Shop made forklift attachments thread

[drivesitfar]

ALL: one thing that I thought was nice to have with my old JET hydraulic pallet lift was this steel table like top that fit over the forks. I'd use it like a bench and it really came in handy moving some heavy things out of my Honda Pilot and trailer.

I should have kept this steel table top like piece when I sold the Jet lift, but sadly I threw it in the deal and i'm sure the new owner loves it.

i've been looking for one of this style lift tables, but I really don't have much flat surface to roll it around at home and i'm trying to vacate my storage units this year.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

GT: just ask ORC cause I would love to live where I could put a shipping container and have some free storage.

ORC: several shapers? do you like those as much as LATHES or other cool tools you seem to gather? Great thread!!

Drives you would definitely have a serious mountain of stuff if not for the limitation of city life and expensive storage options. Then you would absolutely need a fork lift. As for the shapers and other machine tools I think it may be a disease. The orphans just seem to follow me home. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

ORC: yep it may be a disease, but really beats some of the other options like hookers, alcohol, drugs and those that cut this fun life short. plus who knows when we might need some of that STUFF to fix or repair or build something with.

speaking of mountains of stuff have you figured out how to buy more of your neighbor's properties to expand yours?

good to see up up early and reading and posting on our forum and if you are like me you probably learn something every time you do.

cheers!!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I am "planning" to cut back on my surplus over the next several years so I don't have to expand onto the neighbors. Biggest challenge to that is that while I'm still working outside it is not that easy to start a liquidation. I try not to keep much around that couldn't be easily scraped in the worst case....A lot of it has value well beyond scrap though so hopefully I get to stick around long enough to get better value and help fun an exciting retirement. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

ORC: you look very organized in your steel pile and guessing that one area of mass tools and stuff is just more like a dry lit storage unit where you can get to stuff that you don't need or use often.

I know you are helping one of your boys build a car so do your other kids share your passion for making stuff and old tools?

cool pic (daughter?)!!

 

[lis2323]

Ed, if you were closer I would be your best customer when you need to downsize!



I’ve already picked material out ....[emoji3]

 

[drivesitfar]

Lis: some of that WAS 4+ hours closer, but we can't get you off your ISLAND.

 

[lis2323]

Drives. Good point [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I really like that Jet lift you had [emoji481]

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

ORC: you look very organized in your steel pile and guessing that one area of mass tools and stuff is just more like a dry lit storage unit where you can get to stuff that you don't need or use often.

I have most of the steel racks under roof now but still have quite a bit of larger pieces out in the open. The shop pic does show it is a bit crowded in spots but still most things are easily accessible when needed.

I know you are helping one of your boys build a car so do your other kids share your passion for making stuff and old tools?
cool pic (daughter?)!!

All the kids still come home to work on their projects. Both girls are very crafty but mostly do wood, remodeling, and sewing type projects. The boys are typical and take on whatever needs doing. The beautiful young girl was a model my SIL brought by to do a steam punk series of photos for her portfolio. The also took several others down by the creek in different costumes. She liked the photo backdrops and is welcome back anytime.

Ed, if you were closer I would be your best customer when you need to downsize.
I’ve already picked material out ....[emoji3]

I do expect to be able to liquidate in a reasonable amount of time if I have to lis and my sons and SiL's know how to do it. For now it's nice to be able to make whatever I need just picking the scrap piles so motivation is still low. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

ORC & LIS: nice chatting with you and discussing stuff, but I have to run and get a few more things out of my storage into other people's shops and homes now.

at the minute it's not raining and hopefully it will hold off for a bit.

cheers!!

 

[gtermini]

Ed, this is my 5th shaper overall and 3rd in possession. That old Atlas got traded for a Burke mill that then got traded for something else. It's been quite an acquisition process over the past 10 years.

DIF: I live in a small, rural town where it's mostly a free-for-all for what goes on in your yard. I set the 20 ft conex last spring to get all the equipment I had stored across 4 counties in one place. They are a great storage solution. It cost about $4k to set up a nice conex, put a run of condition and breaker box, and have 1" of closed cell foam sprayed inside. It represents roughly enough equipment to start a prototype machine shop business. There is 3 BPs, a K&T 2H Univ, Monarch 10ee, Cinci Bickford 28" drill, and about 5 tons of tooling to go along with it.

Back on topic a little,
A freelift mast is a must on a forklift. I overlooked that when I bought mine. It had a 144" lumber yard mast that was about 9ft tall fully lowered and got taller as soon as you pulled the lever. I chased down a 3 stage mast off an electric Hyster S50E. The mounting points were wrong, so I blew them off with a torch and made up ones that matched the old mast. I repacked all the cylinders, replaced all the shims and rollers, and put new lines on it while I had it apart. It was about an additional $1500 and 30 hrs of work to get it done. The 2 stage masts are clear sight; there's nothing blocking your view between the uprights, but that isn't worth the added height in my opinion.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Back on topic a little,
A freelift mast is a must on a forklift.

