many older seforim were made large and the style was to lime both sides of the klaf, and this makes them very heavy. Being tall and and well muscled, I was a frequent choice of gaboim. I think those that pull the sefer off the table and then lever it up can do damage by the push against the table edge
For a medium weight I step in and sweep up with my arms in one move(a T’ai chi maneuver). For the heavies, I push the atzei chayim down using the gagalim for a fulcrum to start the lift, One Yom Kippur I was honored with hagba for Maftir, and I did the “heavy” lift. The etz from the Bereishis side broke off in my hand. With help from the baal koreh we managed to get it raised and one full circle to the right
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