Recent content by ProfessorCook

I hoisted the lift up into the barn attic tonight after rigging up lift points. 'Worked like a charm. I love having the lift. I also love being able to remove it. 'Should have thought of this when I built the barn... I could have recessed the lift into the floor so everything was nice and...

Excellent. I was thinking of making some marks on the floor to align the lift. (I plan on storing it in the attic when not in use. My overhead hoist/trolley system will make that easy.) The idea of making some marks on the lift to know when my car is centered is excellent. Thank you.

I'm not so sure it would work for that 10 wheeler, Toolman!

I built my barn with an I-beam for a structural ridge. I have a one-ton hoist attached to a trolley that runs along the bottom flange of that beam. I can back up a pickup truck into the barn's garage bay, rig up the load, and lift it off. The pickup truck then drives out and I can set the...

I just posted this thread on a BMW forum. I got help here and appreciate it. Perhaps this will help somebody in return. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6787468&posted=1#post6787468

Hmmm... I bet that material is tough to work. But if you can reliably drill a hole through it and cut a slot in the end, I have an idea. You could slot the ends back a foot then drill a hole (or a couple of holes) through the tabs you created. You could then find a regular steel pipe with an...

I'm afraid I don't know what that is. 4.5" is a nice diameter. Pipes like that will be able to handle a decent amount of flexure. A structural engineer could look over your plans and tell you if the pipe will work for your configuration. Of course you'll have to provide true diameter, wall...

You might know exactly how you'll be using the drain and you might be responsible about it all. The problem is the next guy. That's why such drains are often illegal. People get frustrated trying to dispose of waste oil and such... it becomes so tempting to just dump it down that drain right...

There's nothing wrong with using pipe as a structural element. It's particularly well suited for columns. For flexure, it's not so efficient, but it can work. The tricky part, of course, is figuring out strong connections. There's probably welding in your future. Welding can work, of...