Material Lift fro Plasma Cutting

[RAYZORcut]

Hi everyone just wondering what everyone is using to load there material onto table or around shop 4'x8'x1/4 and 1/2' sheets in particular not to concerned about anything lighter. I don't have the room for larger material handlers so just looking for ideas of what people are using. Im a 1 man operation unfortunately. Cheers!!

RAYZORcut

[Joe Jones]

Do you OWN the shop?

Joe

[RAYZORcut]

Do you OWN the shop?

Joe

Yes

RAYZORcut

[acourtjester]

How about a converted engine hoist, I have seen one posted with the mods the guy did to use one. There has been devices posted here for adapters to handle sheets for moving them around. He also has what he uses in the video too.

[RAYZORcut]

This is a good idea, I have an engine hoist too... couple of mods, I like the safety of this set up more than the magnet, seems to be more piece of mind for some reason.

RAYZORcut

[djreiswig]

Here's how we do it.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=29924&p=181875#p180911
We use this setup for 1/2" 4x8 sheets also.

[cutnweld]

Do you OWN the shop?

Joe

Yes

RAYZORcut

Does material lift itself around if the shop is leased? I'll have to explore other options...

[cutnweld]

I use a fork lift to side load pretty much everthing

[SRdesign]

I installed a mostly diy jib crane on a single post. Top of post is braced to the rafters and bottom is anchored to 18” of concrete. Takes up hardly any room and the beam is 18’ long. I can unload plate from my trailer and swing it around to store under my table or put straight on top of the table

[RAYZORcut]

I installed a mostly diy jib crane on a single post. Top of post is braced to the rafters and bottom is anchored to 18” of concrete. Takes up hardly any room and the beam is 18’ long. I can unload plate from my trailer and swing it around to store under my table or put straight on top of the table

I was also thinking of a jib, any pics of your setup?

RAYZORcut

[Joe Jones]

In a small shop, a jib is the way to go. Set up one pole near the table. Place the material on the floor (or on a cart) near the table. Use magnets to lift one sheet onto the table grates.

Joe

[RAYZORcut]

In a small shop, a jib is the way to go. Set up one pole near the table. Place the material on the floor (or on a cart) near the table. Use magnets to lift one sheet onto the table grates.

Joe

Im going to have to give a little more thought for this option.

RAYZORcut

[adbuch]

I like the converted engine hoist idea that Tom shows in the video he cited. This would be for heavier sheets. For the thinner stuff (11 ga. and thinner for us old guys) just roll the cart over to the table and slide the sheet right onto the table. Since I deal in 1/2 sheets (4x4) I often use one of those little plywood transport dollies to roll the sheet to the table, then slide it up onto the table. I store my sheets in the vertical position, so this makes it super easy to pop the small dolly under the sheet and "roll away".

David

[SRdesign]

Don’t judge my mess

[SRdesign]

Got the beam and tension rod for free from my father in law. It was bent at the end where it rotates. The bracket that bolts to the beam was also bent so I cut it off and bent some 3/8 plate around it and welded back over it. Cut the beam 2’ to give me 18’ and cut down the tension rod and sleeve welded it. Seems to hold up fine. I lifted my 32 ton press with it and that weighs 700lbs so it lifts more than I need it to. I don’t ever plan on lifting a sheet onto my table any bigger than 4’x8’x1/2” and that’s 650ish lbs. It’s ugly but it works and the price was right. I might paint it one day… maybe

[adbuch]

Thanks for sharing those photos. You've got a real serious setup going there. Nice work!!
David

[SRdesign]

Thanks David. The only thing left to do is get a retractable cord reel, remove the ratchet out of it, and mount it on the post under the beam. Then I will have a receptacle floating around the shop and power to run the winch.

[RAYZORcut]

What a mess in there SRdesign.... Just kidding. Nothing ugly about the setup it looks great,nice job!! What size is the pipe/wall, plate and gussets at bottom, how about the I beam? I could guess but better to know if I were to go this route. Mine would be substantially shorter as I only have 8' walls. Thanks for the pics.

RAYZORcut

[Joe Jones]

if I were to go this route. Mine would be substantially shorter as I only have 8' walls. Thanks for the pics.

RAYZORcut

Two or three friends, a few chainsaws, some bottle jacks, a case of beer and a WallRiser 4800 Kit, and you can raise that ceiling by 48 inches.

Joe

[SRdesign]

What a mess in there SRdesign.... Just kidding. Nothing ugly about the setup it looks great,nice job!! What size is the pipe/wall, plate and gussets at bottom, how about the I beam? I could guess but better to know if I were to go this route. Mine would be substantially shorter as I only have 8' walls. Thanks for the pics.

RAYZORcut

The pipe stand is 10” x 1/4” wall. The floor plate and gussets are 1/2” plate. I would have liked to make the base plate larger but I had a piece 24”x24”x1/2” sitting there so I used it. I’m not sure on the dimensions of the beam. I can get you some dimensions later today. I will say with a low ceiling height it will be tough getting material up on to your table with something like this. Unless you brace your beam underneath instead of on top. Then your beam could be mounted a few inches under your ceiling.

Edit: beam is 4” x 8”

[SRdesign]

Something like this

[Joe Jones]

A rotational I-Beam below a low ceiling that supports a winch lift with magnets. This is a simple concept that can be built into shops with very low ceilings. The outer support leg on a caster eliminates the need for a boom support, The I-Beam can rotate directly beneath the ceiling, or the light fixtures. Two sort stacks can be on the floor to one side of the table, to move different gauges from one stack to the other.

Joe

LOW CEILING MATERIAL HOIST JPG.jpg

[RAYZORcut]

if I were to go this route. Mine would be substantially shorter as I only have 8' walls. Thanks for the pics.

RAYZORcut

Two or three friends, a few chainsaws, some bottle jacks, a case of beer and a WallRiser 4800 Kit, and you can raise that ceiling by 48 inches.

Joe

LOL!

RAYZORcut

[RAYZORcut]

These are all great ideas and a lot of help to figure out what will work with my set up, thanks for everyones input. I will post back here when I get something set up. CHEERS!!

RAYZORcut

[Joe Jones]

There are many different ways to handle this. It all depends on your budget, your resources, your available space, and your willingness to "muscle" large sheets by hand as opposed to moving them with a forklift or other overhead hoist. I use my forklift for EVERYTHING.

Joe

SLIDE LOADING MATERIAL RACK.jpg