Spudd
New member
Here's some photos of my big crane.
Garage Bridge Crane
- Thread starter TomSeller
- Start date
- Views: 8299
Sodo
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2012
- Messages
- 3,311
- Location
- Cascade Mtns of WA state
- Tractor
- Kubota B-series & Mini Excavator
Yeah xfaxman, ya gotta wonder how you survived long enough to have experience from 30 years ago. Right?
I'm certain I could make good use of your cherrypicker, and keep within it's limitations, but I sure wouldn't lend it to just anybody.
I rented a 50-foot towable lift to do some tree work, similar to this one. I about crapped my pants a few times, but how I convinced myself (that it was OK) was the realization that "painters" use these. The painter waggles a spraygun at the "end of his arms reach" at the absolute limits of height and extension (beyond the four support pads). And they don't tip over. But this thing is computer-controlled, for which I was thankful. I wouldn't want to be up there at 50 feet learning its limits (by seat-of the pants). One time it started to scream at me and believe it and got myself down immediately. I looked around and it appeared that one of the support pads was sinking into the mud a little and it detected that somehow. I suppose it monitors the ground pressure on all the legs.
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Spudd I REALLY like that setup. Awesome. Did you design/build? Are other loft floor panels removable?
Or just ONE panel, to get stuff up to the loft?
I'm certain I could make good use of your cherrypicker, and keep within it's limitations, but I sure wouldn't lend it to just anybody.
I rented a 50-foot towable lift to do some tree work, similar to this one. I about crapped my pants a few times, but how I convinced myself (that it was OK) was the realization that "painters" use these. The painter waggles a spraygun at the "end of his arms reach" at the absolute limits of height and extension (beyond the four support pads). And they don't tip over. But this thing is computer-controlled, for which I was thankful. I wouldn't want to be up there at 50 feet learning its limits (by seat-of the pants). One time it started to scream at me and believe it and got myself down immediately. I looked around and it appeared that one of the support pads was sinking into the mud a little and it detected that somehow. I suppose it monitors the ground pressure on all the legs.
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Spudd I REALLY like that setup. Awesome. Did you design/build? Are other loft floor panels removable?
Or just ONE panel, to get stuff up to the loft?
Spudd
New member
The 2 panels you see in one of the pictures are fully removable to allow a full size pallet of whatever to be lifted up. The panels are 1 1/2" thick (2 layers) of plywood with angle around the perimeter. I have 1/2" bolts that clamp another piece of angle to the panels and locks into the upper rail. I ran 2 floor studs under the panels for a failsafe and so one day I can finish it all off upstairs and down.
And Yes, I designed the crane myself before I had the shed current shed built so that the footers would handle the load I was shooting for. I designed it In AutoCAD Inventor and at the time had the plate parts cut and bent at Dynamic Fab and Finish in Eau Claire Wi. I bought the steel for it from Steel Towne in Colfax which they delivered to the house.
After the runners were all welded, it was quite the mouse trap but I lifted the 2 beams up 10' into the loft with ratchet straps, a come-along, and nerves of steel! I would have used a loader or folk lift but I didn't have access to one but I was able to install it all myself.
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Cord
Veteran Member
I had built a gantry crane at my old shop and really enjoyed it. Sold it to help make the mortgage when the economy turned down. Back to the industrial units, there are freestanding bridge cranes that would work great for the home shop. These come as preengineered kits. Yea, they're not as cheap as burning your own, but they're a heck of a lot safer. You can help the cost if you can be realistic with the hoist capacity and keep your spans down. Just Google "Freestanding Bridge Crane" and you'll get a bunch of hits.
Spudd
New member
I've looked into the freestanding crane kits but you're right, to get any weight, your going to have to sell arms legs and whatever else you can to get them.
I've actually used my big crane to lift the front end of my '55 Ford C-700 to turn it around in the shop. Something I don't think the kit cranes would do.
Anyways, does anyone have any questions about crane building? I would love to help if needed. I have access to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) if anyone would like to virtually test a their crane design.
I've actually used my big crane to lift the front end of my '55 Ford C-700 to turn it around in the shop. Something I don't think the kit cranes would do.
Anyways, does anyone have any questions about crane building? I would love to help if needed. I have access to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) if anyone would like to virtually test a their crane design.
LD1
Epic Contributor
If yer bored http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g-my-bridge-crane.html?highlight=Bridge+crane
Should have all info on beams,spans, etc.
If not....no worries. Not gonna change anything on my end
Should have all info on beams,spans, etc.
If not....no worries. Not gonna change anything on my end
Spudd
New member
WOW, they sure engineered that to death on that thread!! If/when I get to it, I'll post on that thread for you. Just looking at the sizes and layout it looks like you did it right.
LD1
Epic Contributor
No worries if you dont. Just figured if you were bored and wanted to do an FEA it would give you something to do.
I did the numbers on the beams and rails and am confident in my numbers and assigned load rating. But some of it was just seat of the pants stuff, like building the trucks and putting gussets where it just seemed right, etc.
Would be cool to look at pretty blues, greens, yellows, etc of a FEA
