PLATE HOIST ?'s

[John Musselwhite]

At 10:01 AM 30/03/96 -0700, Lorlin Barber wrote:

>Has anyone used the automotive floor base hydralic hoist for lifting plates?
>The lift arm of the one I have seen will moved vertically from about 3'floor
>hieght to 6" and has a throat depth of about 3'. Sounds workable but the lift
>isn't directly up and down like an overhead hoist.

The swing on the lift is a problem, but it IS workable if you're careful and
it's better than nothing. I have one here I use for that very purpose,
although not very often. Usually it gets loaned out to friends for their
engines (as it is right now). It does allow you to lift a plate out
practically anywhere though, and they do come apart for storage and
transport. At about 250 pounds I don't consider it to be truly "portable".

The one I have was bought from a local rental centre when they closed down
and sold off their stock about 10 years ago. It was $100 well spent even
though I had to sandblast and paint it and replace the seals on the piston.
I would probably tire of it very quickly if I had to use it for plates all
the time though. A small block and tackle might improve that if I could find
a suitable one, but if I was going to use it a LOT I'd just get an overhead
hoist.

In short, if you can get a good deal on one and only need it occasionally it
should work fine IMO. I don't think I'd actively go and seek out a new one
though, especially if it were light duty (inexpensive) as it may not be
stable enough.

One thing you COULD do is rent one for a day and see how it works for
yourself first. They aren't that expensive to rent and you'll know for sure
if it's the right tool for you if you use it for a day or so.

                        John

John Musselwhite, RPT
Calgary, Alberta Canada
musselj@cadvision.com