FEL Gin pole (Boom pole and then some)

[srjones]

Paul, Thank you for your comments...

Believe you me, I've ran through quite a few "what-if" senarios but most of them question my ability as welding what would happen if the various parts of the boom assembly were to fail. In most senarios the only impact would be that the thing that I was lifting would drop to the ground and the boom would fall on top of it. That's especially bad if it's live person being lifted, but not quite so bad if it's just a peice of wood.

Nose diving (or forward tipping) would be my next concern and then followed by side tipping (or rolling). Also in the list would be hydraulic and electrical failure.

I think as long as I adhere to the following self-imposed rules, I should be okay:

1. Never operate on unlevel ground (side-to-side).
2. Never operate with the boom tip extended more than 24" from the pivot pins.
3. Always know the weight of the load I'm lifting.
4. Never let any one other than me, me, me operate the setup.
5. Always keep a cell phone in my shirt pocket.
6. Never operate without a ballast. (850# of concrete in 2/3 of a 55 gallon barrel)

 

[sodamo]

Great work.
As you may have read elsewhere Ron was also my inspiration.

I'd be curious about the true weight capacity and how you figured it. I've been tinkering with the thought of extending my pole and like your approach. In it current configuration I was able to set 4"X10"X24' beam just at 15 ft. Setting beam

I have some 6x16 beams in my near future as well as some 4x10's at about 17 ft.

I have found this to be a most tool. Elsewhere on the above link, you can see it setting 15 ft long 4" pipe and placing 300 lb battieries in their box. One thing I've found amazing it how placement of an object can be controlled simply by turning the front wheels.

Could you post more close ups of the receiver/stinger setup?

David

 

[srjones]

Hey David, very cool project /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Here's the close-up of the stinger/reciever welded on the boom. As you can see, I had to do some modifications to the way it was originally built (King Kutter, I think)

Something else you'll notice is that I haven't yet drilled a hole to secure it with a pin.

-srj

 

[srjones]

And here's a close up of the tip

 

[sodamo]

Thanks, those were great. I think your modification was also what I was wondering about. Now if I can just figure out what to ask for to buy the material.

David

 

[srjones]

I had a hard time knowing what the ask for too...

If you go to any shop that makes hitches, you can probably get what you need. A short piece (about a foot) of the reciever tube (2" ID) and as much as you dare to go with the 'stinger' stock (2" OD). I went with 1/4" thickness on both.

-srj

 

[Louisiana_John]

Nice job I like it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
John

 

[sodamo]

Thanks again srj

Funny, I pretty much know my way around a lumber/wood place, but I'm really outa my element when it comes to metal. Wonder if there's a cheat sheet or something /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

David

 

[Defective]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Wonder if there's a cheat sheet or something /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)</font>

Well...it's British, but Here's one .

 

[sodamo]

Very interesting - Thanks