Printer Mike
Well-known member
Anyone ever made one or have any info.? I only need to lift one person about 8 feet. Slow is OK. Quiet would be nice...
DIY elevator...
- Thread starter Printer Mike
- Start date
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
There are several systems for home use available. Some are DIY installs if I remember right. Elevators get into all kinds of safety, inspection, and code issues. Many engineers and fabricators could make one but liability comes to mind.
Cousins used to have an elevator in the barn that was a man cage with a rope up and over a pulley and down to a box of rocks for a counter balance. There was a second rope that was tied to the roof and floor that was used to pull yourself up or down depending on your weight and the amount of rocks in the counterbalance box. There was also a foot brake that pinched the pull rope to control speed if necesssary.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
Years ago I worked in a shop that had an elevator made from modifying a garage door opener. It was used as a dumb waiter type thing to raise and lower parts from the storage room upstairs. Worked very well as I remember and had no problem lifting a couple hundred pounds.
toolman1967
Well-known member
I made an elevator to bring boxes up to the attic of the new garage, I'll try to go out and get a couple of pics.
Basically it is two pieces of unistrut bolted to the wall with a set if rolling hangers attached to a platform. The motor is a 110 winch sold as a 220/440 pound pull electric winch for lifting deer and the like. A couple of pulleys to multiply the force and direct the cable and call it done!
Works great and saves the back and cussing!
Basically it is two pieces of unistrut bolted to the wall with a set if rolling hangers attached to a platform. The motor is a 110 winch sold as a 220/440 pound pull electric winch for lifting deer and the like. A couple of pulleys to multiply the force and direct the cable and call it done!
Works great and saves the back and cussing!
phy6
Well-known member
If you ever go to apply for a permit for this, never use the word elevator, use the phrase "Reciprocating Conveyor". This avoids lots of unnecessary red tape. Also, some metal shops/etc won't touch your project if you say it's an elevator. I was considering putting one in along with a mezzanine level in my garage, so I did a bit of research. Current plan is to use the 4 post lift I got along with a wood platform to allow access to the upper storage.
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OP
Printer Mike
Well-known member
"Reciprocating Conveyor"
Yes.. That's what I meant.
Thanks!
Yes.. That's what I meant.
Thanks!
Zeke
Well-known member
I did the winch thing. Works great.
Can you give us more details on how and where it will be used? Is this to get yourself up to the attic, or is it for a relative with a wheelchair, or what?
KrisKustomPaint
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2010
- Messages
- 99
if its to be used for people, I would build a braking system similar to what is used in regular elevators. Basically the lift cable is hooked to a spring loaded brake, that stays retracted as long as the cable is connected. The weight of the elevator keeps the brakes from stopping the car. if the cable snaps the brakes flip out and lock the car to the guide track. Clear as mud.
nehog
Well-known member
If used for people, you better get it done professionally, because if anything goes wrong and someone's hurt, you'll sure wish you had...
For a dumb waiter you need a way to prevent people from falling into the hole/shaft (someone was killed recently when this happened in a restaurant.) along with other safety considerations.
I know a guy who does these for a living and he'd probably advise you to 'forget it', unless you have a serious budget. (and you won't get approval from the state for a home-made people lift.)
For a dumb waiter you need a way to prevent people from falling into the hole/shaft (someone was killed recently when this happened in a restaurant.) along with other safety considerations.
I know a guy who does these for a living and he'd probably advise you to 'forget it', unless you have a serious budget. (and you won't get approval from the state for a home-made people lift.)
toolman1967
Well-known member
Winch works great for me and moving stuff. If I were to think about making a people mover, I would use a screw so if the motor craps on you or you break a cable the platform would not fall.
If it is to be a people mover, look into the lifts for wheelchairs. I have put a few in, as a Rehab Tech, and they were pretty simple. They may run a couple of thou, but as a people mover, they are really good. They can also run off their battery when the power goes out. Or you can just use an old forklift front, mount the lift and hook up a hydrolic pump to an electric motor. You can buy them for the back of a farm tractor at auctions all the time.
henrysgarage
Well-known member
One fellow I know used a fork lift ram to build a lift.
