Todays puzzle

[RogerS]

Mike's flitch puzzle reminds me of a company who were craning a heavy statue onto a plinth. The statue weighed several tons. The question was ...how to remove the slings form underneath the statue once it was lowered into position.

Over to you, guys. If you saw the TV programme then you'll know the answer so shtum

 

[9fingers]

Lower it onto pads of ice, whip out the stops and the statue should gracefully descend as the ice melts due to the reduced freezing point resulting from the pressure applied by the statue.

Bob

 

[Mike G]

This isn't just theory: the British Museum, amongst others, have used this method for shifting huge Greek/ Roman statues.

 

[Rod]

We used to lower onto polystyrene pads which were dissolved using diesel.
Often cast concrete slabs and formed expansion voids using that method too.

Rod

 

[AndyP]

The answer is to do the opposite to the way that the straps were passed under the statue in order to lift it up.

 

[RogerS]

LOL....like the ice idea. In the programme they used bags of sugar and dissolved it.

 

[AndyP]

So how did they lift it up in the first place to get the straps underneath?

 

[RogerS]

So how did they lift it up in the first place to get the straps underneath?

I've no idea, I'm afraid. Possibly like this ?

https://hempelstudios.wordpress.com/201 ... culptures/

 

[Rod]

Most heavy objects that are to be lifted are placed on wooden blocks both for protection and to allow for slings.
Things sitting tight to the floor would be lifted with hinged pincer grips or friction straps wrapped round.

Rod