Lifting a cabinet into place

[T56 Impala]

Okay guys, I need some creative thinking here.

I have a 42"x36" glass door case. It has three shelves inside. I store my oils and other liquids in it as well as some other odds and ends. Right now this case is mounted about 36" off the floor on a wall between two windows. it was a real hassle to get it where it is now. IIRC I put it up there by first putting a few 2x4's on a rolling box then I put the case on top of them and rolled it into place. After screwing in place I pulled the cart out from under it. I should be able to remove it via the same method.

I am going to put this case on a different wall. It MUST BE 42" off of the floor. I have a strip of wood to temporarily hold it at the height once it is up there. Then that will be removed once I screw it to the wall. (I sure hope you folks can get a mental picture of this.) It must be at this height so that my compressor will fit under it.

My question is..... how do I lift it into place? Any suggestions?

A few quick notes:

I will be doing this ALONE (case is about 150 lbs.).
I have a bad back.
This case was never meant to be screwed to a wall. It was meant to sit on a table or office credenza.
The glass dorrs do not come out.

 

[hguerrero]

get help...couple of muscles to help you lift it into place
not worth your health...

 

[rickairmedic]

Well Ok do you have an engine hoist if so I would say problem solved wrap a lifting atrap around it and jack it into place screw it off and let down the hoist job done.I will add if it was never meant to be hung off a wall I might leave the support board on the wall under it and put a 4X4 under each front corner your compressor should still fit underneath that way but you wont come out to find the compressor inside the cabinet cause it fell on it .

Rick

 

[alkemyst]

42" is going to be stretch for many things. Best get a few dudes to do it. If it were lower a few jacks and a strong piece of wood would work fine.

 

[applescotty]

After you've got it on the box, roll it to where you want it. Then use some method* to raise the cabinet a little bit at a time, placing an additional spacer between the cabinet and the tool box (a 2x4 is probably too much, a 1x would be about right). Then raise the other side up the same. Work back and forth (replacing 1x's with 2x's as needed) adding height to the wood stack until you're at the height needed. Work slowly and you should be fine for the height you're going to. Don't get greedy and try to raise it too high at once. Your stack of blocks can easily topple over.

*method- if you can wiggle your craftsman prybar somehow in there, that would work. Another method would be to use a jack and a 2x4. Cut the 2x so it just fits between the jack on the floor and the bottom of the cabinet (assuming the cabinet is overhanging the sides of the tool box). Raise the jack just enough to put the 1x's underneath the cabinet, then repeat back and forth.

Scott

 

[hofford]

Recently did a similar thing by myself. I used double 2x8's (4x8's) as legs under the cabinet, lifting one end at a time, If you are going 4ft up I would say go 2ft on one end, then lift the other up end up to 2ft as well. Then go to your first end and lift up then replace the 2ft with a 4ft, go to other end and repeat. It is a bit tricky as you you are balancing the shelves at a angle. I just made sure I always had one hand on the shelf to prevent it from tipping over. Also before light make sure your 'legs' are within a arms reach. I had lots of scrap 2x8 since we just built a house. Oh yea if it falls and squishes you I am not at fault haha

 

[dashboard]

Get two guys with big bodys, and small brains.

 

[ProGun3400]

If I were closer, I would stop over and help you out. Probably bring my son and a few of his military buddies for the muscle and we would stand back and give directions. Anybody else on this board close to him that could help out?

 

[nate379]

I would just build a stand out of some 2x4s, pull the cab off the walk and throw it on the stand then screw it to teh wall. I usually work by myself too and sometimes it takes some brain scratching to figure something out that would take a couple secs with an extra set of hands!

BTW... I have a bad back too, but 150lbs isn't anything crazy to lift.

 

[beartoothweb]

I would just build a stand out of some 2x4s, pull the cab off the walk and throw it on the stand then screw it to teh wall. I usually work by myself too and sometimes it takes some brain scratching to figure something out that would take a couple secs with an extra set of hands!

