Thread: Installing a hoist

Not sure if metalwork is the best forum but I know I've seen threads on this subject here.

In my new shed, I have an overhead rail made of some tapered flange I beam. I have an lightweight electric hoist - 250Kgs max lift, that I'd like to attach to the rail and I'm not sure what's the best/easiest/safest way to do this.

The flange on the I beam is 75mm and the bolt holes on the hoist are at 90mm.
I was thinking a piece of channel 100mm wide to span the flange with (say) 4 bearings as wheels. I know a proper drawing would help but this is the best I can do.

EDIT: Added picture of hoist and rail it needs to go on.

Hi snowy
Try this

Phil


http://www.liftingonline.com.au/products/OZGIRTROLCLA

Thanks for the link, I hadn't thought of buying one ready made, guess I thought they'd be too expensive.

Looked at Hare and Forbes and eBay and found similar items.

Not sure how I'd attach the winch to it, I'd still need to make some sort of mount to suit the chain hook on the trolley.

Can you show us a pic of your hoist?

Pics added to original post

I made up a trolley to suit one of those electric hoists. I used some flat bar and the wheels off one of those H&F's type girder trolleys.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ho...photos-113771/

I would recommend buying a trolley new or second hand even if it's only to use the wheels. You just missed out as they where on special for $59 for the 1 ton one.

Dave

Originally Posted by Bryan

Can you show us a pic of your hoist?

You wouldn't have a pic of the top.
Just thought I would ask, how much weight do you think you will be lifting?

Phil

Dave J,
Thanks for the link, I remember it from one of the metalworking sites but seem to have missed it here. Hoist is the same as yours but lower rated.

I've found a cheap girder trolley (1 ton) on eBay that looks OK if I can modify it to mount the hoist.
Yet another job that tells me I need to buy a welder (and learn to weld)

I was hoping for a quick/easy solution as I have three sheets of MDF in the van that I can't possibly move by myself. (3600 x 1200 @ 77kgs a sheet) Perhaps I'll work on building the workbenches for the shed, that's a single sheet of red tongue flooring at a mere 35Kgs/sheet

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

You wouldn't have a pic of the top.
Just thought I would ask, how much weight do you think you will be lifting?

Phil

Hoist is rated at 250kgs so that's the maximum.
Picture of the back of the hoist. Excuse the quality, new phone and I'm still getting used to it - no teenagers available to explain its many features to me

Do you have a picture or a link to the girder trolley you bought?

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Do you have a picture or a link to the girder trolley you bought?

Dave

Haven't got a girder trolley, until I posted this, I didn't know what I needed .

EDIT: This is a cheapy I found in eBay

Thanks,
It doesn't look like the wheels are attached with bolts like mine was. Have you seen the powered trolleys on ebay for the hoists? They would be a bolt on thing and you would then have it powered as well.

You could attach it to that trolley with 4 short chains and some D shackles, as long as you have the head room. You would need to make up some flat bar plates to go under the 4 outer bolts and have a hole in the other end for the chain.

I remember seeing one mounted, but cant seen to find it. I will have a look around latter for you.

Dave

The motorised ones look good but outside the budget

No problems with headroom. the girder is just over 3 metres high so plenty of room for chains etc.

Thinking about it, I don't think making your own wheels up would be worth it with the trolleys being so cheap.

Another way would be to use 2 pieces of angle bolted along the top of each side of your hoist, picking up all 6 bolts.
Then drill and bolt the other leg of the angles to the sides girder trolley with 4 bolts. This would probably be the better way as long as you can pick up angle the right size. You would have to work out the balancing point so when no load was on it, all 4 wheels stayed in contact with the beam, and the same when lifting something.
These hoists are back heavy, but take the weight of lifting on the front. They seem to get away with the wheels close together on the motorized ones, so you should be right.

Dave

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Yet another job that tells me I need to buy a welder (and learn to weld)

Just in case you're serious, overhead lifting gear is not the thing for a first welding project IMHO.