[TheForge] Shop Cranes vs Floor Hoists

[The Millers]

Ian,
I have an engine hoist in the shop, my first piece of "heavy rigging 
equipment" bought to move the 3 ton capacity kick press I bought I ebay 
a few years ago. It has been invaluable in avoiding breaking my back 
when I have needed to move big things around in the shop.

My new shop came with a one ton full mast jib crane attached to the 
front of the building. It has also been invaluable, but it has wetted 
my appetite for a "real" crane inside the shop. In my day job I have 
also used rolling A-Frame gantry cranes, building mounted bridge 
cranes, column mounted job cranes, etc.

But I think my next big $$$ investment will be a fork truck. I think 
that's the best bang for the buck if you have the floor space to 
maneuver one, and the space to keep one. I have seen 5000 lb. capacity 
fork trucks as cheap as $500, but you can almost always get one for 
around $1000. I wouldn't buy anything less than 3000 lb. capacity, and 
make sure it has enough lift, and that the mast will fit through your 
door.

Ray Miller
Cincinnati

On Saturday, April 12, 2003, at 04:25 PM, Ian wrote:

> Somewhere in the not so distant future I plan on building a large shop 
> of
> approximate 30ft x 40ft dimentions and the thought of having a crane 
> in the
> shop has really twigged a nerve in the old brain. With all the heavy
> material/equipment that blacksmithing can sometimes involve, a way of
> lifting and moving that heavy stuff that could be an integral part of 
> the
> shop deserves some special consideration.
>
> The most bang for the buck is what I would like to get. Wouldn't we 
> all?
>
> I am thinking that with a shop crane that it would always be something 
> that
> in some way or other would always have to be worked around and often 
> times
> be in the way - at least with a swing arm type that is setup in the 
> middle
> of the shop like the one that David Mudge has displayed on his web 
> site. But
> an installation like that also appeals to me because it is always 
> there when
> you need to lift something - no assembly required. That is what leads 
> me to
> think that perhaps a fold up hydraulic shop crane (sometimes called 
> "engine
> hoists") of say a 2 ton capacity might be a better way to go. It could 
> be
> folded up and rolled into a corner or up against a wall when not in 
> use and
> would never be in your way. A couple things that might not be so good 
> with a
> unit like this is that it would not be worth a hoot on a dirt floor, it
> would need a concrete floor to roll easily. Secondly, it would have 
> some
> height reach and lift limitations.
>
> 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"?
>
> Ian....
>
>
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