Since everyone isn't a forklift rocket surgeon, this is the video I just looked up to see what you're talking about.

 

[lis2323]

Back in the days before YouTube you learned awful quick the first time you went to double stack a palletload in the van trailer and the mast went through the roof. [emoji23]

 

[lis2323]

Ed it looks like it will be way easier to install a rigging box on my Yale. I won’t need to hinge it as the seat tilts forward. Plus no propane tank in the way.

I could even route the exhaust through the box for heat. [emoji6]

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Your Yale does have a lot of free space on the counterweight lis. Not quite the full deck like on Stouty's lift from a few pages back but still a lot of room for gear. Making the hinge plate and hinge was easily the most challenging part of putting the rigging box on my Toyota. Ed.

 

[gtermini]

^I see you are yet another proof case that forklifts are chronically almost out of fuel when you need them most.

I'll add another one to the list of must have attachments. A spare propane tank or two.

 

[IndyGarage]

Thanks Indy, Electrics are definitely nice in the shop and maybe the yard as long as you don't have too much off surface use. I end up running quite a bit on gravel getting down to my junk...I mean supply pile, and I'm sure my rigging would rattle off and be scattered without some containment. It was fun to build at the very least and should help keep a few things handy. Ed.

Yeah, mine are stuck the second you leave pavement. On pavement or indoors I like the compactness and the quiet power of electric plus they have fewer moving parts to break - nothing I hate more than fixing my tools.

I've had a whole series of lifts in the past 10 years, a few clarks, couple of TCM's, Yale, Toyota, and about 4 different Nissan Electrics. I like Toyota and Nissan best.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

^I see you are yet another proof case that forklifts are chronically almost out of fuel when you need them most.

I'll add another one to the list of must have attachments. A spare propane tank or two.

Ha! The extra propane tank is definitely a must have. Fortunately I've got that one covered. Nothing worse than running out of fuel in the middle of something.

Yeah, mine are stuck the second you leave pavement. On pavement or indoors I like the compactness and the quiet power of electric plus they have fewer moving parts to break - nothing I hate more than fixing my tools.

I've had a whole series of lifts in the past 10 years, a few clarks, couple of TCM's, Yale, Toyota, and about 4 different Nissan Electrics. I like Toyota and Nissan best.

When I was looking of a lift I had a short list of three with Toyota at the top. I just missed out on a 6k Hyster with a rotator...I would have liked to have that one. Komatsu rounded out my top three and I would have sprung for the right deal. Nissan may have been one I overlooked though. After looking for several months I was starting to think I never would find the right lift at a fair price. Ed.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Recovery rings for pulling out stuck vehicles while I'm out plowing.

Located on the rear bottom of bucket so I can fully roll down, jam the bucket into the ground then curl back for maximum pull. Located at the outside of the bucket so if a sling or chain breaks I have less chance of eating it.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Looks like some handy pulling rings you've got on that skid steer muckin....and I must say you look remarkable for you're age. Unless of course that's you're #1 shop assistant in which case I'd say you're getting him off to a good start.

I'm trying to make an operator out of this young fellow too. Never too young to learn to love equipment....supervised of course. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

ED: good for you spending quality time with your grandson. my gramps rarely left me at home with my grandma when I stayed with them during the summers when my mom and dad were working so he'd take me up logging with him. I was from maybe 4 years old to 10 when this was going on and more than a few times gramps would set me on his lap while driving his big D9 Catapillar dozer while he cut in new logging roads on some pretty steep terrain. i thought it was a helluva good ride and never felt in danger and for a minute can you imagine being in this big machine knocking over trees (& root balls), huge rocks and debris while cutting in a level road on the side of a mountain.

I still remember those summer days and I rarely was bored and i'm 64 in a few weeks.

great thread and i'm learning a quite a bit as per usual when I hang with all of you.

 

[lis2323]

Recovery rings for pulling out stuck vehicles while I'm out plowing.

Those look good, Muckin and I’m sure you are being careful using them but I hope you are aware those are designed to be used for tie down and not for pulling or lifting.

 

[WittHay]

Ha! When I was looking of a lift I had a short list of three with Toyota at the top. I just missed out on a 6k Hyster with a rotator...I would have liked to have that one. Komatsu rounded out my top three and I would have sprung for the right deal. Nissan may have been one I overlooked though. After looking for several months I was starting to think I never would find the right lift at a fair price. Ed.

