Show your Unistrut / Superstrut designs

akdiesel · Sep 6, 2012

Thought I would start a thread displaying the uses of Unistrut or similar products.
These are just a few I have made.
The bench has Unistrut out the outer edges to house air, electrical and supports for the vices.
Working on a library ladder system for my cabinets and rack system. I will post pictures of it when I have it working.

csp · Sep 6, 2012

Any detail shots of the bench unistrut? Nothing is really visible other than what's holding the overhead lighting. I'd like to see how you incorporated the air line and all that I can see is the quick connect.

akdiesel · Sep 6, 2012

Cusp,
I will have to take some pictures when I get back home.
I used Unistrut gray plastic capper to hide the wiring and the ss air tubing.
The middle section has 1/4" ss tubing while the lower side sections house 3/8" ss tubing.
The outlets are a Unistrut brand #2555 I got from Lord and Sons out of California.
I powder coated the strut black to match the cabinets and left the plastic capper grey to off set the black and blue.

carhunter · Sep 6, 2012

That mower lift is a great idea. Would love to see closeups of your pulley arrangement.
Kinda like a mini 4 post lift!

akdiesel · Sep 6, 2012

carhunter said:
That mower lift is a great idea. Would love to see closeups of your pulley arrangement.
Kinda like a mini 4 post lift!

I started a thread a while back for this.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34840

shopnut · Sep 6, 2012

There are a 1001 uses for the old strut with all the different parts available...

It made a light-duty track hoist system for the front of my shop.

Journaler · Sep 6, 2012

How much weight is that rated for?

machine_punk · Sep 6, 2012

If I remember, that maxes out at 600 pounds, for the 'double trolley.' The single trolley maxes out at 300 pounds.

machine_punk · Sep 6, 2012

I use unistrut as a 'universal, metal french cleat' on my metalworking studio wall.

So far, I have attached the Reconfigurable Tool Rack to it...
View media item 14163
View media item 15809
View media item 14320
And attached a vertical piece of strut to the horizontal pieces in order to mount my 20" oscillating shop fan...
View media item 22548
View media item 22546
M_P

PCO6 · Sep 6, 2012

I built a simple track system for sliding 2 small parts cabinets in front of 3 of the same cabinets that are mounted to the wall. The rollers are from sliding glass shower doors.

A**holes Garage · Sep 7, 2012

Shelving;

Adjustable rotisserie for my Santa Maria grill;

digdug18 · Sep 7, 2012

akdiesel, I like your 4 post lift, but it still seems unsafe when using it to lift things. Have you tried lifting a heavy item with only 2 or 3 of the lifting points attached, to simulate that one had broken? I'm thinking rollers on the inside, like a roller coaster, to keep things rolling evenly. If I made something like this, I think I'd try to make a safety locking device as well, like the clicking lockers on 2 and 4 post lifts.

akdiesel · Sep 7, 2012

Thanks for the input but my post #5 gives the thread and shows everything you mentioned.
It has safety locks similar to 4 post lifts, it has rollers inside the Unistrut columns, I have lifted two snowmachines (one 600 two up and a 120), approx 900 lbs with no problem. As for lifting with only two or three lift points, this would not be a good idea for any type of lift and what exactly would it test? The lift is used in safety aspect as any other lift would be used. Make sure safety locks are in place prior to getting underneath.

shopnut · Sep 7, 2012

Journaler said:
How much weight is that rated for?

Here's the brochure from Unistrut that shows the various trolley options and load ratings: Unistrut Trolley Systems

Journaler · Sep 7, 2012

shopnut said:
Here's the brochure from Unistrut that shows the various trolley options and load ratings: Unistrut Trolley Systems

Thanks, good info.

digdug18 · Sep 7, 2012

akdiesel said:
Thanks for the input but my post #5 gives the thread and shows everything you mentioned.
It has safety locks similar to 4 post lifts, it has rollers inside the Unistrut columns, I have lifted two snowmachines (one 600 two up and a 120), approx 900 lbs with no problem. As for lifting with only two or three lift points, this would not be a good idea for any type of lift and what exactly would it test? The lift is used in safety aspect as any other lift would be used. Make sure safety locks are in place prior to getting underneath.

I'm not talking safety locks that lock when your at your final height, but locks that lock on the way up.

akdiesel · Sep 7, 2012

digdug18 said:
I'm not talking safety locks that lock when your at your final height, but locks that lock on the way up.

They do.

sickjuice · Sep 7, 2012

machine_punk said:
If I remember, that maxes out at 600 pounds, for the 'double trolley.' The single trolley maxes out at 300 pounds.

Thats what the trolley is rated for- the strut is nowhere near that. The rating of the strut depends on the span, there are engineering tables available from them, I have a 3" binder full. I cant remember the numbers off hand but I remember wanting to build one then I dropped the idea after doing some research

machine_punk · Sep 7, 2012

sickjuice said:
Thats what the trolley is rated for- the strut is nowhere near that. The rating of the strut depends on the span, there are engineering tables available from them, I have a 3" binder full. I cant remember the numbers off hand but I remember wanting to build one then I dropped the idea after doing some research

Oh...yes...that was just the trolley rating. You would definitely have to engineer the strut track and supports to actually lift that much weight.

eberliron · Oct 10, 2012

sickjuice said:
Thats what the trolley is rated for- the strut is nowhere near that. The rating of the strut depends on the span, there are engineering tables available from them, I have a 3" binder full. I cant remember the numbers off hand but I remember wanting to build one then I dropped the idea after doing some research

The column and beam loading charts for the various types of Unistrut channel are available in Unistrut's #17 General Engineering Catalog, which can be downloaded here.