Capt Chrysler
Well-known member
A friend of mine took a mast of a fork lift. Then build it into the wall. Works very well.
Capt. Chrysler
Capt. Chrysler
toolman1967
Well-known member
This is the pics of mine, Like I posted earlier, this could easily be adapted to use a screw drive instead of the cable that I am using.
This might give you some ideas, too. (But you'd need something different for eight feet.)
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3guc206Aw2o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3guc206Aw2o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
OK, one person and ~8 ft of lift (one story approximately).
But what, where, and why?
In the (personal) shop to get up to the mezzanine? Just get a scissor-lift aka man-lift.
In the house for someone in a walker/wheelchair to get to the second floor? Go and buy one.
Anything industrial/commercial situation? Go and buy one.
The liability and permits and inspections and certifications pretty much prevent you from any DIY on this one.
Sorry.
But what, where, and why?
In the (personal) shop to get up to the mezzanine? Just get a scissor-lift aka man-lift.
In the house for someone in a walker/wheelchair to get to the second floor? Go and buy one.
Anything industrial/commercial situation? Go and buy one.
The liability and permits and inspections and certifications pretty much prevent you from any DIY on this one.
Sorry.
LEVE
Well-known member
I just finished up a project you may be interested in. Click on the pict to go to the thread.:
It moves 200lbs worth of pellets up 7'. The winch is rated at 800lbs (double it with a pulley system?) and works quite smoothly. The system seems sound and could easily be beefed up a bit to move larger platform and longer distance. What I like about it is that when I'm not using it, it's stored up as far as it will go and it's out of the way, not taking up floor space. You may find something you'd like to use.
It moves 200lbs worth of pellets up 7'. The winch is rated at 800lbs (double it with a pulley system?) and works quite smoothly. The system seems sound and could easily be beefed up a bit to move larger platform and longer distance. What I like about it is that when I'm not using it, it's stored up as far as it will go and it's out of the way, not taking up floor space. You may find something you'd like to use.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Look at the man lifts used in grain elevators back in the day. Counter balance and a foot brake. They really only work if you're weight matches the counter balance. They would usually weight them for the guy running the grain elevator.
I was planning to pull one out of my father-in-laws grain elevator before they tore it down but like a week before one of the ropes snapped and the whole thing came crashing down. . .right though the floor.
I was planning to pull one out of my father-in-laws grain elevator before they tore it down but like a week before one of the ropes snapped and the whole thing came crashing down. . .right though the floor.
pmiranda
Well-known member
I've been thinking about this for a long time... not just a piece of plywood but a platform that's indexed to the lifting frame so it won't move around when you're wheeling or sliding stuff on and off, and with the upper landing at the height of one of the stops so there's no step to slow things down.
GarageEnvy
Well-known member
I don't want to sound like the safety police but this one scares me. I had a childhood friend killed by a dumb waiter. He was decapitated. Also two weeks ago I inspected a home with an elevator and it had been abandoned. The prospective buyer tried to use it and just about died. Admittedly this second case was a total fluke. Apparently the elevator worked on water pressure (didn't check but was told that by 2 different people) and a hose ruptured when it was loaded.
Way too many safety features would have to be designed in for me to want to install one.
Way too many safety features would have to be designed in for me to want to install one.
I like this one. It would be ok in the shop but if you need it for granny in the house I wouldn't 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPjk8AgtZQ&feature=related[/URL]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPjk8AgtZQ&feature=related[/URL]
Too_Many_Tools
Banned
Any DIY lift for people is DOA because of liability.
Install one at your own economic risk.
If the zoning department gets wind of it, you are screwed.
Install one at your own economic risk.
If the zoning department gets wind of it, you are screwed.
akdiesel
Well-known member
The first two phrases don't set well with me. I understand a lot of legality is simply "Play on words" but revolutionary products started as a DIY and I would hope people take safety into aspect when building anything.
