TextWhat good is your forklift without a great pair of forks??
Forklift forks will start to get worn the first day of use. If you’re company is one that often uses a lift truck, then it’s a very, very good idea to regularly inspect the forks. Now there are a few things to look for while inspecting the forks. The thickness of the fork blade should match the thickness of the back of the fork. The heel of the fork must be checked for cracks. Make sure there is no differentiating height of the fork tips. You must be able to read the factory markings of the forks. Also, the hooks of the forks must be checked for any deformations. If a problem occurs with any of these inspection points, the forks must be replaced. Lucky for you, Intella Parts carries all sorts and sizes of quality forklift forks and accessories. Our forks are manufactured to meet or exceed two major specifications: ISO2330 and ANSI (The American National Standards Institute). Intella also offers a variety of special application forks which discussed later in the article.
Not sure what class your forks are in? Check out our video below.
Common Class 2 Forks:
1.50 x 4 x 42 Forklift Forks
We can use your own carrier for shipping as well. Please call us at 616-796-6638
Lift capacity per pair (2 forks): 5500 pounds at 20 inch load center.
Price is per pair of forklift forks.
1.75 x 4 x 48 Forklift Forks
We can use your own carrier for shipping as well. Please call us at 616-796-6638
to arrange for shipping this way.
Lift capacity per pair (2 forks): 5720 pounds at 20 inch load center.
Price is per pair of forklift forks.
Specialty Forklift Forks:
We know there are many different jobs out there and basic forks may not get the job done. That’s why here at Intella we offer a list of different forklift fork types that can be special ordered so you can tackle that task at hand. Below is a list of all the different types of forks and their general applications. For more information on where to order these special application forks, visit our website here.
Anti-Slip Forks
- Durable abrasive coating applied to top of blade
- Designed to be used for handling pallets made of plastic
- Provides a jagged surface to properly grip the pallet
- Adds minimal thickness while ensuring the safety of product while moving and stopping
Block Forks
- Used for lifting large concrete or cement blocks
- The heel is forged enlarged for maximum strength upon lifting
- Heel can be ordered “concave” in order to reduce damage of the product
- Can be ordered in any length needed to complete job at hand
Bolt-On Forks
- Attached to the fork carrier with bolts instead of using hooks or a tube
- Allows for more stable forks and limits movement when loaded
- Reduces overall deflection in the upright of fork
- Can be either bolted from the front or the back
Coil Forks
- Primarily used to move steel coils, reels, and concrete pipes
- Can be forged to have either chamfer or radius edges on the blades
- Top of the upright can also be rounded in order to reduce possible damage
- Chamfer and radius edges have different lifting capacities
Corrugated Forks
- Blade reduced in thickness down to an edge at the tip
- Used to wedge under and lift corrugated sheets resting on a flat surface
- Polished and fully top tapered blade allowing for easy transition in thickness
- Also available with full bottom taper and in many different widths
DAGS Magnetic Fork Covers
- Used in situations where products could be damaged from contact with bare forks
- Features a rubber layer, iron core, and magnetic layer
- You can install or remove them in seconds
Drum Forks
- Made for lifting one or two drums at one time
- Both blades have an arc on the inside edge to match with the diameter of the drum
- Usually used for moving standard 44/55 Canadian and US gallon drum
- Can still be used to lift conventional loads
Folding Forks
- Designed to fold at the heel of the fork and placed vertically.
- Allows for storing forklift in restricted work environments and easier transportation
- Contains chain that attaches to pin that wraps around the blade, keeping it secure
Fully Tapered FTP Forks
- Fully tapered and polished forks are used in lumber, gypsum and finely finished goods
- Have one long taper that starts past heel and extends down to tip
- Polished with a smooth finish so that no material catches or drags on the fork
- Usually thinner than standard taper and can be refined to chisel tip
Gypsum Forks
- Forks are used to protect the product at hand, especially gypsum wallboard
- Fork upright contains a durable slide pad, made of either polyurethane or neoprene
- Polished blade with sharp corners removed
- Hook or shaft type mountings available
Inverted Forks
- Forks mounted upside down typically used for lifting large bags that have loops above product
- Upper load bearing hook fitted relative to the back die radius
- Top of the blade is rounded not to harm the straps of the bags
- Capacity rating of the forks are reduced by 15% due to inverted angle
Offset and Inset Forks 
- Offset forks designed to enable the forks to be wider than the carriage
- Inset forks designed to enable the forks to be narrower than the carriage
- By doing this, load capacity must be re-evaluated
Peek-A-Boo (PAB) Forks
- Created to expand the visibility of the driver
- Wide fork type, used mostly in the lumber industry
- Shank width is reduced which is possible due to diminished stress exerted on the fork
- Can be custom ordered for fit
Quick Detach Forks
- Designed to be quickly and easily removed from the carriage
- Have an upper hook that allows for removal of forks without having to take off fork retaining bar
- Have an open style hook which can fit on either a round or square carriage bar
Shaft Forks
- Allow for a floating function for use in areas of uneven grounds
- Usually used on larger lift trucks and construction machinery
- Pin suspension of fork is used to guide it on a shaft previously mounted on machine
Spark Retardant Forks
- Used on forklifts operating in hazardous conditions
- Other than upright backing, fork is coated in brass to retard sparks
- Common in chemical plants, grain elevators, mines, paint plants, munitions and arsenal manufacturing
Tin Plate Forks
- Primarily used to load can forming machines
- Tapered and offset tips allow for easier access into small skids
- Option of a neoprene or polyurethane slide-in pad to protect product
- Can be mounted with hooks or tubes
Tire Forks
- Used for lifting tires of all different shapes and sizes
- Forks have a custom radius on top inside of blade, finished with rounded edges to prevent damage
- Can have an economical 45 degree edge or tire contour on the edge of blade
Two-Stage Taper Forks
- Forks designed for increased stability when handling longer or deep stacks of lumber
- Shorter but more durable tip for easier entry into lumber stack
- 20% from fork tip is 50% of full thickness which can reduce fork deflection
- Option of polishing top of fork blade
Frequently asked questions regarding forklift forks:
Need forklift forks? Intella Parts has what you need.