easy way to cut wide flange beam?

[hizoot]

MF...I know you said that you are not going to respond anymore....and thats Ok. Please dont feel compelled to reply to my idea.
What I have done for a light weight trolly beam is this.... I joined two 1/4" x 2" angle 's into a tee shape with 3/8" x 2" shims sandwiched in the middle. The shims were extended all the way to the trusses periodically to help stabilize the beam. You can also use 3/8" all thread for hangers as well,running the all thread up sandwiched though the middle of the angles. This wont hold a lot of weight but I've hoisted 250 lb compressors with this beam and could have probably done twice that comfortably.Just extend the all thread to above the trusses into a 2x4 running parallel with the trolly beam. This will help distribute the load to more than one truss at a time...kind of a strong back.

 

[MF RED in MT]

MF...I know you said that you are not going to respond anymore....and thats Ok. Please dont feel compelled to reply to my idea.
What I have done for a light weight trolly beam is this.... I joined two 1/4" x 2" angle 's into a tee shape with 3/8" x 2" shims sandwiched in the middle. The shims were extended all the way to the trusses periodically to help stabilize the beam. You can also use 3/8" all thread for hangers as well,running the all thread up sandwiched though the middle of the angles. This wont hold a lot of weight but I've hoisted 250 lb compressors with this beam and could have probably done twice that comfortably.Just extend the all thread to above the trusses into a 2x4 running parallel with the trolly beam. This will help distribute the load to more than one truss at a time...kind of a strong back.

I was just tired of responding to the "sky is falling posting", :laughing: :laughing:. All I can say is this is not my first rodeo, . I had the same original idea of using angle iron like you described, but these beams came my way free, :thumbsup:. Thanks for the post, :thumbsup:. KC

 

[Shield Arc]

If you want to save those beams, and give the trusses in your shed a break, you could always go with something like this. I've installed miles of this stuff in factories.

McMaster-Carr

 

[mjncad]

Shield:

I sure like the conveyor stuff at the McMaster link you provided; but I think your suggestion is going to fall on deaf ears with the OP.

I thank you for posting the link for others who may not be aware that such products are out there.

I think the OP has his mind made up as to how he wants to do his deer hoist, and it's his right to do it any way he pleases. I just hope none of us has to tell him, "I told you so."

 

[MF RED in MT]

If you want to save those beams, and give the trusses in your shed a break, you could always go with something like this. I've installed miles of this stuff in factories.

McMaster-Carr

I might consider the 600 lb capacity track system and also I really like the radius sections, . Thanks for the link. KC

 

[Shield Arc]

Shield:

I sure like the conveyor stuff at the McMaster link you provided; but I think your suggestion is going to fall on deaf ears with the OP.

I thank you for posting the link for others who may not be aware that such products are out there.

I think the OP has his mind made up as to how he wants to do his deer hoist, and it's his right to do it any way he pleases. I just hope none of us has to tell him, "I told you so."

Just trying to throw another option out there. That's a great thing about these forums, you have people from all different walks of life trying to help. For quite a few years I got a steady diet of conveyor work. So I wasn't sure if he even new this stuff was on the market.

I might consider the 600 lb capacity track system and also I really like the radius sections, . Thanks for the link. KC

I know you're just like me, all the time in the world, but I'm just trying to save you a lot of work. I've spliced one or two beams in my time.
If you shop around I'm sure you can find this stuff cheaper, I always found McMaster-Carr high priced.

 

[mjncad]

If you shop around I'm sure you can find this stuff cheaper, I always found McMaster-Carr high priced.

Yep, McMaster-Carr is generally expensive; but going through their catalog is an eye opener of what is available. On occasion I have gotten some things from them cheaper than anywhere else.

But what I like most is they generally have what I want and I justify the expense by the amount of time and hassle they save me trying to find something locally and/or elsewhere on the net.

I've also found their customer service to be top notch.

