Drilling holes into my hoist posts?

[Notch1988]

Looking for opinions... I don't see an issue coming from drilling/chamfering six 1/2" holes into each of the posts on my 2 post Bendpak. I'm building some brackets to hold all the pads/extensions to mount to the hoist.

 

[tarmy]

1/2” seems big for holding that little of weight. I would be very careful with screwing with the structural integrity of something holding alot of weight while I was under it...

Ask the manufacturer if that is acceptable...and if it voids the warranty...

 

[JohnnyK8]

How about tack welding on a little shelf?

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[biggziff]

Talk to Bendpak

 

[bob15]

Contact Bendpak. Maybe you could clamp a piece of superstrut to the lift and hang your stuff from that instead.

 

[Lotek]

A pair of 1/4" bolts hold the brackets for the pads on my hoists, no need for overkill here.

 

[finn]

1/4” will hold anything you want to hang on the posts, within reason.

Be careful, though. There’s not much clearance between the carriage and the post.

 

[SALIV8]

I wouldn't even drill into the posts.

I'd use a u-clamp.

 

[Bendibal]

Magnets?

 

[ard]

Crazy glue?

 

[coljar]

On my Bendpak, there are 3/16" thick sheet metal panels on each of the bottom 3ft. or so of the outside part of the posts. They don't do anything structurally, so I can drill into them all I want. Have they changed the design on later models and done away with these panels?

 

[PT Doc]

You could likely clamp some flat bar with some U bolts to the post. I wouldn’t drill it just because I would likely want to change the location about 1 hour later.

 

[Stea1thNinja]

No way I would drill holes into a structural component like that when there are so many alternatives.

 

[Notch1988]

Thanks for all the opinions. I'll give Bendpak a call in the morning. Everything they've attached to the hoist has been welded to the columns so if that's a better/recommended route from them then I'll do that instead.

 

[Ironcrow]

Benpak is just going to poop themselves. I wouldn't bother to call them. They've got no reason to say anything other than don't do it everybody will die. Other than that, a few 1/4 inch holes to hang some brackets are fine. Do what you want to do.

 

[383 240z]

tack a section of uni-strut? remember, you can pick up a fully dressed big block with the transmission with the four little carb studs....

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I vote for welding, the columns are plenty thick enough that a little welding isn't going to hurt them.
I have welded brackets for my air hose reel, ext cord, drop light and electrical boxes to the columns

 

[Jazzman442]

Do not dill into your 2 post. Like all other said. Weld, magnets That is what I use or clamps. Look around there are some options for this. Doesn't Bend Pack make a holder for these?

 

[doublearon98]

Structurally it's fine. As others have said no need for 1/2", go with 1/4".

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[Dragfluid]

I vote for welding, the columns are plenty thick enough that a little welding isn't going to hurt them.
I have welded brackets for my air hose reel, ext cord, drop light and electrical boxes to the columns

You must not work in your shed during the winter?

 

[rburke65]

I would pass on the drill, and tack weld a bracket or a piece of unistrut. I don’t think there is much thickness there to begin with.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

You must not work in your shed during the winter?

yeah I pretty much shut it down for January and February.

 

[Notch1988]

Thought I'd post an update. Decided to weld them as there are no holes drilled in the columns, every attachment is welded from Bendpak so I did the same.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

very nice

 

[sreeb]

I drilled and tapped for #10 screws. Just avoid the corners where bearing pads ride.

 

[bad_idea]

Did you call Bendpak? I'm with you on the welding, do not see a structural concern. But, I am curious what Bendpak would say. If they would void the warranty for that.

 

[larry4406]

Nice job. I would have rounded the corners on the shelves. I can see me gouging myself.

 

[finn]

Round the corners. Those are shirt and shoulder rippers with the sharp corners.

Bolting would have been fine.

 

[Notch1988]

Nice job. I would have rounded the corners on the shelves. I can see me gouging myself.

Yeah I don’t know why I didn’t design them with rounded corners but they only cost $5 each from the laser cutting place so I may just remake them. Honestly I don’t find I get that close to them because of how big the base plate is, you would need to step on it to get close enough.

 

[Notch1988]

Did you call Bendpak? I'm with you on the welding, do not see a structural concern. But, I am curious what Bendpak would say. If they would void the warranty for that.

No, I know how that conversation would have went. I just made sure I didn’t pour the heat to the column, didn’t even bubble the paint on the backside.
My hoist is 5 years old so I wasn’t too concerned with warranty.

 

[Kevin54]

ROUND THOSE CORNERS!!!!! Those sharp corners will slice to the bone.

Also what you can do is wrap the edge of the sheetmetal with the strips that come on bandsaw blades. I'm talking the type that comes on the blades that fit larger horizontal saws. The plastic edging that protects the teeth in shipment is ideal for sheetmetal.

 

[CJseven]

You could have used Click Bond studs also.

https://www.clickbond.com/mr10

 

[larry4406]

You could have used Click Bond studs also.

https://www.clickbond.com/mr10

Very clever!

 

[JohnnyK8]

Nicely done

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[Miss the Pontiacs]

You could have used Click Bond studs also.

https://www.clickbond.com/mr10

Good find

 

[LX-Markham]

You could have used Click Bond studs also.

https://www.clickbond.com/mr10

oh, i think i could find a lot of uses for those!
thanks for the link!

 

[WaterBoyz]

tack a section of uni-strut? remember, you can pick up a fully dressed big block with the transmission with the four little carb studs....

Many many many years ago, there was an article in a car magazine that gave the engineering reply as to how those 4 tiny 1/4" stud and nut can support so much weight.

Actually, it was shocking to point of being almost unbeleivable. But was true.

 

[fsae0607]

Many many many years ago, there was an article in a car magazine that gave the engineering reply as to how those 4 tiny 1/4" stud and nut can support so much weight.

Actually, it was shocking to point of being almost unbeleivable. But was true.

You'd be surprised. The load gets shared between the male and female threads and distributed along the engaged thread area. This is why threads can handle a lot of load.

Here's from my Machine Design engineering book. This is the thread area formula:

Thread Area = (0.5) x (pi) x (pitch diameter, inches) x (Length of thread engagement, inches)

So you see, as you add thread engagement, it gives you more area to take the load. Same with going up a fastener size.

Nerd moment over, lol