Thread: my mini bridge crane

I am trying to learn how to post pictures so I hope this works. I just finished building and installing a mini bridge crane to save my back when changing chucks and other assorted back harming activities.

Originally Posted by bridgedog

I am trying to learn how to post pictures so I hope this works. I just finished building and installing a mini bridge crane to save my back when changing chucks and other assorted back harming activities.

With the best of intentions to not lift anything over perhaps 50-80 lbs, the very fact that it exists is all too likely to mean that 'somebody, someday' will try a far heavier lift .. and fail the rig. With nasty side-effects.

That adequate support is not visible AND verifiable at a glance means it may not exist. it isn't obvious that it can support even its own unloaded traveler.

Happy to be wrong about that - but it is an a assumption that has kept me out of worse trouble.

Bill

Just to add, it might be best to label/stencil the capacity of the system on the bridge rail, etc. Just as a reminder to someone else.

The need to be very particular about overhead cranes to the point of nit picking every detail is because of the potential danger caused by a failure of the structure, etc. I don't think any of us would escape a hospital visit or worse on even a several feet long piece of 4" I beam falling on us....

When I built the shop the trusses were engineered for the rails to be suspended from them with additional king posts and trussing. The rails are good for 2000 lbs each at a three to one safety factor.
The cross rail is good for 1950 lbs at the same factor. The hoist is 1/4 ton. I am a crane operator by trade and am currently running a 140 ton crawler with 190 feet of boom. It also could be overloaded and fail. Proper training and knowledge are needed for every lift no matter how small. I will be posting a weight limit on the unit.

Originally Posted by bridgedog

When I built the shop the trusses were engineered for the rails to be suspended from them with additional king posts and trussing. The rails are good for 2000 lbs each at a three to one safety factor.
The cross rail is good for 1950 lbs at the same factor. The hoist is 1/4 ton. I am a crane operator by trade and am currently running a 140 ton crawler with 190 feet of boom. It also could be overloaded and fail. Proper training and knowledge are needed for every lift no matter how small. I will be posting a weight limit on the unit.

Good news, all - and with your background, you would be among the first in line to know WHY I threw that flag with nothing in eye-shot but drywall and rails.....

;-)

Bill

I applaud your comments. I would have expected none less. When people ask how it is attached I just say SUPERGLUE

..When people ask how it is attached I just say SUPERGLUE

LOL! I had a 'country cousin' who swore by leather.

When challenged, he'd just look puzzled, go thoughtful, look down at the ground as if pondering.... finally raise his head and say:

" But is HAS to be strong stuff!

Leather holds an entire 2,000 pound BULL together, don't it? "

Bill

LOL I guess I will have to look into some leather rigging.