Single-point picks look simple, yet they still demand method and proof. When a job calls for a 1 ton lift, a 1 leg chain sling gives you a direct load path, fast setup, and clean math. You define the load, you confirm geometry, and you size the sling from the manufacturer’s Working Load Limit (WLL) table. Then you check interfaces at the hook and the pad-eye, you protect edges, and you log the results. Use this field guide to standardize your approach so crews rig once, lift once, and move on with confidence.

Why choose a 1 leg chain sling for a 1 ton lift

You keep the line of pull vertical, you minimize variables, and you read capacity straight from the tag. A single leg also speeds inspection and documentation because you track one chain path and one hook. And you still gain flexibility: you can add a shortener to fine-tune reach, you can swap hook styles to match the attachment, and you can pair a sub-assembly if the crane hook needs a different master link form.

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Define the job before you touch steel

Start with facts and a quick sketch. Write the heaviest routine load (ignore one-off peaks). Mark the center of gravity and the exact lift point you will use. Note headroom, crane hook size, and any obstructions that could pinch the chain. Decide on hook style at the load—self-locking for people overhead and vibration, or a foundry hook for wide lugs. This sketch drives selection, not the other way around.

Size from the WLL table—never by feel

Open the manufacturer’s WLL table for your chain family and grade. Because you plan a single-leg 1 ton lift with a vertical hitch, you apply the single-leg factor of 1.0. Select the first diameter whose WLL meets or exceeds 1,000 kg (≈1 t). If headroom runs tight, you can hold diameter and move to a higher grade; if the hook bowl feels crowded, you can keep the grade and step up diameter for fit. Record grade, diameter, reach, and the trace code from the tag.

Tip: many catalogs list several diameters that meet 1 t in single-leg vertical; you still pick by the table for your exact product, then you verify fit at both ends.

Fit the interfaces: hook, bowl, pad-eye, and pin

You stop re-rigs when you measure first.

Crane hook & master link: seat the link fully in the hook bowl and confirm latch clearance.

Load hook: keep about 10% throat clearance at the pad-eye or lug; avoid tip-loading; confirm full bowl seating.

Pad-eye or shackle: gauge pin diameter and ensure alignment so the pull stays in one plane.

Shortener (if used): set length with a rated device; never knot or twist chain to trim reach.
Record measurements and part numbers on the lift sheet so audits move quickly.

Guard edges and keep geometry honest

Edges bite link crowns and raise stress. Add corner pads or a softener anywhere the chain contacts a radius. If you cannot improve the radius RR, apply simple, documented rules: keep the table value when R≥2dR ge 2d (link diameter dd); cut to 0.7× when R≈dR pprox d; drop to 0.5× at sharp edges or redesign the interface. Write the assumption next to your sketch so a reviewer can verify the math in seconds.

Temperature and chemistry still set the boundary

Run the sling within the temperature envelope that the manufacturer publishes for its grade. Derate where the data sheet requires it, and remove the assembly from service outside the limits. Keep chain away from acids, alkalis, and pickling. If exposure occurs, rinse with cold water, dry completely, and send the sling for a competent inspection before reuse. After any coating or galvanizing work, test the fit through tight throats or pockets because finishes add thickness.

Inspect with numbers, retire with confidence

You protect people and uptime when you measure, not guess.

Wear: retire when average link diameter drops by about 10% from nominal.

Stretch: retire when five-link pitch grows by about 3%.

Hook: retire when throat opening grows >10% over nominal or when latches fail to close cleanly.

Any component: retire for cracks, deep nicks, heat tint, stiff articulation, or lost ID.
Clean, dry, and rack the sling after use; rinse and dry stainless assemblies after brine or cleaners.

One-page checklist for a 1 ton lift with a 1 leg chain sling

When a single leg works—and when you should switch

Choose a 1 leg chain sling when the pad-eye sits directly under the center of gravity and the path stays vertical. If the pick point sits off-center or the load wants to roll, add a spreader or move to two legs so you control geometry. If headroom disappears, consider a higher grade at the same diameter or a shorter reach; if interfaces keep binding, redesign the connection rather than force a side-pull.

Field routine you can repeat on every shift

Stage the sling the same way, call the same checkpoints aloud, and run the same proof-lift. You shorten setup because the team no longer invents a method on the fly, and you raise safety because everyone anticipates the next step. Keep the checklist laminated in the kit; photograph tags at staging; and file the images with the job packet so future crews copy the plan rather than reinvent it.

Conclusion

Follow this playbook to rig a 1 leg chain sling for a clean, verifiable 1 ton lift, and then contact TOPONE CHAIN for a traceable configuration that matches your drawings and schedule.