Nissan makes good forklifts. I think comparable to Toyota and Komatsu. We had a Nisan 5000 lb diesel. Also had a old Gerlinger 22,000 lb. beast. Made in Oregon

Still have all the attachments. Pair of really heavy fork extensions that were used for double decking semi trailers. A 16' angled boom that was used to place trusses on 22' pole barns

The favorite attachment is a 12' tall square cage with a safety platform on top and a ladder on the side. Used for changing yard lights, overhead wiring and any other time you need to be 20 some od feet up in the air

 

[lis2323]

Also had a old Gerlinger 22,000 lb. beast. Made in Oregon

Still have all the attachments. Pair of really heavy fork extensions that were used for double decking semi trailers.

I could have used that Gerlinger. I had to use two forklifts (one each side) to deck Super B’s It required coordinated lifting and backing the lead trailer under the rear.

No YouTube back then thank goodness. WCB would have had a field day.

 

[WittHay]

I could have used that Gerlinger. I had to use two forklifts (one each side) to deck Super B’s It required coordinated lifting and backing the lead trailer under the rear.

No YouTube back then thank goodness. WCB would have had a field day.

Remember Safety First. just joking, double forklifts or loaders are still used all the time

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Nice lifts Witthay and your Nissan does look like a nice lift. I really like the old Gerlinger though. I have a grill out of some ancient Gerlinger hanging on my shop wall. Mr. Gerlinger started his factory in Dallas not far at all from where I live. There are still a few around. Ed.

 

[zkdiesel]

Those look good, Muckin and I’m sure you are being careful using them but I hope you are aware those are designed to be used for tie down and not for pulling or lifting.

They will be fine, he will twist the sheet metal bucket all to hell before they come off. But a skidsteer that size can’t generally exert(traction or vertical lifting) enough force to tear that setup up when used by a responsible person

 

[tarmy]

You guys and your damn forklifts...

Now I gotta get another tool...jeez...

 

[lis2323]

You guys and your damn forklifts...



Now I gotta get another tool...jeez...

Blame Ed. He started it. [emoji16]

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Might as well just give in to the urge tarmy. Once you realize your tools or toys are too big to move around by hand it's time to let loose some dough and really step up your capability. Forklifts make shop work a lot more fun and way easier. Plus you get to make some neat attachments for them. Ed.

 

[lis2323]

My friend Matt was given a bent snow plow so he straightened it up and mounted it on his forklift.

 

[matt_i]

I'm going to add the BoxCar Special as a desirable feature.

This has the size of a 5k but with the high stacked counterweight its 7k nameplate, easily handle more if one is judicious and not abusive. I get some local abuse for having 2 forklifts but they each have their niche...

A forklift is a dream and a curse at the same time Once armed with that and a truck you can pack your shop chock full of heavy machinery I used to dream of a Hyster S150 with about 8ft forks but its going to have to wait lol I'm already destroying the driveway...

 

[lis2323]

Cool. Dunnage roof rack. [emoji106]

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

It looks like that snow plow attachment actually worked ok on the parking lot. I wouldn't expect it to be able to push much of a load at all on a slick surface. I have thought a set of chains could come in handy. Anyone made a set for a forklift?

That boxy Hyster looks like a throwback. I don't think I've seen one quite like that. It does look heavy duty and higher capacity in a small foot print is definitely desirable.

 

[matt_i]

Cool. Dunnage roof rack. [emoji106]

That's my cribbing wood storage centre

 

[zkdiesel]

I'm going to add the BoxCar Special as a desirable feature.

This has the size of a 5k but with the high stacked counterweight its 7k nameplate, easily handle more if one is judicious and not abusive. I get some local abuse for having 2 forklifts but they each have their niche...

A forklift is a dream and a curse at the same time Once armed with that and a truck you can pack your shop chock full of heavy machinery I used to dream of a Hyster S150 with about 8ft forks but its going to have to wait lol I'm already destroying the driveway...

That there is about my ultimate forklift if it had more aggressive/larger diameter tires for non pavement use!

 

[lis2323]

Here’s a pic showing the wide (solid) fronts on my shop lift truck.

 

[dkmc]

Chains on the 1953 Yale High Cowl.....

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I mostly have at least gravel in the shop yard but do venture off road once in a while. Dry hard ground isn't much of a problem but this time of year it's always wet. The ground is really rocky so it's not too soft, mostly just slick. I may try chaining up next time I need to pick something off wet grass and don't want to build a road or wait til spring. I think I'll double or even triple up on the cross links though. Seems like it should work. That old Yale looks pretty good for a 67 year old forklift. Ed.

 

[lis2323]

Chains on the 1953 Yale High Cowl.....

I’ve always liked the looks of those.