Material Lift Track Build Info
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I have sent a few people this way, but sadly they think it's just about an old car lift, and don't realize that this thread is about life, and doing things the right way.
Nuts Aka Doug
PS, I just checked, my first post on this thread was on 2-18-2010, it's been a very informative 8 years.
Nuts got me wondering when I first appeared on here. Went back and its been 6 years almost to the day since my very first post on here. Check in most days and just follow along in the back round. I truely enjoy watching Thomas go about doing thing the way he does. As a Machinist I like the right way to do things and Thomas always spends just a little longer to do just that. Thanks for the entertainment I'll stay tuned in the dark corner.
Guys a heartfelt thanks to you and all the others who have made this thread possible. Without the encouragement and engagement from you all I suspect this thread would have just faded away. Those who still visit here from time to time clearly "get it". Yes, this thread is much more than how to restore an old lift.
As I said many times, I don't have all the answers, I haven't been to the burning bush. Instead, what I present here is what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Some things I'm especially passionate about (Chris comes right to mind for one!!) and you've allowed me that indulgence. Choose for yourself to the live the life that works for you, just as I have.
OK, now on to another subject near and dear to me, the material lift that I designed to move big, bulky, heavy equipment and material...
... from the garage down into the basement shop.
Since the platform is suspended by a chain, that platform can move around in the shaft. Going down isn't much problem...
...but raising the lift up to the garage level, I needed to be very careful that the edge of the platform didn't move and get under the bottom of the walls above it, seen by the arrows. The lift platform tracks very straight moving up and down, but if the load is off center a little, the platform will drift out of center of the lift shaft. I have been very careful because of this when lifting up to keep the platform out from under the walls. The lift is powerful enough that if the platform got under the wall, it would easily lift the wall up with no problem, resulting in unnecessary damage to the house.
I wanted a way to restrict movement of the platform within the shaft area. A way to more "Goof Proof" the lift operation.
After a great deal of thought, this is the solution I came up with.
To construct the tracks I used 10' (3m) long, 2" (5cm) wide, 90º angle steel, 1/4" (.63cm) thick. To that I welded an additional 2" wide, 1/4" flat bar to form...
...the square "Z" profile seen with 2 opposing 90º angles. This is looking straight down on the fabricated track. 2 of these tracks were fabricated and were then attached to the concrete wall.
2" diameter, ball bearing idle rollers were purchased from Graingers. Those rollers provide a baring surface in 2 axis, on the head and side of the roller, that the rollers ride in and limits the platform movement. A skid plate limits platform movement in a 3rd direction toward the concrete wall.
By using 2 opposing tracks, the lift platform is now restricted in it's movement such that it can't get under the walls.
This is a different view of the idle roller in a track. An attachment piece for the roller was made to bolt the roller to the platform on the right but unfortunately I don't have a good picture of it. You can also see how the skid plate keeps the platform off the concrete wall.
There's only 1 area where the skid plate actually contacts the wall. This contact area is where the garage floor was poured on top of the basement wall...
...and that area is a little proud to the surface plane of the basement wall. It's incidental, marginal contact and doesn't present a problem. I used some paraffin on the concrete wall surface in that area to act as a lubricant. With use, the 2 surfaces will wear into each other. Other than that, the platform raises and lowers without any wall contact.
I have used the lift to move most of my equipment into the basement without use of these tracks. I was acutely aware of the danger the lift posed when being raised and never had an issue. That said, I wanted a system that provided for a less conscientious operator than myself. I wanted to help protect that guy 50 or 100 years from now operating it and help keep him out of trouble from damaging the house needlessly. Is it perfect now? No, of course not. Humans are not perfect, never have been, never will be. The lift works and it works well but care in its operation must still be used.
I will be posting this sign by the lift. I hope that future owners of the house will take this to heart.
All that's left now is to remove the lift and tracks in preparation for.............
Powder Coating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stand by for that.
Thanks again everyone.
Thomas
The two of you are an amazing couple and I cant wait to meet you both at some point. I already know we will because the vortex is strong and who could blame anyone for just wanting to meet you and shake your hand. I will even buy lunch at the Philo Tavern. I found this thread because of Rick with the Factory Five Cobra and the FFR forum. I've built two of the FFR cars, a Cobra in 2003 and I'm finishing the body work and painting the '33 Hot Rod now. My plan is to drive that car from Northern Ohio to California next year, part of the trip is RT. 66 and I would love to stop at Mr. Johnson's shop and see the property that I seem to know so well in pictures. I won't even bring up the crooked switch plate. (wait I think I just did) 
It would go like stink but what a royal Payne in the A$$ to start it by myself. I'd run alongside it pushing and then jump on flipping the ignition switch on to start it. I was always afraid it'd start and then get away from me before I got completely on it and take off driver-less into the distance. 
