flipping and transporting

[james gatehouse]

how about a discussion on flipping and transporting. i have a small shop with limited man power,any home made ideas.lets see some photos

[Jimmy Archambault]

have you seen some the carts fishstone sales. you could easly build one your self and unload from a trailor. i know you use different in aussie land

[Sam Burson]

Don't do this (see photo)....
that aside, the little trolley I made that is in the photo works well. I like it better than the bought granite ones because you can put the holding arms (they are on hinges) up and down as you need them. (and they cost a whole lot less to make) this one in the photo will take up to around 350 kgs and fits down and around hall ways fairly well. I have made a larger one also which will take more weight, but is slightly less maneuverable.
another thing I just got onto is these things.... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-farming-industry/Industrial/Hoist...
Affordable, and very handy for when you need them. ie fitting waterfall ends, or wall to wall vanities; use two to lift the piece while keeping exactly horizontal.
Another tool for fitting waterfall ends is a sack trolley with the base plate cut off, and a timber 4 foot 6x2 bolted horizontally just below waist height. The waterfall piece is "F" clamped to the 6x2, and from there its just too easy. Total control, speed and accuracy of placement...
As far as flipping goes... I'm all ears.... If anyone has an affordable, safe and fast method my back will be very grateful.

[Ryan Waxman]

ha ha ha, hilarious, thanks for the tip. That image is a keeper.

I am also a one man band and have learned that if a build my carts a few inches shorter then my tables i can slide them halfway off the table and then stand on the table and use gravity to get me started then brut force to get it flip on to the cart. IIts killing me, my max so far is a 300 lbs, after that i have to call in reinforcements, $$$. check out http://concretecountertopplant.com/

[John Cardwell(www.crete-unique.com)]

For flipping I find its much easier to flip on your casting table then slide onto a cart. This way you can stand on top of your table and perform a deadlift type motion which should be much easier than standing on the ground trying to do a shoulder press type motion. If you are flipping a long piece by your self a good idea is to attach a piece of 2 inch angle iron to the piece to help spread the force out along the piece.

2x4s and foam are key for some of this stuff. I always use foam or 2x4s to catch the pieces while flipping. This helps keep edges from blowing out and most important saves you from smashing your hands/fingers. If you have your casting table and grinding carts at the same height you can just about drag the pieces across using the 2x4s or foam to get you most of the way across. Pretty simple really. I have done 450 pound pieces by myself with no mechanical devices involved. I am not a big guy either. Leverage is key.

Another thing that helps is lifting straps. The forearm type you see on tv commercials. These have been a huge help. Got them at home depot for around 20 bucks a pair.

Also proper lifting techniques and knowing when something is more than you can handle. Don't be brazen with this stuff trying to save a buck as we are talking some serious weight which could casue some serious injuries. The picture posted by Sam really shows how something can go bad. A few exr\tra hands can be had usually fairly inexpensively if even just for installs. Beats having hospital bills and not being able to work.

[Todd Crouch]

I purchased a couple of hydraulic lift carts from Northern Tools last year. They are cheap (reletively) Chinese knock-offs, but they work great. The ones I bought have a max lift height of almost 5 feet. I pump them up to the same height as my casting table, load up the piece, then pump it up to the height of the flat bed, load on to the truck and secure the load. Slick. They also work great on install day. I think the ones I bought have a 600 lb. max capacity. Don't know how I did it without them.

[Jimmy Archambault]

Todd Crouch said:

I purchased a couple of hydraulic lift carts from Northern Tools last year. They are cheap (reletively) Chinese knock-offs, but they work great. The ones I bought have a max lift height of almost 5 feet. I pump them up to the same height as my casting table, load up the piece, then pump it up to the height of the flat bed, load on to the truck and secure the load. Slick. They also work great on install day. I think the ones I bought have a 600 lb. max capacity. Don't know how I did it without them.

were can you find these lift carts at

[Peter Somers]

I built a rolling gantry crane out of 2x framing stock, plywood and LVL's. Then I mounted an electric hoist to it. I use it to flip and to move countertops around my shop by myself. I will take a few pictures of it and post them.

[Dave McVey]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_...

Is this what your talking about?

[Mark Celebuski]

I’ve always said that the first piece of equipment fabricators should buy is something I don’t make, an overhead crane.

You can buy a 1 ton hoist on eBay, mount it on an I beam so it slides back and forth and you’re set. Here is one that comes with the beam: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Ton-Cap-COFFING-Wall-Mounted-Jib-Cranes-w-Bea...

You can use the crane to load your mixer, flip pieces, load trucks, save your back and fingers (all of mine have been crushed at one time or another).

Mark C

[John]

That was the third thing I did Mark! I built my table, cut a trench in my floor second , and then made a gantry. I mounted the I-beam to my floor joist above, then put in removable posts at eather end when I use it. It picked up a 110v elec. winch from HF. It works MINT! I use shims to raise the piece 2" off the table then run straps under and around the piece. I want to pick up one of the rolling scissor carts too, just waiting for a sale.

[nakedstone]

cut a trench in ur floor? please explain mate

[Robert Winckler]

He's a wet grinder.