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[RollingLowInKy]

I've been a miller welding fanatic for years, but just recently stumbled across this website forum. I'm a Goodyear mechanic by day & a custom car fabricator by night, and I've always trusted miller welders for all my projects.

-Miller Syncrowave 250DX w/ torch cooler.


-Millermatic 210 mig


-Miller spectrum 375 X-treme





I plan on putting my new Tig & plasma to use building a 3 ton gantry lift hoist.
But starting from this...

2.5"x2.5"x3/16" A500 Steel square tubing (4) 20' pieces
3.0"x3.x0"1/4" 3 18' pieces
2.5'x4.5' 3/8" Plate steel (2) sheets
And an I beam I've ordered but has yet to show up yet...Luckily I live close to an industiral steel/aluminum supply company that has SUPER cheap round + square tubing in nearly any size you could imagine, if you live in kentucky check them out. Sandusky Steel in Columbia Kentucky. http://www.macraesbluebook.com/searc...ompany=1053401

I'll be documenting my progress with pictures so stay tuned! Thanks for reading along,
Steve

[RollingLowInKy]

ps. If anyone know of any good caster company's online for reasonable prices? All ive been able to find are these so far, but they seem awfully expensive..

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http://www.castercity.com/eshop/10Ex...asters-B20.htm

Swivel Caster - Capacity to 2500 lbs.
8" Diameter Flat Tread - 95A Durometer
Most Popular - Fairly Hard
180$ each + 32$ for locks for the swivels..


This is simliar to what im building..

[aametalmaster]

Nice choice on the machines and nice work on the crane...Bob

[RollingLowInKy]

I haven't started this project yet, it's nothing more then an idea in my head and lots of square tubing, the photo I provided is just a visual blue-print so everyone know's what i'm talking about.

By the way I heard great things about this 3-ton chain hoist and trolley from...*gasp* Harbor Freight. I know most of their stuff is junk...but I have a few friends who are very happy with their purchases, and for the price is hard not to try it, so I ordered these on wensday, I'll keep everyone informed on their durability/survivabilty.

3 ton chain hoist 16' - 119$!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=30326

3ton Push Trolley 99$!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91492

Sorry I can't resist posting another, best equipment purchase I've ever made!!

[aametalmaster]

ps. If anyone know of any good caster company's online for reasonable prices? All ive been able to find are these so far, but they seem awfully expensive..

[

Thats why metal lathes are nice in the weld shop so you can make your own parts cheap. I make steel casters all the time for about 5 bucks each and some time and those are for swivel ones. I just use a wheel bearing and race off a trailer for the swivel part. I have some pics somplace of the last set...Bob

[Sonora Iron]

Just my personal opinion here. If Harbor Freights rates something at 3 tons, I would down rate it to 1 1/2 tons, at a minimum! Now when it comes to Columbus McKinnon or Crosby I’d stake my life on it, and have almost daily!

[JSFAB]

Just a suggestion, building a rolling overhead like that, size the main beam above a couple feet longer each side, you can then run a 45 degree brace on the outside, down to the uprights. Stiffens it up a great deal, makes it a lot easier to roll around with a load, makes it much less likely to fail, for not a whole lot more dollars. You can also run the braces on the inside, but this would tend to limit travel of the trolley/winch.

[RollingLowInKy]

Just my personal opinion here. If Harbor Freights rates something at 3 tons, I would down rate it to 1 1/2 tons, at a minimum! Now when it comes to Columbus McKinnon or Crosby I’d stake my life on it, and have almost daily!

99% of the time I would agree with you about the quality of Harbor Freight equipment, but another bussiness here in town swears by them, and he use's them for making enclosed horse trailers. If it'll pickup those heavy things up then i'm sure it'll pick a car body (minus the frame) no problem. Orginally I wanted to use a Jet or Milwaukee like this.
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/lifting_...=become9678-20

But I wanted to keep the cost low...I have no intentions of having anyone working under any payload. If it doesn't work it will be replaced..

[Sonora Iron]

But I wanted to keep the cost low...I have no intentions of having anyone working under any payload.

That is a good plan in theory!
There are more ways to get hurt with rigging than just standing / working under a load.

[RollingLowInKy]

Fresh of the Fed-Ex truck and still on the pallet, one big reason I'm making this gantry hoist.



Ace soda blaster for taking vintage & newer car & truck bodies down to bare metal without worry of warping the thin sheetmetal like sand. The gantry will just be used to seperate the bodies from the frames, and then transport them to body dollies for blasting, welding etc.