 

[mx842]

My 2x4 wood trusses are 2ft OC. I might even add some additional strength to the trusses if it looks like they need it. I have been thinking more about the 2ft WF beams I have, think I am going to cut them up and use them instead of the 2x2x1/4" angle at the top of the tee sections.
I may be missing something, but I do not see a failure due to hanging a elk/deer. I have hung animals on the trussess by only laying a 4x4 lumber accross the top of two trusses.
For my 15ft tee section inlcluding mounting tee brackets/threaded rod + 4x4 lumber spanning 20ft + HF trolley + HF chain hoist = 275 lbs. This is going to span 11 2x4 wood trussess that are 2ft OC. Now looking back, kind of wished I did not even post about this, :confused2:. Thanks for the post, KC

Don't get all down in the dumps over this. I'm always doing projects and most of them I do with stuff I already have on hand. Some times people do get a little excited when you are talking about overhead beams that will be used to move material around. There are dangers in everything you do and you have to ask yourself if what you are planing to do pushes the limit a little too close for comfort. I have no doubt that what you are planing will lift a 100 or 200 lb animal without problem. Heck just throwing a 1/2 nylon rope over one of the truss would do that. The danger is, what's to say one day someone comes in and sees this nice beam with a 1 ton chain fall hanging from the ceiling and decides to lift the front end of his truck.

The problem comes into play and red flags start to fly when you start talking about hanging a 1 ton hoist on a beam that has been made out of 4 or 5 pieces of material that has been cut and welded to a length that will span 24'. On the surface that sounds a little shaky so you shouldn't get flustered when some folks let you know there may be a better way to do it.

Having said all that you and only you know your talents and the limits of your abilities and the intended use of this project. Are there better ways to do what you want done....probably. Is there a chance something awful, death even could happen to you or someone else you know if things go bad a few years down the road....maybe. You are the one that has to make that choice.

I'm laughing at myself right now as I remember a project I did not too long ago and the frustration I endured when I went to the world wide web for some basic information about welding beams and fish plates. I got shunned from the miller and hobart sites and one or two of the site know it all made it their mission to poke fun at me anytime I responded to or started a new thread and it got to the point I don't even go there anymore.

I had several pieces of W19 beam that I got for free from where my son works and I wanted to put it in my pole barn to put a roller dolly with a 1/2 ton chain fall on. I never intended to use it for much more than unloading a truck maybe 300 or 400 lbs max or raising the front end of my lawn mower to sharpen my blades, nothing major. I just wanted to have it so I could pick up stuff at the front door and roll it to the back of the building. Holy crap! you would have thought I was planing to lift little kittens and hoist them over a pack of hungry wolves or something.

The point is, I wasted almost 3 weeks of my life going back and forth with these board know it all engineers that all said the thing if I built it would crumble and fall under it's own weight until I just said to heck with it and went on and built the thing so I could start my building. It hasn't fell down yet and it didn't fall when the last hurricane blew over a giant oak tree that hit the building and slid down one of the post that holds up the beam. In fact if the beam had not been there it is likely the tree would have knocked out the whole front wall rather that just half of it when it fell.

If you have to use what you have I wouldn't be worried about cutting the beam with your torch, if you were going to cut a 40' beam and piece it back together then I would worry about it warping but the amount you are going to get with these short pieces is not going to amount to that much to worry about. The biggest problem I see is the weight you are going to be hanging from the truss but even that spaced out along the 24' wouldn't amount to much unless the for some reason the roof system happened to get loaded beyond it rated capacity by a big snow or ice storm.

 

[Shield Arc]

I'm laughing at myself right now as I remember a project I did not too long ago and the frustration I endured when I went to the world wide web for some basic information about welding beams and fish plates. I got shunned from the miller and hobart sites and one or two of the site know it all made it their mission to poke fun at me anytime I responded to or started a new thread and it got to the point I don't even go there anymore.

I remember that thread, man you did take a beaten over that. Ol Sunshine was right in the middle of that one too.

 

[mx842]

I remember that thread, man you did take a beaten over that. Ol Sunshine was right in the middle of that one too.

