[TheForge] Shop Cranes vs Floor Hoists

[RIES NIEMI]

The best solution is of course the most expensive-
A bridge crane. In my next shop...

I have used a simple piece of "I" beam, 30 feet long, bolted to the ceiling
over the area where you do the most work. Make sure it goes to the door, so
you can back a truck in and unload it. I got a small trolley cheap used, a
used chainfall, and I could move a lot of stuff and unload it too.

I also have a jib crane from an old icehouse that I have set up in a few
shops over the years- it is a piece of 8" pipe, with a ring top and bottom
that you bolt to the floor and ceiling, respectively. It has a triangular
boom on it made from itty bitty railroad track, which was bent into a "v"
shape, which fastens to a collar at the top of the pipe and again down about
5 feet. The boom is maybe 8 feet long, has a little trolley that slides on
it, and the boom swivels 360 around the pipe. It will lift about 1000lb.

About 10 years ago I built a copy of a wallace gantry- 3" square tube and 6"
I beam. Giant casters, and a comealong at each end to raise and lower the
top beam, making it adjustable height. There are times when it is in the
way, and then we move it out of the shop, but it has come in real handy many
times, as it can usually roll right over various pieces of equipment, pick
em up, and move em around. It does need a nice smooth concrete floor,
though.

I also have a forklift now, and it fits in the shop, so it is handy for
moving and holding big parts while we weld or assemble. Unlike the rolling
gantry, it needs a lot bigger floor space to maneuver in, Its stinky, and it
too needs a nice smooth floor. Most of the cheapest forklifts are smooth
tired electric ones. Mine has semipneumatic tires, which means its harder to
get it stuck in gravel, but certainly not impossible, and it really prefers
concrete or asphalt.

I think this is one of those questions where the right answer is "all of em"
Just like you really need a bandsaw, an ironworker, and a cold saw.
The best combo in my mind would be bridge crane, forklift, and rolling
gantry. You can do anything with those 3. If you have a smooth floor, a
rolling gantry would give you the most utility for the least money.
Or a whole series of I beams in different areas, with a chain fall and
trolley on each one.