Container Weld Shop build -

BukitCase · Apr 27, 2018

I made a list once; scared me so bad I didn't go near the shop for a week

- so now I just keep a "what's next" list in my HEAD - it's shorter (but still too long) and if I'm desperate enough I can have a "senior moment" til I catch my breath :laughing:

Here's a wider shot of my current (as in, today) paint setup -

And the lazy susan -

when you want ALL the holes in a project to line up, a letter punch set is nice -

I didn't 'splain the order of assembly much on the other brace, so just in case any of the 27,800+ viewers wanna mod THEIR HF crane

...
1 - rest (and clamp) an appropriate temporary spacer just above the outer post tube -

Stage the pieces you'll need somewhere close, BEFORE you climb that ladder with the bigger pieces (in this case, about 60 pounds worth) -

Place the (heavy) channel spreader in approximate location on top of the I beam, 5/8" bolts have heavy grade 8 washers underneath for clamping dogs (may change to square ones if these don't work well) - keep those bolts loose enough to move the channel around, but NOT come off the beam -

After all 8 bolts are in and tight (holding the upper spreader to the rest of the brace) it's time to tighten the lower spreader to the vertical post - this will pull the upper spreader into final position -

Then tighten the 5/8" bolts that clamp the upper spreader to the I beam -

Finally, remove the spacers that held the lower spreader up off the outer post tube (I did this to ensure that only the shortest two height settings were un-usable without removing the braces - there was no simple way to get the clamping action I needed for that spreader, without doing something REALLY bizarre to get around the interesting way HF did their height change mechanism -

Couple more shots in the next post... Steve

BukitCase · Apr 27, 2018

I haven't mentioned it lately, but the REASON for all this monkey-motion is that I plan to add a 1-ton rated electric hoist, but do NOT wanna lose over a foot of travel on each end of the beam - NOR do I trust a crane that doesn't have diagonal bracing on the posts - the HF 1 ton hoist chassis is 8" wide, but at least TWICE that in length, so if I mounted it crossways to the beam (the conventional way) those spreaders would have needed to be almost 12" wider than they are in order to clear the hoist (or lose a couple FEET of travel - I used a larger beam on this mod BECAUSE I wanted longer travel, NOT shorter...

As it is, those diagonal tubes are 10" apart between them so the hoist will clear easily; the length-wise orientation will lose me the length of the hoist MOTOR on one end, but NO LOSS on the spool end at all.

That being said, here's the crane as it sits now -

And here's one I promised Oldpath - notice the shiny metal pole hanging on the crane post?

'sposed to be more crappy weather the next few days, good time to look at cheesy "winches", and fab up a "endwise double-trolley hoist mount"

Later... Steve

BukitCase · May 1, 2018

I got enough of the details figured out to start on the longitudinal carriage for the 1 ton electric hoist that's going on the modded HF crane, so cut some pieces, made some holes, played with clamps, etc -

Used my XY table and the mag drill to make sure each hole is where I need it -

- notice in the second pic that the point of the mag cutter's pilot is directly over the punch mark...

This is how many chips it takes to "install" a 1-1/8" hole - 1/2" steel, 31 seconds, no pilot hole necessary -

The two crossbars are bolted where the factory brackets normally go; needed longer M12 x1.75 bolts because of the 1/2" thickness instead of about 3/16" - the BIG hole is where the 1 ton trolley shaft goes thru. That'll support the lifting load, and the 2 inline skate wheels will only keep the motor end from sagging down when moving along the I beam unloaded -

- The 1 ton trolley isn't shown here, I couldn't keep all the pieces in place (welding some of 'em will probably help :laughing

Notice that the big hole for the trolley shaft is in line with the OVAL hole in the chassis of the hoist - that's the center of the hoist drum, and the oval hole is where the cable hook goes when using double line mode -

That's it for now, probably won't get to welding it up til day after tomorrow, bunch of "town stuff" that needs done manana... Steve

Oldpath05 · May 1, 2018

BukitCase said:
And here's one I promised Oldpath - notice the shiny metal pole hanging on the crane post? View attachment 551118 Steve

Wonder if Lowes will donate some $$$$$$$$$$$ for their store name being used all over the place, maybe they already paid you for the shiney pole bucket getter or bought the patent.

BukitCase · May 1, 2018

"shiney pole bucket getter" - Actually, it's a "shiney pole bucket getter/putter backer"

Sorry, no patent, no pay - I'm still tryin' to figger out where you saw Lowes splattered all over the place

Tacked the spine to the 2 crossbars that'll be the hoist support, flipped it and did the first root pass; it'll be cool in a few minutes so will do the other side, then check square to see where the next pass goes. Since a failure on THESE welds might be painful, I'm thinkin' maybe be sure and get 'em RIGHT

Takin' pics as I go, might get 'em posted later tonite... Steve

aczlan · May 1, 2018

BukitCase said:
"shiney pole bucket getter" - Actually, it's a "shiney pole bucket getter/putter backer" Sorry, no patent, no pay - I'm still tryin' to figger out where you saw Lowes splattered all over the place

Perhaps he meant the two blue Lowe's buckets on the ground in the lower left corner of the picture?

Aaron Z

Xfaxman · May 1, 2018

Yep, that one and this one and all the previous pictures with a blue bucket showing.

BukitCase · May 1, 2018

Oh, THOSE Lowes buckets :laughing: Musta been my subconscious workin' there - I useta use the ORANGE ones, til Homeless Despot's management decided that I wuz only a veteran 2 days a year - funny, I seem to remember 365 days a year for four years...

Anyway, after that I stopped in to Lowes with my DD214, and 10 minutes later I had my 10% discount across the board -

Maybe I'll make sure there's at least FOUR of those blue buckets (and ZERO orange ones) in every pic from now on :thumbsup: ...Steve