loading heavy sheets of steel

[ggeh]

I work by my self and I'm not as strong as I use to be. Any suggestions on loading heavy sheets of steel on and off your plasma table. Has any one built a lifting jig that would mount on the table leg or an electromagnet to lift those heavy flat pieces?
Thanks, Gary

[Walter]

I use my tractor for heavy stuff, looking to get a fork lift soon. You may look at a manual pallet stacker at northern tool. They can raise to 63" and hold 2200 lb. They are about $1k though, there are cheaper ones but the forks arnt very long. But if you want a project probably could make one cheaper especially by cutting out everything on your table.

[Motoguy]

I'm in the same boat. I use a vertical lifting clamp, and my 2-ton engine hoist. I store the 4x8 sheets vertically on a rack, very similar to this:

517

I lift the sheet up, roll the rack out from under it, and roll the engine hoist over to my table. With the engine hoist chain shortened a few lengths, the plate will swing up over my table. When letting the sheet down, I have to push the bottom of the sheet away from the lift. I don't have 4' between the boom and the cylinder, so the sheet will bind it up if I pull the bottom into the hoist.

I am also making up an assembly like this, for horizontal lifting. I think it will be quite handy.

518

http://plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17452&hilit=Engine+hoist

[jake]

I use a rolling gantry crane.

[ggeh]

Thanks for the explanation and the pics. excellent storage rack for the sheet steel and the chain set up for the cherry picker.
Thanks for you sharing your ideas, Gary

[DirtBound]

We store our sheets on a pallet rack and use a forklift to move it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEjZBCJhwFI/?taken-by=dirtbound

[Farmerdan]

I was asking myself the same question a couple years ago when I was using a forklift to change sheets. So I built a vertical storage rack, then a small bridge crane over the top of my table and the rack.
Then added a wireless remote to it. Now I can remove a sheet put it in the rack, pick another from the rack and set on the table by myself in about 2-3 minutes.










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[Tasibrett]

555
4 x 100kg magnets. Got plate lifters to get out of rack then lay on ground and use magnets.

[jeepsr4ever]

That is the best use of those little magnets I have seen yet. We use two 800kg magnets on a spreader bar when we lift and load steel with one of our forklifts. One alone is untrustworthy.