What Did You Buy Today?

[rwdenney]

Is it to much to build a I beam trolley set up for a hoist?
Couple if A frames Heck buy a fee small chain hoists and you can just store the chucks suspended out of the way.
You can always buy a few mire lathes and each have its own chuck set up.

It can be cheaper than that. I installed a Unistrut/Superstrut hoist trolley for moving lathe components, with a total cost of under $200. I had to search around on eBay to get the best prices of some parts, but I bought the track itself at Lowe’s. Working load is a quarter ton. It can easily be attached across ceiling joists.

Rick “since put a hook on it that will hold a chuck through its center” Denney

 

[FliesLikeABrick]

A friend and I were bidding on items in a Chicagoland auction today (he is nearby, I am in Virginia nowadays)... one thing led to another and now he is picking up a bridgeport clone (~1989 Enco, for him) and Bridgeport (w/ 2-axis DRO and power feed) for me. Sight unseen, $2200 hammer price for the Bridgeport. Hope it's in decent shape, at least by the time we get it here. Almost no information available on its type/history besides "1.5hp, ram type, 42x9, power feed, 2-axis DRO" ... so we'll see how this goes!

I have had very little luck sourcing Bridgeports or clones in this area. When they have come up in auctions on occasion, there are usually timing/logistical barriers to me being able to bid+pickup -- or they are extremely expensive

 

[ChazzC]

It can be cheaper than that. I installed a Unistrut/Superstrut hoist trolley for moving lathe components, with a total cost of under $200. I had to search around on eBay to get the best prices of some parts, but I bought the track itself at Lowe’s. Working load is a quarter ton. It can easily be attached across ceiling joists.

Rick “since put a hook on it that will hold a chuck through its center” Denney

Be cautious when hanging loads off of roof trusses (or purlins in metal buildings): these members are design to meet code for keeping the walls from spreading and the roof from collapsing under local conditions and not much more.

 

[jwmelvin]

Bridgeport (w/ 2-axis DRO and power feed) for me.

Congrats, looks like it’s in great shape.

 

[rwdenney]

Be cautious when hanging loads off of roof trusses (or purlins in metal buildings): these members are design to meet code for keeping the walls from spreading and the roof from collapsing under local conditions and not much more.

These trusses carry a second-floor room designed to 40 psf. Trusses that just hold up the roof of a pole barn can be spaced every 8 feet.

Most trusses will easily support workers climbing around in them during construction, and in this part of the country are sized for 30” of snow load as well. I’ve never seen a roofing contractor hesitate to put 500-pound stacks of shingles on the roof, surrounded by workers. A 500-pound-rated hoist track spread across six trusses is no problem, particularly if attached near the truss connection points.

Rick “wouldn’t want to live in a house where a roof/ceiling can’t support a 500-pound load reasonably distributed” Denney

 

[ChazzC]

These trusses carry a second-floor room designed to 40 psf. Trusses that just hold up the roof of a pole barn can be spaced every 8 feet.

Most trusses will easily support workers climbing around in them during construction, and in this part of the country are sized for 30” of snow load as well. I’ve never seen a roofing contractor hesitate to put 500-pound stacks of shingles on the roof, surrounded by workers. A 500-pound-rated hoist track spread across six trusses is no problem, particularly if attached near the truss connection points.

Rick “wouldn’t want to live in a house where a roof/ceiling can’t support a 500-pound load reasonably distributed” Denney

The load isn't spread equally across the trusses, more load is supported by the nearest trusses and less by the ones further away since the tracks will flex. Also, remember that the 40psf load is already there, you are adding to it.

"Designed for 30" snow loading" doesn't necessarily mean that a roof will support 30" snow: many local codes allow for decreased loads and do not always take into account drift load (or ice from partially melted snow)

I have seen steel (not metal pre-fab, real buildings) where the structure was pulled apart 6" by incorrectly supported loads, and buildings that should have withstood snow loads collapse under less than code loading. Lecture complete.

 

[rwdenney]

The load isn't spread equally across the trusses, more load is supported by the nearest trusses and less by the ones further away since the tracks will flex. Also, remember that the 40psf load is already there, you are adding to it.

"Designed for 30" snow loading" doesn't necessarily mean that a roof will support 30" snow: many local codes allow for decreased loads and do not always take into account drift load (or ice from partially melted snow)

I have seen steel (not metal pre-fab, real buildings) where the structure was pulled apart 6" by incorrectly supported loads, and buildings that should have withstood snow loads collapse under less than code loading. Lecture complete.

A 40 psf rating (I didn’t say how it was loaded) is residential code, and is plenty to support a couple of loaded file cabinets or a grand piano as a somewhat concentrated live load, plus the dead load of building materials. And don’t forget the 200-pound bags of protoplasm standing around those items. We underestimate routine residential loads—a quarter ton just isn’t that much.

We are also not talking about a continuous load that will cause the structure to creep over time. And for lifting lathe chucks, we aren’t talking about needing the full quarter-ton rating anyway. But I wouldn’t be even slightly reluctant to use it at rated load if attached to code-compliant trusses or ceiling joists as mine is.

People routinely throw a 4x4 across garage ceiling joists and hang a chain fall to use as an engine hoist. Some don’t even use the 4x4. Nobody’s PE registrations (including mine) were consulted.

Rick “three people standing close to each other is a quarter-ton load and we don’t even think twice about that” Denney

 

[snoopdog]

Well, bought the Lagun mill mentioned in another thread, first pic is what I got with it. Second pic was what I got when I went to look at a Toledo power hacksaw, which I also bought, haven't picked up the hacksaw or mill. The second stop was on machine shop road, named appropriately, the matriarch was passed, and he was one of the masters. Shop was in total disarray, real american iron everywhere. Sadly, so much was strewn around it will be hard to pick through it.

 

[snoopdog]

Well, bought the Lagun mill mentioned in another thread, first pic is what I got with it. Second pic was what I got when I went to look at a Toledo power hacksaw, which I also bought, haven't picked up the hacksaw or mill. The second stop was on machine shop road, named appropriately, the matriarch was passed, and he was one of the masters. Shop was in total disarray, real american iron everywhere. Sadly, so much was strewn around it will be hard to pick through it. View attachment 442462View attachment 442461

Pics are reversed

 

[erikmannie]

I bought a 1 year membership to this forum. Money well spent!