Sheet Stock Lift to 2'nd Floor

[Greatwhitewing]

Designing a new garage/shop and want to store sheet and board stock on second floor. Too old to carry up the stairs so looking for a motorized lift to do the hard labor.
Thinking of something a little longer than 8' x maybe 32" wide that stores essentially flush with first floor ceiling when not in use. Bring material
Load should only be a couple sheets at a time, say 250 pounds of lift with some margin.

Any ideas for parts, design, photos, lessons learned?

My very early mechanical cad model. Sheet comes in 8' garage door and gets lifted to second floor and off loaded to a rack to be designed. Only showing the hole in the floor right now

 

[PCustoms]

Is this material eventually going to be used on the 1st floor?

Seems like a lot of work/movement if so.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Is this material eventually going to be used on the 1st floor?

Seems like a lot of work/movement if so.

Probably on first floor but I will have a CNC on second floor so some may get used up there but full size sheets on first floor at least till rough cut

 

[Gutman]

All I can add is make sure you consider what will need to leave when you're working on your sizing.

 

[PCustoms]

All I can add is make sure you consider what will need to leave when you're working on your sizing.

Yeah, like how is he getting the CNC into the 2nd floor?

 

[wssix99]

Any material handling company (pallet racking, etc.) should be able to get you a proper device:

https://info.southwestsolutions.com/hubfs/Brochures/SSG-Brochures/CUS-201/Vertical-Reciprocating-Conveyors.pdf?_gl=1*xhpr30*_gcl_au*MjMzMzE2MzEwLjE3NzI5MTE5OTA.

If money is no object, you could also get a vacuum lifter and attach it to a chain joist and boom crane on the second floor. (Then you could use it for moving product around up there, also. https://www.tawi.com/en-us/vacuum-lifts/multi-functional-vacuum-lifting

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Any material handling company (pallet racking, etc.) should be able to get you a proper device:

https://info.southwestsolutions.com/hubfs/Brochures/SSG-Brochures/CUS-201/Vertical-Reciprocating-Conveyors.pdf?_gl=1*xhpr30*_gcl_au*MjMzMzE2MzEwLjE3NzI5MTE5OTA.

If money is no object, you could also get a vacuum lifter and attach it to a chain joist and boom crane on the second floor. (Then you could use it for moving product around up there, also. https://www.tawi.com/en-us/vacuum-lifts/multi-functional-vacuum-lifting

That's pretty impressive but overkill for my use. Thanks

 

[cvairwerks]

FYI...Unless you aren't after much better than 1/4" accuracy with the CNC, having it on the second floor is going to be a huge problem. We've got 8" thick concrete floors on the 2nd and 3rd level mezzanines at work and you can watch the ripples in a water glass when someone stomps around within about 60 feet of it. We had to move our solder training labs to the 1st floor due to vibration.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Yeah, like how is he getting the CNC into the 2nd floor?

Partially disassemble and get some help. Base table I made pretty sturdy will probably be the hardest part

 

[Greatwhitewing]

FYI...Unless you aren't after much better than 1/4" accuracy with the CNC, having it on the second floor is going to be a huge problem. We've got 8" thick concrete floors on the 2nd and 3rd level mezzanines at work and you can watch the ripples in a water glass when someone stomps around within about 60 feet of it. We had to move our solder training labs to the 1st floor due to vibration.

Running fast feed rates? Something to consider
Thanks

 

[JuncleJohn]

Electric chain hoist with a wireless remote.

John

 

[carcruse]

Do you have or are going to get a 4-post lift?

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've seen a couple different YouTubers who have built hoists or elevators to lift stuff into their garage attics. They look to be typically a platform that's maybe 4'x6' (although sizes vary), with a system of cables and pulleys connected to a Harbor Freight hoist. Others run up and down on a couple sections of Unistrut that are bolted to the wall. I don't have any of them bookmarked, but just go to YouTube and search on 'garage attic hoist' or 'garage attic elevator' and a bunch of them will turn up.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Do you have or are going to get a 4-post lift?

No, not in the plans

 

[carcruse]

No, not in the plans

OK, was going to suggest using it if you had one. A friend had a auto restoration shop in an old cow barn. After dismantling the car he loaded the parts on a cart and stored them in the 2nd floor hay loft until needed. He got them up to the second floor using a 4-post lift.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Some of these ideas where covered in this previous thread on GJ. Likely there are many others

Idea for pull down staircase or man/cargo elevator | The Garage Journal

Idea for pull down staircase or man/cargo elevator

Looking for ideas for either or both: pull down staircase or a freight/man elevator. Thanks

www.garagejournal.com

 

[pcmeiners]

Don't understand.....
Trucks delivering Sheetrock have lifts for the last 70 years. You frame out at least one window opening wide enough for 4 ft wide Sheetrock to go through, have everything delivered, then re-frame the opening for a smaller window; the initial framing could start with an opening of 6' high, 8'wide . As to storing heavy or lifting heavy stuff other than Sheetrock, that same delivery truck can lift just about anything to the second floor with some financial greasing and careful planning.

Used to build multi story buildings We lifted to second through 4th floors. Cement mixers, welders, skid of cement block, AC units, cement buggies, large transformers, skids of Portland, beams 22' high, 4"thick 22' long etc .

 

[PCustoms]

Don't understand.....
Trucks delivering Sheetrock have lifts for the last 70 years. You frame out at least one window opening wide enough for 4 ft wide Sheetrock to go through, have everything delivered, then re-frame the opening for a smaller window; the initial framing could start with an opening of 6' high, 8'wide . As to storing heavy or lifting heavy stuff other than Sheetrock, that same delivery truck can lift just about anything to the second floor with some financial greasing.

