<HTML>In a message dated 7/18/02 11:27:34 AM Central Daylight Time, fssturm@unm.edu writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Wim,    You don't need to hang the hoist from the existing ceiling. What I do is brace a beam against the ceiling. I use a 4 x 6 beam, held up tight against the ceiling with two 2 x 6's, each with an appropriate notch cut to hold the 4 x 6. As long as it is fit firmly (a wedge or two helps), it works just great.    </BLOCKQUOTE> In my previous shop. I had to set up a system similar to what you've done. I used a steel beam to hang a trolley on it, so that I could move the plate away from the piano, instead of the other way around. But, unfortunately, my shop here is not set up so I can do that. Wim </HTML>