Crane/hoist for shed, ideas?

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Failing health is leading me to think about a crane or hoist for the shed. I’m thinking of either a post with a swing hoist or possibly something that I can hold in the bench vice.
I only foresee it being used for swapping chucks over. It’s probably only a couple of times a month I’ll need it, but the time has come to acknowledge the problem and do something about it!

At the moment, I’m thinking of a scaffold pole, a swing out bit and a small electric hoist. All in around £140ish.

Your thoughts and advice are sought.

Many thanks

Jim

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As long as your shed wall is upto the task that will work fine. I have one of the Lidl hoists and swing out barrow arms under the bench but not got round to needing or setting it up yet.

Edited By JasonB on 06/05/2018 13:23:31

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Should be fine; just make sure that you fasten your scaffold pole assembly to the upright timber of the shed, or double up on the upright to cater fo any brackets.

George.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

#2 on Jason suggestion of the Lidl scaffold hoist and swing arm mount. Put one in my loft after the extension and new roof work and it works a treat. Helps that my loft hatch has about 4ft square of clear hole. If you re going to do job do it right I say. Disadvantage of the scaffold hoist style is that the pole needs to go above the swing arm so it all gets rather tall. Which may make a portable system impractical.

Used Penny and similar swing lift crane assemblies come up fairly frequently on E-Bay. Sometimes at sensible prices.

Unfortunately these things are all rather heavy. Heavier than a chuck so the whole thing may be a non starter for that reason alone. One of my slow time, back burner, projects is to modify one of the fold up convertible sack barrow / flatbed cart thingies to carry a demountable crane now I'm getting a bit past the age for swinging a hundredweight or so about. I figured maybe one of these :- **LINK** with fittings to clip a Penny swing lift style crane on when needed might do the deed. Obviously some sort of stabilising outrigger will be desirable and the crane will need suitable wall mount storage so its at the right height to just drop on. Nice won't be simple!

If its just chuck mounting or similar reach over the bed issues perhaps a sling device incorporating one of the common, cheap, ratchet tightening straps hung from suitable strong point or rail above the machine would suffice. Not fast but compact and inexpensive. An option I'm considering for my big lathe. Would be used with a sliding carrier on the bed incorporating a device to hold the chuck on centre height to easily plug into the D1-5 mount.

Clive.

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I can't advise on the actual uprights and pole etc. as don't know the details of your setup. But the actual lifting I will suggest an "endless chain" type hoist. Cheap, light, and very controllable.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Endless chain hoists as per Gordons suggestion are indeed excellent and relatively inexpensive but probably overkill in this case. If the pair of 3 tonne rated ones I have on my workshop cross beams are typical the chains are also incredibly messy. Dunno what oil they put on them but I always use disposable gloves. The chains also swing rather a lot so you have to be careful not to hit delicate stuff. Need decent headroom too. My ceilings are 8 ft which isn't really enough.

Thinking out of the box would a centrally mounted scaffold hoist tucked well up and out of the way suitable strongpoints to hook the pulley unit to where its needed work. All the scaffold hoist I've seen have a suitable pulley and hook assembly in the box to use with a doubled up cable fall for heavier loads. Probably enough cable on the drum to give 100 kg, singled fall, lift capability over most of a typical garden shed workshop. Need to put some thought into making the strongpoints strong tho'.

Clive

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Jim, I know how you feel. Here is a link to how I did it without using the roof.

**LINK**

Rik

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Thank you Rik! That’s exactly what I have in mind!

Jim

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

After some careful measuring, I'm now rethinking my plans and looking at a vice/bench set up!

Jim

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Revised method of getting the 4-jaw onto the spindle.

Much easier now as I don't need to rest the chuck on that piece of wood, as previously to slide onto the spindle.

Geoff – The screwed rod was at hand and just have not bothered to replace it.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I've now completed the hoist!

I ended up going for a scaffold pole mounted next to the lathe and a "swing arm".

I made some Delrin sliders for the hoist mount and it works great!!!!

Changing chucks over is now so easy.

When I get chance I'll put some pictures in my album.

Jim

[vic francisParticipant @vicfrancis]

Hi lovely setups! I have a heavy chuck, i made a deeper wood chuck rest as above so that it lines up with the spindle thread, then simply offer and turn the chuck…. the actual wood rest needs to be longer than the chuck for safety… i use a disabilty lifter for heavy jobs rated at 20 stones! hope it helps; nice collection of models , o watch the heat from the roof ! kits dont like the heat i found out…

vic

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Lidle are selling a chain hoist here for less than 40 Euro,at that price you can,t go wrong. I bought one last year,think it cost me 50 Euro,can,t remember,in order to lift the top panels of my veneer press,which I can no longer handle. Works very well and can be removed for other use as required. Would have no trouble handling chucks ect.

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