The amount of weight the channel will support depends on the type & gauge of the Unistrut channel that is being used, the span between supports, and whether or not the load is a uniform load.

eberliron · Oct 10, 2012

Eberl Iron Works, Inc. (www.eberliron.com) has been an independent distributor of the Unistrut Metal Framing System since 1946. We love to see examples of people getting out their and creatively using the Unistrut product line!

We are currently running a Unistrut DIY Project contest and encourage you all to submit your designs - you could WIN a $500 gift certificate to Home Depot if we pick your design! If interested, please check out the contest rules HERE.

Zick · Oct 10, 2012

akdiesel · Feb 1, 2013

Thought I would bring this back up.

I'm not one for bragging on my self but I felt pretty good about my self for this story.
Wednesday morning I got a call from a lady at Eberl about a contest I entered. They had a DIY contest for Unistrut products. I entered my lift I made and I won first place.
Not sure out of how many entrants but for a nationwide or larger company to show this is a good feeling.
Thanks to Eberl Iron Works for the chance to show off.
Here is the lift I built.

And the Trolley track / storage section.

And then the bench frame work with electrical and airline distribution.

ChargedUp! · Feb 1, 2013

^^^
Congratulations!

LEVE · Feb 1, 2013

This was a very enjoyable thread to read... Thank you everyone for your input. It's got me thinking.... a lot! :bowdown:

Journaler · Feb 1, 2013

Akdiesel, congrats!

akdiesel · Feb 1, 2013

Chargedup & Journaler

Thank you. Love working with this stuff.

CNGsaves · Feb 1, 2013

akdiesel said:
Thought I would bring this back up.

I'm not one for bragging on my self but I felt pretty good about my self for this story.
Wednesday morning I got a call from a lady at Eberl about a contest I entered. They had a DIY contest for Unistrut products. I entered my lift I made and I won first place.
Not sure out of how many entrants but for a nationwide or larger company to show this is a good feeling.
Thanks to Eberl Iron Works for the chance to show off.
Here is the lift I built.

And the Trolley track / storage section.

And then the bench frame work with electrical and airline distribution.

Innovative work on the unistrut cable system . . . Congrats!!

You have a "build" that shows all the details? Or could you post some details and close-up pics??

So the whole thing is driven by one electric hoist? Both upper levels are move-able with the hoist . .. or just the middle level?? Show / tell us more!!

akdiesel · Feb 1, 2013

CNGsaves said:
Innovative work on the unistrut cable system . . . Congrats!!

You have a "build" that shows all the details? Or could you post some details and close-up pics??

So the whole thing is driven by one electric hoist? Both upper levels are move-able with the hoist . .. or just the middle level?? Show / tell us more!!

Thank you.
Here is the thread about the lift.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34840&showall=1
Both platform travel individually and each level has its own safety locks.
If I had the height room I could put another platform on it but I would also attach it to the wall since it may be top heavy but at the 10' mark it is safe free standing.

Trey T · Feb 1, 2013

Good stuff. Finished my 10' work bench using unistrut

akdiesel · Feb 2, 2013

Trey T said:
Good stuff. Finished my 10' work bench using unistrut

Been waiting it see the results. Please show some pics.

JimVonBaden · Feb 2, 2013

Jim

volaredon · Feb 2, 2013

I used unistrut as the top rail to my utility trailer, as it was what I had layin around, I welded it to the rail with "open side down"

machine_punk · Feb 2, 2013

JVB: That bench is well done. I am curious, why did you turn the unistrut to the inside? If it was turned to the outside, you could use the strut fixtures to attach things to your bench. Did I miss it in the picture, or is that shelf actually adjustable, with the insides of the strut allowing you to bolt it wherever you want it? Is there a particular reason to use the strut in this case, or would square tubing have worked?

Just trying to get insight into your project. It seems to fit the purpose, and the spot you have for it, well.

Kev.

JimVonBaden · Feb 2, 2013

machine_punk said:
JVB: That bench is well done. I am curious, why did you turn the unistrut to the inside? If it was turned to the outside, you could use the strut fixtures to attach things to your bench. Did I miss it in the picture, or is that shelf actually adjustable, with the insides of the strut allowing you to bolt it wherever you want it? Is there a particular reason to use the strut in this case, or would square tubing have worked?

Just trying to get insight into your project. It seems to fit the purpose, and the spot you have for it, well.

Kev.

I'll start with last first. I used it because a friend has a couple hundred laying around, 16' long. I welded everything, so not adjustable, and I turned the flushg side out for looks.

That said, I see where I missed a couple oportunities with your suggestions and now might rethink it and build another one.

Thanks for the suggestions, I am now thinking about a couple other projects with it. I like the wall shelving units one poster did! Hmmmmm

Jim

akdiesel · Feb 3, 2013

JimVonBaden
I saw your bench on another thread and didn't know it was Unistrut. Either way it looks great. There are advantages to both directions of the strut. Inside would allow for shelving but outside allows for additions and electrical.

Journaler · Feb 6, 2013

JimVonBaden said:

Are you using a motorcycle lift as a welding table?

JimVonBaden · Feb 6, 2013

Journaler said:
Are you using a motorcycle lift as a welding table?

Yup!

Jim

calereeves · Feb 7, 2013

Congrats man! Where are you at in AK? I'd love to come see that lift!

Edit: N/m...just did the intelligent thing and read your Location: Wasilla, AK.

akdiesel · Feb 7, 2013

calereeves

Thank you. Not much of a drive from ER. The shop is in chaos right now with all the other projects going on.

Show your Unistrut / Superstrut designs

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