Anyone make a one man FEL lift?

[mike48130]

Yes, you would have to coordinate the lift arm and wheels. I don't know if they may a floating lift arm so that it floats until you lift so high then lifts. Basically a long slot with a pin.

My JD has slots on the lower end of the lift arms. There is a clip you put in there to lock them solid, or flip it over and it floats. Not sure if there is enough float to do what you want. I haven't needed to angle it yet to try it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just putting a crown on the driveway would work better with a tilt capability. Angling the machine with the machine not level, front to back, DOES achieve a little tilting though. And, having a 3ph top link cyliner is very useful for that.

I made sure, that one wasn't too small! lol Because I did have problems with that cylinder going all over the place, which turns out to be more a problem with air in my system. And, I thought, maybe responsible for the angling cylinder too.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Menards sells the heavier stuff, and very reasonably priced if you have them in your area.

I've never heard of Menards (the store, not My nards).

 

[Fuddy1952]

The Menards:

IMS 6' Steel Rolling Utility Scaffold
Sku # 5602002
Is the same one I can order from Wal-Mart, just $40 more expensive. Ordering two I can stack them. And since there are 6x6 treated posts set in 3ft concrete, strapping to them it would be extremely sturdy.

 

[aczlan]

I guess, I should at least put a safety chain or drill a hole in the fork pocket to put a pin through the hole in the end of the fork. I never thought, that, probably the worst case is a bucket cylinder line breaking, dumping the basket at height.

Thousands of people and businesses use forklifts for personel. Do forklifts come down quickly if a hose busts?

No, they have a hydraulic fuse or load check hard piped to the cylinder that shuts off hydraulic flow out of the cylinder if the hose blows. It limits the lowering speed of the cylinder.

Got me thinking about scaffolding. I can order this online, even Wal-Mart, $143. 6ft but easy to add another section so 12ft.
1000# rating. Anyone use that particular one. Northern Tool sells it also. When not in use it could be shelf storage.View attachment 608589

I rented one like that once, it worked pretty well. No complaints from me.

Interesting. Do forklifts?

Most any made in last 20-30 years should (unless they were removed by a previous mechanic).

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

Even in this restrictive and costly safety environment of Ontario, Canada, using an approved basket on a fork lift is quite acceptable. Funny one Pharma customer of mine had such a lift and something little more than a very small dog chain, and very cheap light padlock which sufficed as a safety measure. I made them up a square U-Bolt with large wing nuts that clamped the basket to the fork carrier.

 

[4570Man]

Ladder to roof ... not too bad.

Roof to ladder? Derned near impossible for me.

I agree it sucks. Raising the ladder 3-4 feet above the roof and tying it off makes it a lot easier for me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

And then, that first rung you must step onto is always somehow just at the height of the eaves trough! lol

 

[Big Barn]

Even in this restrictive and costly safety environment of Ontario, Canada, using an approved basket on a fork lift is quite acceptable. Funny one Pharma customer of mine had such a lift and something little more than a very small dog chain, and very cheap light padlock which sufficed as a safety measure. I made them up a square U-Bolt with large wing nuts that clamped the basket to the fork carrier.

Okay, guys don’t laugh but years ago I welded a washer on my fork lift’s hydraulic lever and attached a long rod with a swivel fitting so I could raise and lower myself in my homemade man basket.

 

[BKBoiss]

The Menards:

IMS 6' Steel Rolling Utility Scaffold
Sku # 5602002
Is the same one I can order from Wal-Mart, just $40 more expensive. Ordering two I can stack them. And since there are 6x6 treated posts set in 3ft concrete, strapping to them it would be extremely sturdy.

This works well for changing light bulbs and working on the door lifts and heating units.

 

[Mace Canute]

A couple of years ago I made a work platform that attaches to a bucket.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-platform-loader-post4789782.html#post4789782

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-platform-loader-post4790972.html#post4790972

I'd also recommend scaffolding for this particular job. My buddy had a set of scaffolding that he bought used and we've used it extensively doing interior work in the shed I put up on his acreage. The shed's interior roof is about 14 1/2 feet above the floor and we had to build a false floor on the scaffolding to get it high enough to work at the ceiling.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I ordered two sets of scaffolding yesterday. Remove casters from one and it can be stacked on top of other for higher up. When not in use they can be rolling shelves.
I can also strap them to posts and rafters also to be more stable.

