[TheForge] Re: Shop Cranes vs Floor Hoists

[Steve Smith]

I'm headed toward building a new shop in the next year or so, and am 
considering similar options. A very simple option is to build a roll 
around portable crane. Stick it in the corner or knock it down when not 
in use. Here are commercial examples:

http://www.wallacecranes.com/

Expensive, but they look pretty simple to make.

Steve Smith


Mike Spencer wrote:
>>Somewhere in the not so distant future I plan on building a large
>>shop of approximate 30ft x 40ft dimentions...
> 
> 
> Just did exactly that.
> 
> 
>>To those of you out there who are using ANY type of crane in your
>>shop, what has your experience been with functionality and YOUR "Best
>>Bang for the Buck"?
> 
> 
> I'd like to know, too.
> 
> Dimitri Gerakaris built a roof with hammer beam trusses so he'd have
> clearance for a bridge crane.  I thought about that (didn't fit my
> time frame) or an industrial, engineered wood truss roof (ugly
> building) and went with a barn-style gambrel roof.  Result is that I
> have a 40' center beam of four  2x10s and  three jack screw posts.  The
> zposts aren't in the way of work but make a bridge crane that crosses
> both halves of the shop impossible.
> 
> Thinking about a bridge crane in one half, or maybe...mutter...mumble.
> 
> So far, when I need to lift something, I:
> 
>      bore a 1/2" hole in the appropriate 2x10 stringer and put a big
>      clevis on the 2x10, or
> 
>      Put a 4x4 upstairs across 4 stringers and put a big eyebolt up
>      through it.
> 
> Cheap but not elegant or versatile and limited to, oh, say, under 1000 #.
> 
> - Mike
>