Free Crane Install

[freudianfloyd]

As some of you may have seen in a previous post, I was given several free chain hoists from work. This past weekend I took advantage of the nice weather and decided to install one in my garage.

Having stud walls, this proved a little tricky, but I found an idea on this forum and somewhat copied it to fit my needs.

It works great, everything was over engineered, and I was able to lift my 800 lb drill press and move it all over my garage with one hand. It rolls up against the wall when not in use, but is 10' wide so it can straddle a car and aid in pulling an engine if needed.

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It still needs some paint. I used a heavy walled 4"x6" tube bolted to the wall, and a 3/16" thick pipe on the other end for a leg. At the bottom is a steel tube with 1,000lb casters on it.

I may still add a gusset on the leg where the pipe meets the I-beam, but for the time being, it seems to be more than strong enough.

 

[erniebahr]

That's really nice! What a great freebie. If only i were so lucky. That would be great for engine pulling.

 

[venturesomerite]

Looks like it should work. Let's see the wheel end of it!

 

[freudianfloyd]

Looks like it should work. Let's see the wheel end of it!

I will have to get pictures when I get home.

 

[rlitman]

Looks like it should work. Let's see the wheel end of it!

+1 That's what I want to see most.

PS, really nice Delta Bandsaw!

 

[freudianfloyd]

+1 That's what I want to see most.

PS, really nice Delta Bandsaw!

I will try to get some pictures. It is basically a rectangular tube with 2 casters on it, and a few gussets.

Thanks for the comment on the bandsaw, I just got it up and running a few weeks ago.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Here is a picture of the foot. The casters are rated for 1,000 lbs each. If I was making it again, I might have made the foot a little wider, but this was the material I had on hand. Either way it is pretty stable, and like I said, I used it to move that big drill press around and had it at all points of the crane, and it was as sturdy as I will ever need.

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[rlitman]

You probably want another gusset between the column and the beam, but I like the rolling foot. If I can find the space for something like this, I'm going to try to copy it.

 

[freudianfloyd]

You probably want another gusset between the column and the beam, but I like the rolling foot. If I can find the space for something like this, I'm going to try to copy it.

Yeah, the gusset was on my list. It will probably be overkill but might as well.

 

[Murphy4570]

That is seriously bad ***. You will find a million uses for that. Having an electric winch just is the icing on the cake right there. I'd get by with a manual chain hoist myself.

 

[freudianfloyd]

That is seriously bad ***. You will find a million uses for that. Having an electric winch just is the icing on the cake right there. I'd get by with a manual chain hoist myself.

Thanks. I was getting by by borrowing an engine hoist everytime I needed to lift something. The crane was a freebie from work, otherwise Id still be borrowing.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah that is cool!

I have a compliment and a complaint.

Sweet band saw! I have the same one. 14", not the horz.

You should have painted the post! Look how nice that would have looked painted the same as the beam!

 

[freudianfloyd]

Yeah that is cool!

I have a compliment and a complaint.

Sweet band saw! I have the same one. 14", not the horz.

You should have painted the post! Look how nice that would have looked painted the same as the beam!

The paint is in the works. Waiting for a warm day.

 

[cwh]

I have been planning the exact same thing for my shop, only on a somewhat larger scale, and probably without the electric hoist, unless I get really lucky on CL.

Do you have any detail shots on the pivot point?

Nice execution. I have a feeling you are going to love this thing. Also, you **** for getting these for free.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I have been planning the exact same thing for my shop, only on a somewhat larger scale, and probably without the electric hoist, unless I get really lucky on CL.

Do you have any detail shots on the pivot point?

Nice execution. I have a feeling you are going to love this thing. Also, you **** for getting these for free.

I will get you a picture.

 

[bullnerd]

The paint is in the works. Waiting for a warm day.

OK, I feel better now.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I have been planning the exact same thing for my shop, only on a somewhat larger scale, and probably without the electric hoist, unless I get really lucky on CL.

Do you have any detail shots on the pivot point?

Nice execution. I have a feeling you are going to love this thing. Also, you **** for getting these for free.

Is this what you were wanting to see?

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[venturesomerite]

Here is a picture of the foot. The casters are rated for 1,000 lbs each. If I was making it again, I might have made the foot a little wider, but this was the material I had on hand. Either way it is pretty stable, and like I said, I used it to move that big drill press around and had it at all points of the crane, and it was as sturdy as I will ever need.

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For what it's worth, I've used similar casters on motor stands and stuff like that, they tend to pick up little bits like shavings and **** in the wheels (I assume they are plastic as they look like it)

I swapped mine with a nice set of all steel wheels, while louder rolling, they have yet to have and hitchhikers.

Of course, you could just be very mindfull to sweep before you roll. Looks like you have a nice smooth floor to boot! My garage looks like someone stuffed concrete in their burrito and waited around till it came out the other end.



Also, is there a zero fitting on the main pivot? That might be a worth while project one day.

 

[freudianfloyd]

For what it's worth, I've used similar casters on motor stands and stuff like that, they tend to pick up little bits like shavings and **** in the wheels (I assume they are plastic as they look like it)

I swapped mine with a nice set of all steel wheels, while louder rolling, they have yet to have and hitchhikers.

Of course, you could just be very mindfull to sweep before you roll. Looks like you have a nice smooth floor to boot! My garage looks like someone stuffed concrete in their burrito and waited around till it came out the other end.



Also, is there a zero fitting on the main pivot? That might be a worth while project one day.

Yeah, I was thinking about that with the casters when I put them together, but they were the ones I already had. Some day I may change them out, or like you said, just sweep first. As for the pivot, it does not have a zerk fitting, but the parts were greased before they were put together. Should last for a while anyway. Maybe some day a grease fitting will be in the works.

 

[sberry]

I posted a version of the same on here a few years ago,

 

[freudianfloyd]

I posted a version of the same on here a few years ago,

Nice, it was the only way I could find to mount a jib on a weak stud wall. I had seen your pictures on Google images so I can't take credit for the design.

 

[cwh]

Is this what you were wanting to see?

Yes sir... thanks. I think I will end up with screw-down support legs so the rolling end is stationary while in use.

I'm getting quite a bit ahead of myself though, as the shop doesn't have a slab or doors or power yet...

 

[C_F]

Man, that is sweet! Gotta love the price too, congrats!

 

[sberry]

I had intended on doing something similar, I built that for a bud. I eventually fixed an a frame I had, sized it for where it went and it could go anywhere if it had to but has a hone it hasn't drifted from for years, after about the 3rd revision I got tired of looking at it and got the thing all the same color.