 

[4570Man]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I ordered two sets of scaffolding yesterday. Remove casters from one and it can be stacked on top of other for higher up. When not in use they can be rolling shelves.
I can also strap them to posts and rafters also to be more stable.

I have 2 sets of that yellow scaffolding pictured in post 70. It works great for interior use one set high. It’s pretty wobbly going 2 sets high. I wouldn’t use it 3 or more high. Given the option between a forklift and that I’d pick the forklift any day. I did find that putting a ratchet strap across it helps with the slop and makes it a lot more stable. I also have the optional outriggers for mine. They made me feel better but they didn’t seem to make much difference.

 

[Overtaxed]

I have a scaffold too, up to 12ft, it's decent. But I can only use it indoors. Outdoors, I put on my forks, pick up and IBC cage, strap it so that it can't come off the forks (secure it to the forks), climb in, strap myself to the cage, then have someone drive me who knows how to drive a tractor and run a FEL. I feel WAY safer up in that "contraption" than I do on a scaffold and most certainly safer than I do on a ladder. Yes, a real high lift or scissor lift is better, no doubt. But, if that's not available, I'm going to use my cage get up. Especially when its outdoors, a all terrain high lift is crazy expensive to buy or rent. A tractor with a cage is "free" to me. Unless I'm doing a lot at height, I won't rent a lift. When I was wiring my pole barn, I did bring in a lift just because I needed to move so much and reach so high. A scissor lift is really nice, it's just a one trick pony and it's a "no go" on anything but smooth concrete.

I've used my telescoping pole saw from the cage before. Now that's a picture I should probably take, looks like a Darwin award waiting to happen, in a cage, with a chainsaw, being driven around by your bored wife from tree to tree. Works great though, can't argue with the results!

 

[3Ts]

I have 2 sets of that yellow scaffolding pictured in post 70. It works great for interior use one set high. It痴 pretty wobbly going 2 sets high. I wouldn稚 use it 3 or more high.

My scaffolding is not the yellow stuff. I've got the 5x5 end panels and aluminum 7' walkboards, the heavy duty construction stuff. I can go 10' before it gets wobbly. When I have to go over 10' I put a brace on it which is a 20' pipe that I've welded a flat bar with a bolt hole in it at each end and I bolt it to the scaffold at the 10' point and the other end anchored to the ground. Then I can go up another 10' to 13'. Any more than that and I hire someone to do it.

 

[podieroe]

a lot of folks get a Tote tank and take pout the plastic, and use the cage for a platform. seems safe enough.

 

[BrokenTrack]

My log loader can boom up 15 feet high and holds 800 pounds at full extension, so I thought about building a man lift cage for it so I can work on my two story house.

The problem is, I am the only one who runs it, and with that set up, the controls are on the ground, so I cannot be up in the air, and boom over to where I need to go. I love, and trust my wife, but in operating my equipment, she is not really smooth, at all movements are exaggerated the further you go out. I am afraid I would be in for a rather wild ride.

 

[Diggin It]

You stay on the ground running the controls. You know where to put her then, right?

 

[BrokenTrack]

You stay on the ground running the controls. You know where to put her then, right?

Oh yeah, way up high in the man-basket doing all the work.

I am just not sure that I would be any smoother in operation. Some functions are backwards when you convert from backhoe, to front shovel configuration, which is what this would be.

 

[kneedeep]

Got me thinking about scaffolding. I can order this online, even Wal-Mart, $143. 6ft but easy to add another section so 12ft.
1000# rating. Anyone use that particular one. Northern Tool sells it also. When not in use it could be shelf storage.View attachment 608589

I got the NT one. I attached some rectangular tube to the walkboard runners and lift with tractor. Mine came with the safety rails. Works but takes 2 people.