Just be smart and do your research.
Way back when, a friend of mine made a elevator for 1 floor lift/decent using a large round concrete form, a heavy duty air bag, and a shop vacuum. The vac pumped up the bag to go up under a round capsule in the concrete form and a diverter valve allowed it to slowly go back down. It connected a first floor closet to the second floor closet. Always knew him as "crazy Norm" no idea how he got the name of course
tymbo
Well-known member
check out this pneumatic elevator. Just like at the bank driveup!
how do you get a couch or a refrigerator in that one?
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Too_Many_Tools
Banned
No insult intended...just speaking the truth.
Next time you are talking to your insurance agent, mention this subject and hear his opinion.
Professur
Well-known member
the first elevators were screw driven. A plate with 4 nuts welded to the corners, and 4 threaded rods turned in unison. Easy as pie.
V-10 Killer
Well-known member
I like this one. It would be ok in the shop but if you need it for granny in the house I wouldn't
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bPjk8AgtZQ&feature=related[/URL]
That's the one I immediately thought of when I started reading this thread. Though I certainly won't leave it there for the next homeowner to sue me, I'll be building one just like that for my attached garage as soon I start my next remodel.
James-W
Well-known member
This is a very interesting subject. I built a lift so I could store stuff in the upstairs of my garage. I had built a rather large garage this past year and I made it so that there is a second floor I can stand up in and where I can store all sorts of things where they are safe, dry and out of the way.
I have a couple videos I made before I insulated the garage and put up the drywall. I am not very good with a camcorder, but I think the videos will at least give you an idea of how the lift looks and how it works. The young woman in the video is my oldest daughter.
My intent is to put all sorts of things up on top, some of which are large items and therefore very bulky. Some of the other items I want to store up there are quite heavy and require both hands in order to pick them up. Because of this I knew that a stairs or a ladder was definitely not the answer for getting these things up there. So a lift of sorts seemed to be the only solution. With that in mind, I decided to come up with a method for building a lift and the following is what I came up with.
http://www.windemuth.org/video-files/Lift-1.avi
http://www.windemuth.org/video-files/Lift-2.avi
I have a couple videos I made before I insulated the garage and put up the drywall. I am not very good with a camcorder, but I think the videos will at least give you an idea of how the lift looks and how it works. The young woman in the video is my oldest daughter.
My intent is to put all sorts of things up on top, some of which are large items and therefore very bulky. Some of the other items I want to store up there are quite heavy and require both hands in order to pick them up. Because of this I knew that a stairs or a ladder was definitely not the answer for getting these things up there. So a lift of sorts seemed to be the only solution. With that in mind, I decided to come up with a method for building a lift and the following is what I came up with.
http://www.windemuth.org/video-files/Lift-1.avi
http://www.windemuth.org/video-files/Lift-2.avi
All of you Doom and Gloom safety nazis stay away.
I have been considering a lift and when I saw this I wanted to share with those of you who can appreciate it. It is a 4 story armstrong powered lift in a Hardware Store that was built in 1911. Quiet, no electricity and you can stand beside it and operate it from any floor without your own weight on it
We looked it over good and found no Manufacturer tag anywhere.. It was built in place. My camera quit and I am waiting for the Engineer to send more pictures. The platform looked like a pallet with an iron brace for the cables. It has stamped tin ceiling tiles on the bottom.
First picture in on the fourth floor. The big rope is spliced and taped and is the power rope.
I have been considering a lift and when I saw this I wanted to share with those of you who can appreciate it. It is a 4 story armstrong powered lift in a Hardware Store that was built in 1911. Quiet, no electricity and you can stand beside it and operate it from any floor without your own weight on it
We looked it over good and found no Manufacturer tag anywhere.. It was built in place. My camera quit and I am waiting for the Engineer to send more pictures. The platform looked like a pallet with an iron brace for the cables. It has stamped tin ceiling tiles on the bottom.
First picture in on the fourth floor. The big rope is spliced and taped and is the power rope.