Hehehe yeah boy, that was a doozy. He even followed me over to the Hobart site and started right back up where he left off at Miller. The sad part is the old fart probably knows a heck of a lot about this stuff but rather than offer up suggestions he likes to scold people that may just drop in looking for a little help. The old boy probably would have had a heart attack if he had seen the way I had to get that iron up and the beam sitting on top of it all. To be honest I still can't believe it myself, that I got that big heavy beam up there with the setup I came up with. But.....a man has to do what he has to do sometimes to keep the ball rolling. :laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

He is the supreme PITA! Very seldom does he actually help, but loves to jump on people.


That does look pretty tricky to get that beam up there without equipment.:thumbsup:

My 7-year old, (now 18) granddaughter and I built this 24-foot span x 40-foot power travel bridge crane with just using the tractor. Her new boyfriend was over a few months ago for me to weld up a small project for him, he about fell over when I told him she built that crane! I told him, if she could do that at 7, just think what she could do to you if you put your hands on her! :laughing:

 

[SpringHollow]

MX84 worded things quite nicely. And I do understand what it feels like to be on the receiving end. I was told by several that my rolling bridge crane would not even hold 1000 lbs. I always try to not be under it but I have had to move 2800 lb loads several times and no problems. I calculated that I could move 4000 lbs with it no problem but I need to be careful about lateral loads. I would have liked to use stronger and longer beams but sometimes you need to work with what you have and be careful.

Ken

 

[mx842]

He is the supreme PITA! Very seldom does he actually help, but loves to jump on people.


That does look pretty tricky to get that beam up there without equipment.:thumbsup:

My 7-year old, (now 18) granddaughter and I built this 24-foot span x 40-foot power travel bridge crane with just using the tractor. Her new boyfriend was over a few months ago for me to weld up a small project for him, he about fell over when I told him she built that crane! I told him, if she could do that at 7, just think what she could do to you if you put your hands on her! :laughing:

He lives fairly close to me and for awhile I thought he was going to head on down here and rat me out to the county inspectors. He was really bent up that some uneducated fool like me would even attempt such a feat without the blessing of an engineer. I'm not downing engineers cause they gotta eat too but but most folks that build back yard projects like these can't afford to pay some engineer for a stamped set of drawings and all the other needless inspections and licenses that one gubment agency or another would require once they found out what you were up to.

Man...that's a fine looking piece of equipment you have there. I was thinking about doing something like that at first and I probably could have done it just as easy but I would have had to buy some more steel. Money was so tight I just couldn't swing it at the time and my building isn't that big anyway to where it would have been that much improvement over what I have now especially the way my shop will have to be set up once it is done. But yours is really easy to look at though.:licking:

How are the main beams supported? Are they independent from the rest of the building? I can't really tell in the pic but that is a really hefty beam it's made of.

Yeah, my job was rather tricky to pull off and it took me longer to position and raise that 6" lifting beam into place than it did to set all the other steel and beam together. It took me almost 3 days total to get it in the right place, then raise it up and get it tied off before I could even attempt to move the beam. But once it was in place and securely tied off the lift went quickly and was almost a perfect lift. All accept for one of the side bracing straps was in the way and prevented me from sitting it exactly where it needed to be. I had to sit it down right on the edge and jack it into place but even then it only took about an hour and a half to get it bolted down. Then it took another day to take down the crane and move it out of the way but it was worth it in the end. Actually I had more trouble raising the 6" wooden post than I did this tower but that is another story for another day.

 

[Shield Arc]

I have six posts, the four corner posts are 4-inch sch 80 pipe. The two center posts are 8 x 8 x 1/2-inch wall square tube. All setting on 12 x 12 x 1-inch plates anchored into 12-inch thick slab. I only have $3,000.00 total in that crane, including hoist, and winch for travel. Most of the steel came off construction projects. I'm lucky I must know 50 PEs that I've worked with over the years. I designed my crane, but with the help of Auto-Cad drawings and e-mail the head of the engineering department of the construction company I worked for approved every detail.

 

[mx842]

I have six posts, the four corner posts are 4-inch sch 80 pipe. The two center posts are 8 x 8 x 1/2-inch wall square tube. All setting on 12 x 12 x 1-inch plates anchored into 12-inch thick slab. I only have $3,000.00 total in that crane, including hoist, and winch for travel. Most of the steel came off construction projects. I'm lucky I must know 50 PEs that I've worked with over the years. I designed my crane, but with the help of Auto-Cad drawings and e-mail the head of the engineering department of the construction company I worked for approved every detail.