BTW... I have a bad back too, but 150lbs isn't anything crazy to lift.

If you have a floor jack, or 2 bottle jacks, build the frame Nathan is talking about. Really, a simple 2x4 square should work, placed in the middle of the cabinet. Put the frame under the cabinet, use the jacks to jack it into place on the wall, unscrew it from the wall (carefully and slowly), raise it to the new height, screw into place, remove the jacks.

The frame just needs to be short enough to clear the jack height, since you're only going 8 inches higher. If you can keep it from coming forward of the wall, you should be good to go.

 

[Skyline]

Think about how they move something big like a house, then build a minuature version. Or think about how a boat yard gets a cabin cruiser off a trailer and onto wood blocks with not much more than a bottle jack and pieces of wood, (obviously sometimes they will use a crane...but I've seen it done this way lots of times). Cribbing is the answer. You need to figure out how to lift to near the height capacity of your jack, then let the weight down onto cribbing. Then reposition the jack and lift again. The reverse will be the case when letting the cabinet down from the current location. There really is no need for more than one person if you plan ahead.

 

[mvp dad]

I just realized you're in Atlanta. Well so am I I live in the Stone Mtn area. I' m 6'4" and plenty strong enough to help let me know when and I'll help you.
Scott 404-886-6735

 

[ProGun3400]

I just realized you're in Atlanta. Well so am I I live in the Stone Mtn area. I' m 6'4" and plenty strong enough to help let me know when and I'll help you.
Scott 404-886-6735

That's what I'm talking about. Hats off to MVPdad for offering his assistance.

 

[john37]

I would just build a stand out of some 2x4s, pull the cab off the walk and throw it on the stand then screw it to teh wall. I usually work by myself too and sometimes it takes some brain scratching to figure something out that would take a couple secs with an extra set of hands!
BTW... I have a bad back too, but 150lbs isn't anything crazy to lift.

+1

I work alone in my garage all the time. This cabinet (all one piece) was built in the 40's and weighs a lot! I put it up myself by using using a come-a-long, bike straps and I just took my time. Work smarter, not harder. Once you get the idea of what you want to do, you sort of slip into a mental zone, and before you know it, the cabinets are up and ready to be fastened to the wall.

I also built and installed the big ole' double doors that you can kind of see in the pic, alone. One thing to remember is to set your tools and hardware up in an easy to reach place so you can grab them while you're holding the things in place to be screwed down. Step ladders work great for this.

 

[curdy]

Get your hands on a Genie Lift. I got mine on CL pretty cheap, I think $200. I can't tell you how many things I use it for. The forks on mine will reach 8' and I can unload 500 lb barrels from the back of my truck all the time. Its perfect for holding cabinets up while installing by yourself. It weighs in at 90 lbs and can easily be slid onto a truck bed for transport.

If you were closer, I'd help you out. Try throwing a posting out on CL that you need help for a small job and see if someone will hook you up.

 

[38 Special]

Look here, the way he raises stone hinge could be used.

Plus it is cool video of working smarter, not harder.

 

[T56 Impala]

Sorry guys, Thanks for the offers to help. I kinda got side tracked with a LOT of other stuff! I though I'd let you know how things went.

A was able to reverse the installing procedure to remove the cabinet. No problems. Putting it up was interesting. (Per doctors orders, I can only lift 40 -45 lbs. Broken back x2...)

I placed a small sheet pf plywood under the rolling cabinet that I used for removing it. I then slid my floor jack under it and after a few small lifts to center and balance the whole shooting match, I pumped it up into place. I screwed into the studs a I was done. I guess a little creative thinking, that you folks got going, was all I needed to get it done.

Thanks again for all the offers and I apologize for not keeping up with this thread. Too many projects, too little time.

 

[99FRC]

Get some help! No sense in messing up your back and endangering yourself. A few beers and pizza after you get it hung will be a great way to celebrate.