Re: Shop Crane Revisited

On 12/21/2024 6:41 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 12/21/2024 5:35 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I figure I need at a minimum a 2 ton shop crane.  Probably a gantry crane would be the most useful.  At over a dollar a pound (minimum) for a commercially made crane and must are just wrong for what I consider ideal I've had a hard time opening my wallet.  I've been more mouth than billfold on this subject I guess.
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Ideally I want one that will just barely fit through a 10x10 ft doorway AND fit around an 8'6" trailer.  A little taller and only being able to bring it in through the 10x12 ft door might do more work, even if it might be slightly less convenient.  Telescoping might be an option (vertically).
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Nobody seems to make one exactly like that. They meet some specs, but not others etc.
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So anyway, since my dad passed I've been managing my parents properties.   One is a commercial property (4 good sized lots together) that's had a renter in it since about three years ago when I arranged it while my dad was recovering from having a brain tumor removed.  Looking at their finances It looks like the rental on that was making the difference between living and just surviving for them.  Anyway, since my dad passed I've been managing it again.  The renter called me on Monday and said they were completely out, and let me know where I could pick up all the keys.  Good renters.  I had to remind them rent was past due a few times, but no worse than some renters from when I had rental houses. Anyway I headed out a few days ago to pickup the keys and give the place a once over to see what I want to do with everything.
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There are trucks (one left behind by the renter (with permission)) and a couple of my dad's stored in the back.  There is that 42 Willy's Jeep I've mentioned.  A pretty nice fifth wheel trailer "abandoned" by a previous renter and various assortment of junk, tools, and equipment.
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The renter was a solar installer working on one of the big solar projects out in the desert, and they were mostly using the property to park a fifth wheel for their crew, using one of the buildings to receive shipments, and storing construction equipment inside and outside in the large fenced yard.   It worked out really well, because they got what they needed in a rural area, and my dad didn't have to remove/move all his junk.  He left that for me.  LOL.
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Anyway, out by the back fence I found several fairly large I-beams setting up off the ground on wood beams.  I think I just found my gantry crane.  Now if only I can stumble across some big steel casters out there somewhere I'll be set.  Maybe they are under the old gas pumps over by the south fence.  ;^)
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 Hmmmm....  I wonder if I 'll get lucky and stumble across a big piece of thick wall steel tube I can use to make a jib crane over by the mills and lathe in the back of the shop.
 

   Depending on the load capacity needed ... I built 2 swiveling jib cranes with a portable base* for handling firewood . My first out of 2x2 thin wall square tube and I've handled up to about 400 lbs with it using a hand crank . Then I got some thick wall and built another with a 2500 Lb electric winch mounted on it . *I also built a pivot mount in the front corner of my 5z8 utility trailer . The light unit with the hand crank stays on the portable base , been useful for tasks like hanging a truck door out of my way while I replace hinge pins . The other stays on the trailer for handling firewood rounds and dragging logs out of a tangle .
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