Overhead Crane Pivots 360 Degrees

Overhead Crane Pivots 360 Degrees FARM SHOP Miscellaneous “I recently built an overhead crane that’s one of the handiest tools in my 30 by 60-ft home-built shop ” says Gordon Mariner Goodlettsville Tenn “An electric trolley and electric hoist run on a track made from a 15-ft long 4-in I-beam which pivots 360 degrees ” The crane is located in the center of Mariner’s shop which has a pair of big doors spaced 30 ft apart on one side and overhead storage shelves on the other side Mariner can pivot the crane out to the center of both doors to unload trailers or trucks parked inside “To move the crane around I just pull on the electric hoist cable and swing it in either direction It rotates very easily with a big load Even my 8-year-old granddaughter can handle it ” says Mariner “It can lift up to 1 600 lbs “I didn’t want a single I-beam equipped with manual chain hoists because I didn’t want any limitations when creative lifting problems arose So when I decided to build a new shop I built the lift system first and then built the shop around it ” The crane is supported by a 5-in dia steel pipe with its bottom welded shut that goes 4 ft deep into the ground and is encased in cement Mariner put nine 1 1/4-in dia steel balls inside the pipe and also a half gal of 90-weight used transmission oil He then dropped a 4-in dia steel pipe with its bottom welded shut inside the 5-in pipe The last step was to pour in the concrete “The steel balls act like bearings and the transmission oil keeps them lubricated ” says Mariner “It really comes in handy I often use it to lift my zero-turn riding mower so I can change the blades or the oil When I’m done I lift the mower up out of the way onto one of the overhead shelves I also use the crane to pick up stuff and set it on an overhead loft ” says Mariner He notes that he installed a cable connected to a turnbuckle on top of the track to help keep it level Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gordon Mariner 1102 Cartwright Cr N Goodlettsville Tenn 37072 ph 615 477-8099

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