I'm guessing the OP is having 2 sheets delivered, and if he is, that they're not using a boom truck...

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Don't understand.....
Trucks delivering Sheetrock have lifts for the last 70 years. You frame out at least one window opening wide enough for 4 ft wide Sheetrock to go through, have everything delivered, then re-frame the opening for a smaller window; the initial framing could start with an opening of 6' high, 8'wide . As to storing heavy or lifting heavy stuff other than Sheetrock, that same delivery truck can lift just about anything to the second floor with some financial greasing and careful planning.

I am dealing a couple sheets of plywood I pick up myself periodically. I am just a hobbyist woodworker and want to store bulk stock out of my way.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Some of these ideas where covered in this previous thread on GJ. Likely there are many others

Idea for pull down staircase or man/cargo elevator | The Garage Journal

Idea for pull down staircase or man/cargo elevator

Looking for ideas for either or both: pull down staircase or a freight/man elevator. Thanks

www.garagejournal.com

That message chain was very informative. TWVM
My primary plan is a wood framed "bracket" with a 2k pound Harbor Freight hoist with Unistrut rails to keep it aligned. Very much like the first YT video

 

[manwithtools]

Here's an alternative idea for you. It involves the use of a Grabo cordless vacuum lifter and a wireless remote controlled hoist. This allows lifting the sheets from a flat on the floor (or in the pickup bed) position. The sheet transitions from horizontal to vertical as the hoist raises it. Mounting the hoist to an X-Y gantry mounted to the second floor ceiling allows you to move the sheet away from your floor opening to a safe position before lowering it to the second floor surface. This method only hoists one sheet at a time, but greatly saves the back breaking work.

Some pictures and a couple of videos to help illustrate this concept follow. I didn't feel like wrassling a full sheet, so I used a scrap cut-off.

Grabo and chains attached to hoist:




X-Y Gantry made from Unistrut and accessories:



Video of Gantry:

Video of panel being lifted:

List of materials to construct the gantry: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HFXGS9QV84N9?tag=atomicindus08-20

Let me know your thoughts...

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Here's an alternative idea for you. It involves the use of a Grabo cordless vacuum lifter and a wireless remote controlled hoist. This allows lifting the sheets from a flat on the floor (or in the pickup bed) position. The sheet transitions from horizontal to vertical as the hoist raises it. Mounting the hoist to an X-Y gantry mounted to the second floor ceiling allows you to move the sheet away from your floor opening to a safe position before lowering it to the second floor surface. This method only hoists one sheet at a time, but greatly saves the back breaking work.

Some pictures and a couple of videos to help illustrate this concept follow. I didn't feel like wrassling a full sheet, so I used a scrap cut-off.

Grabo and chains attached to hoist:




X-Y Gantry made from Unistrut and accessories:



Video of Gantry:

Video of panel being lifted:

List of materials to construct the gantry: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HFXGS9QV84N9?tag=atomicindus08-20

Let me know your thoughts...

Interesting idea but perhaps something for material handling just on the ground floor. Certainly keep the idea in mind. Having overhead lifting is great

 

[Codyboy]

Here's an alternative idea for you. It involves the use of a Grabo cordless vacuum lifter and a wireless remote controlled hoist. This allows lifting the sheets from a flat on the floor (or in the pickup bed) position. The sheet transitions from horizontal to vertical as the hoist raises it. Mounting the hoist to an X-Y gantry mounted to the second floor ceiling allows you to move the sheet away from your floor opening to a safe position before lowering it to the second floor surface. This method only hoists one sheet at a time, but greatly saves the back breaking work.

Some pictures and a couple of videos to help illustrate this concept follow. I didn't feel like wrassling a full sheet, so I used a scrap cut-off.

Grabo and chains attached to hoist:




X-Y Gantry made from Unistrut and accessories:



Video of Gantry:

Video of panel being lifted:

List of materials to construct the gantry: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HFXGS9QV84N9?tag=atomicindus08-20

Let me know your thoughts...

That unistrut looks like it would bend with a load , especially right in the middle of travel.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

That unistrut looks like it would bend with a load , especially right in the middle of travel.

The rails don't carry any load except very small side loads to keep the elevator going straight up and down. Finding a lot of YT'ers showing varying details mostly with the the platform construction but same basic design. Have to have the hoist close to wall the unistrut is mounted.

 

[manwithtools]

That unistrut looks like it would bend with a load , especially right in the middle of travel.

It would if you load it to heavily. I'll never have more than 150-200 lbs on it. It will deflect a bit at that load.

 

[mm08822]

For the simplest of designs and cost, a few vertical 2x4's placed through the opening can be loaded with sheet material onto an attached horizontal ledge spanning the vertical 2x4s. You can load the sheets from the 1st floor onto the ledge (about 4-5' ht), then, once you are on the 2nd floor, pull them off the ledge onto the 2nd floor.

I raised 1/2" plywood onto my first home's roof this way all by myself.

Frame the opening big enough for the future needs. Even if you start with a smaller opening (within the larger opening), it would be easy to modify in the future.

Definitely have an overhead rail with enough length to trolley away from the opening. Make sure you can securely close the opening for safety when not in use.

 

[Kaizen]

This is how i got 5/8 zip to my roof. 2x material made two L shapes so the wheels on the trolley stayed put and the plywood sat on 2x trolley. Pulley at the top and AC winch at the bottom. I raised it and then got up on scaffold and took off.

 

[My Old Tools]

This is how I do it...