07-27-2015, 01:10 PM
(07-26-2015, 06:50 PM)f350ca Wrote: You could go with an overhead crane attached to the ceiling. With the clutter in my shop a gantry crane would be worthless.
I have much the same problem
(Far too much ........(good) stuff on the floor 
I don't have a ceiling in the workshop fixing it inside may not be a good solution for me, as I tend to do the 'heavy stuff' out side (under the car port).
When I built that materials holding rack I could have done with something to help me lift and move it.
Lifting my 3 ton arbor press (130lbs) on and off the table is getting too much for my 'poor old back'
I have been and looked at these engine cranes to day specifically a 1 ton one quite small but poorly made I wasn't too impressed with the quality.
Then there were 2 models of the 2 ton ones which I thought odd, one is marked "heavy duty" to me 2 tons is 2 tons
. It is only when one looks carefully that the difference can be seen. The overall quality of the 'heavy duty' is far superior even the welding looked very good and it looked a bit beefier. That's only part the story
whilst I was looking I met a guy who owns a garage and he seemed to know a bit about these engine cranes. He also uses them to lift and carry items to and from the work benches (well his mechanics do). What he has done is modified the long legs so that are only 700 mm long which is about half the original length the gib is extended out to 1/2 ton and then it allows access to the benches. Items can be lifted on and off the benches. What I thought rather than cut my brand spanking new legs I would get some more tubing and if I want to use this engine crane to move heavy stuff like my lathe or mill ....... (not my Sherline ones I can carry them
) I can put the originals long legs back on That's the plan
DaveH