How to lift an 18x24 granite surface plate?

[jonhendry]

Won an auction then realized it'd be too heavy to lift when I go to pick up the lots I won. I don't have an engine hoist and I don't want to pay $380 to the auction's riggers.

Is there any sort of easy-to-knock-together, collapsible 2x4 gantry crane design that'd be sufficient for moving a 170 pound surface plate, that I could put together this weekend?

Maybe a long-legged sawhorse and a gambrel hoist from Harbor Freight?

 

[JRaut]

Phone a friend and split a 6-pack with him when you finish.

I was in your same boat a few years ago with the same sized plate (4" thick with 2" ledges). Weighed the same, I'm sure.

I was barely able to muscle it into my trunk at the auction house by myself. Then I got help from a buddy to get it from my trunk into my shop.

Two people makes it quite manageable.

 

[Dave Smith]

take a two wheeled dolly and lash it to it and wheel it up a ramp into your pickup, or take a strong friend with
to help you just lift it. 170 lbs isn't that heavy, especially for a good dolly.
Dave

 

[jwmelvin]

I know this isn’t what you asked and I apologize for that, but my 2-ton engine hoist has been the best money I ever spent. I’ve moved pretty much my entire shop with it, including a 3’x4’ surface plate.

For 170 lbs and if I really didn’t want an engine hoist, I’d be calling a couple friends. I know that isn’t always a possibility.

 

[rabler]

Take a dolly, lash it to the dolly. Then with the pickup tailgate open, lean one side of the dolly on the gate. With the help of a friend, pick up the other end and slide it in. If you can't find a friend to take, $20 at the site should be enough to find someone else to give you a hand.

Ouch, $380 is pricey for the riggers. I had a 3'x4'x6" surface plate loaded for $50, quoted price on the auction details.

 

[Technical Ted]

Two men in reasonable shape should be able to move it. I picked up the same size plate and moved it myself when I bought mine from a guy a few years ago.

Ted

 

[NCjeeper]

 

[macardoso]

I've been hauling mine around the shop by hand. It sucks.

All my benches are now set high enough up to slip a cherry picker under it and move heavy stuff.

 

[WobblyHand]

View attachment 387146

These are nice. Used one to get my lathe out of a hatchback. Think the picture of the one above is a 500 lb lift unit. The HF 500 lb lift unit weighs 88 lbs. The 1000 lb lift unit weighs 161 lbs. Having another person to help is a good thing.

 

[mmcmdl]

As Jeep said , the die carts are great although you still have to get it on to the cart .