He Made His Own Shop

2007 - Volume #31, Issue #3, Page #38

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

He Made His Own Shop "Elevator"

The balcony storage area in Ron Mickle's shop is much more useable now that he can get there by elevator.
    The shop balcony area is 8 ft. deep and 25 ft. long. "It's 80 inches off the floor, so lifting anything up for storage presented a problem for someone who's only 5 ft. 8 in. tall," says Mickle. "Now I can ride up to the balcony with whatever I want to store."
    He made the elevator-lift using a no. 1700 Warn winch, some purchased steel, two old riding lawn mower tires and two small caster wheels. The winch is powered by a 12-volt battery and is operated by a remote controller attached to a 10-ft. long cord.
    "The unit converts from a forklift to a 3 by 4-ft. platform, so I can use it as a work bench for a tiller or snowblower at standing height. No more lying on the ground to work on small equipment or to change the oil," says Mickle.
    The 3 by 4-ft. platform is contained by a pair of wooden 2 by 4's on either side and held secure by 1/8 by 2-in. steel straps.
    A pair of pulleys give the elevator a 3 to 1 reduction on the cable lift, slowing it down and adding to its lifting ability. The winch is rated at 1,700 lbs. "It goes up at a nice, comfortable slow speed," says Mickle.
    "A lever-operated brake is used to take the weight off the rear tires and hold the unit steady as I ride it up. The system works on an overcenter principle. Pulling up on the lever drives a pair of steel rods into the floor, and lifts the back end of the elevator 3/8 of an inch, which is just enough to take the weight off the tires so the unit can't slide.
    "I'm very happy with it, and my friends think it's pretty snazzy," says Mickle. "I spent only about $300 to build it. I use a handle on back of the elevator to move it around."
    The lift carriage is made from 2-in. sq., 1/4-in. thick tubing. The mast is made from 11/2-in. sq. tubing and with 3-in. wide, 3/16-in. thick steel plate.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ron Mickle, S30 W37174 School Section Lake Rd., Dousman, Wis. 53118 (ph 262 965-2479; jmickle@execpc.com).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

He Made His Own Shop Elevator FARM SHOP Maintenance The balcony storage area in Ron Mickle s shop is much more useable now that he can get there by elevator The shop balcony area is 8 ft deep and 25 ft long It s 80 inches off the floor so lifting anything up for storage presented a problem for someone who s only 5 ft 8 in tall says Mickle Now I can ride up to the balcony with whatever I want to store He made the elevator-lift using a no 1700 Warn winch some purchased steel two old riding lawn mower tires and two small caster wheels The winch is powered by a 12-volt battery and is operated by a remote controller attached to a 10-ft long cord The unit converts from a forklift to a 3 by 4-ft platform so I can use it as a work bench for a tiller or snowblower at standing height No more lying on the ground to work on small equipment or to change the oil says Mickle The 3 by 4-ft platform is contained by a pair of wooden 2 by 4 s on either side and held secure by 1/8 by 2-in steel straps A pair of pulleys give the elevator a 3 to 1 reduction on the cable lift slowing it down and adding to its lifting ability The winch is rated at 1 700 lbs It goes up at a nice comfortable slow speed says Mickle A lever-operated brake is used to take the weight off the rear tires and hold the unit steady as I ride it up The system works on an overcenter principle Pulling up on the lever drives a pair of steel rods into the floor and lifts the back end of the elevator 3/8 of an inch which is just enough to take the weight off the tires so the unit can t slide I m very happy with it and my friends think it s pretty snazzy says Mickle I spent only about $300 to build it I use a handle on back of the elevator to move it around The lift carriage is made from 2-in sq 1/4-in thick tubing The mast is made from 11/2-in sq tubing and with 3-in wide 3/16-in thick steel plate Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ron Mickle S30 W37174 School Section Lake Rd Dousman Wis 53118 ph 262 965-2479; jmickle@execpc com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW