.
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Further Reading
Quote Drum Clutchers By Model Code
Confirm the drum size and what you are lifting from, so the clutcher arrives ready to hook on.