Dumb Waiter--Any Leads???

[Gunnahafta]

I'm not sure if this is the place to bring it up, but everyone here seems to be so helpful and knowledgeable that I'll give it a try.

I'm looking for information on dumb waiters--no, not the guy at the restaurant--the kind that will bring my groceries/luggage up from my low-level garage to my first and second floors. I did a Google search and found one company that sells kits, but other than that there seems to be little out there. I've thought of trying to engineer one myself, but I'm concerned of the safety issues (I have a 15-year-old, who I'm sure would push the usage limits).

Anybody ever install one? or have one installed? If this is unappropriate for this forum, just let me know /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif and I'll go back to my dumb waiter contemplation during Kubota Therapy (weekend seat time) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks in advance.

 

[DocHeb]

You didn't mention the source you found. Have you seen:

W. B. Fowler

Waupaca Elevator

Inclinator Company of America

The "Vertical Valet", by Ultimate Die Corporation (813-620-8847)


Sorry, but these are just sources - no personal experience.

 

[Gunnahafta]

Thanks for the links....

Here's the one I was looking at:

http://www.butlersbuddy.com/

 

[TimSullivan]

When we built our home, we framed in a spot for a dumb waiter to bring wood from the basement to the fireplace in the family room. The wood waiter unit was the only unit I could find that was suited to the use so we framed to accommodate one of their units.

After searching through some farm auctions, I have come up with a winch with a 110 motor and some very heavy duty pulleys. I need to pick up some safety switches to keep the unit from self destructing and then I will be ready to do some assembly and testing. The design is very simple and uses garage door channel and hardware to stabilize the basket during travel. While the wood waiter looks like a good unit, It would be fun to DIY the elevator.

 

[dmccarty]

GunnaHafta,

Weird timing I suppose but I got my latest addition of The
Journal of Light Construction yesterday. I skimmed thorugh
it last night in the few minutes that I had and they have quite
a bit of saftey related stories/articles.

One happned to be about a dump waiter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

A contractor put one into a house. This was the second
unit he had ever installed. The homeowner called him back
because the thing was not working correctly. Contractors
hate call backs. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I did not quite get how this thing
operated but he figured that the cable was loose and all he
had to do was get the slack out. He was working in the house
by himself and the house was in the middle of no where. He
put his arm into the dumb waiter shaft and expected the
thing to go one way. Unfortunately it went another way. And
in the other way caused his arm to be caught by the dumb
waiter. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

He was stuck. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

He was not feeling real good. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

He did manage to turn the thing off. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

After yelling for help. And the laughing at the uselessness of
that action since he was alone and in the middle of no where,
he got desperate and finally yanked his arm out.

I think he went to the doctor. There where some other
pretty horrible stories, broken backs, trapped in trenches,
etc., but this guy was not that bad.

He did go back and fix the dumb waiter. He said with humility.

/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So if you get a dumb waiter and you have a problem with its
movement be careful. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

He did not mention any brands he used.

FYI.
Dan McCarty

 

[snowman]

About two years ago, I think, a young busboy was killed in a local restaurant that had a dumbwaiter. Got crushed, as I recall.

 

[Gunnahafta]

That's why I'm leaning towards not making this a DIY job... Usually when you buy a reputable, engineered product, you're buying experience — mistakes that have been fixed. The last thing I want to do is make some costly (physical-harm costly) mistake that someone else has already had the misfortune to make.

I want this to be harmless—not armless /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

One thing I have noticed in my research is that nobody gives any prices for these babies... I'm afraid it's going to be one of those "If you have to ask, then you can't afford it" kind of situations..... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

PS I'll go check out that article, I get the online version of JLC...

 

[TimSullivan]

When I priced the units out the only one I wrote down was the wood waiter. The unit that works for me was priced at $1800 plus some $400 plus shipping.

After doing some soul searching last night, I may just buy that unit rather than building it myself. We have no children at home now but this house will be around for a long time. I just don't want to be responsible for a design flaw that injures someone. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( He put his arm into the dumb waiter shaft and expected the thing to go one way. Unfortunately it went another way. And in the other way caused his arm to be caught by the dumb waiter. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )</font>

We had a plumber, on a jobsite, stick his head into the service elevator shaft to call for the elevator. It came.

He lost his head.

If you are going to DIY this, particularly with kids in the house, be sure your safety interlocks are bombproof.

 

[Adirondaks]

The apartment house I grew up in Brooklyn had a dumb waiter. It was not powered. You operated it by pulling a rope up or down, it was built in 1918, I dont remmeber much more about it except that I used to give my brother rides in it. It must have been carefully counter balanced because it would not move until you pulled the rope. I dont remember brakes or anything like that. Sorry I cant help your question just brought back some memories.