Very nice......but did you get the approval from the head donut on the miller site?

Yeah, I've been pretty lucky too in that respect. I know a lot of people in the construction industry and I'm always getting calls from one or another about something they are about to throw out. My oldest boy works as a welder for a large plant and you wouldn't believe some of the stuff they just throw out. He just called me last week and said, hey! come quick and get your new welding table. I didn't ask questions, just jumped in the truck, hooked up the trailer and took off. An hour later I was coming down the road with a nice 9'X 4' welding table with a 11/4" aluminum plate on top. The plate was mounted to 4000lb hydraulic lift table on really nice castors and the best thing was this unit ran off 110 single phase unlike the last one I got that was a 3 phase 440V that was hard for me to find a use for. This one is going to look so nice in my new welding shop once it's done.


Is that your shop at your house or is that where you work? This building I am working on is at my home but I plan on using it for my business if I can ever get it finished. I had to shut down my operation on the big road because things got so slow in the boat business that it didn't make sense to keep throwing good money after bad. I was going to give it another year but last winter they were calling for gas prices to go back up to over $4.50 again in the summer and that's what killed it in the first place so I just pulled the plug. I have a couple rich buddies that were crying/bragging about it costing them $800 to $1000 bucks a day for gas to run their play toys but most people couldn't afford to put enough in their boat to get it away from the dock let alone running it up and down the river.

 

[Shield Arc]

I could care less about his opinion, besides he's not a PE, he says he has an engineering degree, but never offers to help anybody. In fact he's not a professional weldor, he plays in his buddy's shop.


No my hobby shop is at my home. I'm not a professional weldor either. Use to be, but not any longer.

 

[sparc]

If you really insist on cutting these pieces of short steel (scrap term) I highly recommend the Steel circular saw from HF. It looks like a regular circular saw but has better guards to capture the hot cuttings from flying around, and getting into the motor windings.(won't last long if that happens)
Bought mine for $89 on sale w/coupon and got extra blade for $20. Cut a bunch of stuff and still on original blade.
Saws rated for 1/4" , but I've cut up to 1/2" angle and plate , just have to go slower and results in a cleean machined cut.

NOW what I'd recommend you do is look around for a scrap dealer or demolition company that will resell salvage beams. Or a steel distributor that sells odds and ends or returns from major jobs. Sounds like you need a 12" junior "I", ( but check with a PE) for the span and load.
I really wouldn't be to confident of welding those shorts togetther and having a smooth track for your trolley, even if you grind all the beads. OK I'll be blunt, you'll end up with a 1/2 a--ed looking piece that would scare most people, and will have an UNKNOWN STRENGTH AND WEIGHT CAPACITY.
i really think you can sell the the shorts for scrap and probably not have to lay out much for the new beam.
BTW, started welding at 14 on the farm, have a mechanical eng degree, spent 1/2 the last 40 yrs running maintenance shops and building and fixing stuff and not opposed to fabbing stuff from scrap(been doing it all my life) just think this is not the best idea. Good luck, Joe

I second Joe's comments. Your welded up T-bar will not be straight and of questionable strength. Scrap the steel and put the money towards a W4 x 13 or similar beam, you'll be better off.

 

[mx842]

I could care less about his opinion, besides he's not a PE, he says he has an engineering degree, but never offers to help anybody. In fact he's not a professional weldor, he plays in his buddy's shop.


No my hobby shop is at my home. I'm not a professional weldor either. Use to be, but not any longer.

OH yeah??? He told me he was a PE with 30 or 40 years experience in the building trades. And yes I noticed how he didn't like to offer up any meaningful help to anyone but I just chalked that up to his desire for the self preservation of his profession. :laughing:

That's a fine looking hobby shop you have going there, must be nice. Hopefully one day I'll have my small one up and running. Right now I have all this neat stuff sitting outside with no way to use it but one day if the good Lord be willing I'll get it up to where I can work and play.