wood elevator

[TimSullivan]

We are just about ready to move into our new home and I want to put a wood elevator from the basement into the great room on the first floor.

Does anyone have some help here. I have done some work on plans that would use a 110 boat hoist winch to lift the basket. The unit looks like it would work but the weight of the basket of word is several times lighter than the capacity of the winch. I don't need to lift a half ton of wood at a time.

 

[DocHeb]

For a ready-made product, check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.woodwaiter.com>Woodwaiter</A>. I've seen their add in Fine Homebuilding, but have no personal experience with their products.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The woodwaiter is an interesting product, but they sure make you work to determine what mechanism they are using.
What I really don't like about it is all the additional weight hanging from the floor, especially considering you need to remove 1 joyst to install it.
If I was going to build something of this nature, I think I'd start with a small forklift boom mounted to the cellar floor, most of the fabrication would be done, and load capacity wouldn't be in doubt.
Actually, I just came up with a potential use for the concrete block lift I got in a trade last year.

 

[TimSullivan]

The woodwaiter is the only ready made unit I know about. Just thought that I could build one cheaper than the $1800 it would take to buy and ship one from Canada.

 

[TimSullivan]

When our house was in the planning stages, I placed the the stairway lams and a steel I beam three feet apart. I can move or remove any joist I need to with a little adjustment and boxing. I can set one of the woodwaiters right in place. I just want to do it myself.

I will have to look into some of the salvage yards and see what I can find. The fork lift frame sounds workable and it could be powered by a 110 motor with some adjustments. I need to learn more about how the lifting frame actually works. I also don't like the idea of the suspended woodwaiter. Maybe I should start a thread just on woodwaiters.

I have a large double door in the basement and can drive my 4300 JD with the fel and forks attached. So lifting a heavy unit in place will be a little easier.

The woodwaiter would be easier in the long run but then I would miss all the fun of design.

 

[CSAW]

<font color=red>The unit looks like it would work but the weight of the basket of word is several times lighter than the capacity of the winch. I don't need to lift a half ton of wood at a time.


<font color=black>You could use this to your advantage since winches are slow. Arrange the pulleys in a way that turns some of that excess power into speed.

 

[AndyR]

I have heard of a number of dumb-waiter style mechanisms being put together with a garage door opener. With a vertical channel enclosing the corners of your lift (and a few guide wheels) you could probably rig up something in short order - with safeties no less.

 

[fractal]

Am I the only person who read this thread ... thought about it for a minute ... then went and changed their shorts?

I look at the stuff my kids do, and remember what I did as a kid and ... there is no way I would install any sort of "firewood lift" that could not a) take the weight of the wood plus any and all kids who managed to climb in, with or without power and not fall to the bottom and b) not crush the little ones who decided to play in the basement (under where the lift goes up) when the bigger kids decided to climb in the wood lift full of wood causing the lift cable to break..

I don't know how the elevator safety latches work to prevent an elevator from falling when the cable breaks, nor how deep a pit is required to protect a person in case the elevator drops on you, but I would find out before I started a permanent install of a wood elevator.

 

[TimSullivan]

Safety is always a concern to me too. The unit in the basement will be behind a closet door that could be locked. The basket should be lowered if not in use. After reading your post I will be adding a safety latch to hold the basket when it is at the upper level.

As for the basket falling, as with all things mechanical, there needs to be inspections and repair. The potential of having the basket full of wood taking a fast trip to the basement is not pleasant thought. No one wants to have a serious injury to anyone especially a curious child. So any suggestion to make this unit as safe as possible are greatly appreciated.

 

[MossRoad]

One thing about a hydraulic fork lift. Hydraulic oil smells bad. Do you want that in your house?