Adding a little bitty jib to the downdraft table

[Matt_Maguire]

This may not pass OSHA muster but I'm nose deep in the project now!

I decided to build this with stuff lying around the shop. The vertical tube is 96"x2 1/2"x.250" wall and the jib is 60"x1 1/4" sch40 pipe. The hoist is a northern hydraulics 220/440lb $99 special. The chain and turnbuckle are from Tractor Supply and the pillow blocks are surplus from and old job.

Things left to do are;
(1) Fab a small outrigger for the back side (the jib swings about 240° total).
(2) Fashion 2 to 3 strongbacks (tension type and removable).
(3) Fab and weld adjustable keepers for the pillow block bearing sides.
(4) Shorten some 1 1/2"x7/16" Grade 8 heavy hex capscrews to "body fit" the 7/16" holes drilled in the table.
(5) Fab an angle clamp so the jib can be taken down more easily.

I tested the jib with the electric hoist and 60lbs at 30" (fast little SOB) and the post defected a bit less than 1/4". The speed of the hoist showed the springiness of the post, but it's good to go until after this batch of 60 pounders are gone.

The measurement on the tube top was done using a laser (this is not a good solution so later there will be some plumb bobs and scaling going on).

Pics below

Matt

[forhire]

Nice little jib. Where do does your down draft table exhaust to? I don't see any duct work.

[Matt_Maguire]

Thanks forehire.

I usually don't worry about it in the summer as I move a lot of air through the shop. It's main purpose is to get the crap moving away from me and it really helps with vision.

It has a filterpack in the big box, and I have a setup to further exhaust to a Donaldson N99 fume eliminator.

I still have to wear a North mask if I'm CAC or plasma cutting though.

Matt

[1-800miner]

have you noticed that you can tell how well a persons shop is equipped not so much by his tools but by how many bar stools are in it?

[Matt_Maguire]

Originally Posted by 1-800miner

have you noticed that you can tell how well a persons shop is equipped not so much by his tools but by how many bar stools are in it?

Never thought of that! There is usually beer in the fridge, but as humid as it's been recently that 4:30 cleanup time, cooling down beverage goes away in about 3 gulps! No time to sit down and enjoy the darn thing...

Matt

[boatbuoy]

you could lower the jib a foot or two and be less springy.

[irish fixit]

Looks good to me. Anything to save the back on jobs like that.

[Matt_Maguire]

Originally Posted by irish fixit

Looks good to me. Anything to save the back on jobs like that.

Thanks Irish, I'm a former powerlifter (drug free) and the back is no problem but after a day of working with them, my elbows would get pretty pissy.

Maybe has something to do with being just south of 60?

The little lift is as fast as "snatching" by hand but is not as graceful, so it's not fit to use around the machine tools.

Matt

[irish fixit]

Originally Posted by Matt_Maguire

Thanks Irish, I'm a former powerlifter (drug free) and the back is no problem but after a day of working with them, my elbows would get pretty pissy.

Maybe has something to do with being just south of 60?

The little lift is as fast as "snatching" by hand but is not as graceful, so it's not fit to use around the machine tools.

Matt

My back rarely gives me problems myself. But I did give myself a hernia lifting about a 60lb plate in a lathe once. My helper on the other hand does have lots of problems with his back.

I've got a small chain fall on a jib for my machine tool heavy lifting. I've worked with the little cheap electric hoists and agree that they're not for precision lifting. I've got both a good electric 1 ton chain hoist and 2 ton chain fall on my central beam in the work area as well. The electric is nice for the speed and ease but the chain fall is stronger and a lot easier to make precision adjustments with.

[RancherBill]

Great project.

In the back of PIC 1 near the bench on the wall there appears to be an out feed table?

Do they work as advertised? You use it for metal or just wood.? I was looking for ideas on a combo wood and metal use style.

[Matt_Maguire]

Originally Posted by RancherBill

Great project.

In the back of PIC 1 near the bench on the wall there appears to be an out feed table?

Do they work as advertised? You use it for metal or just wood.? I was looking for ideas on a combo wood and metal use style.

Hi Rancher Bill, that's exactly what it is and I love it. I got it at Home Depot and wish I had two! I have to travel to get to Home Depot. Below is a link to the product;

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

and a review;

http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/Rid...andReview.html

It's solid, fast and runs circles around any temporary outfeed device I've ever used.
I use it anywhere I need a steady with metalwork and wood.

Matt

[Rbeckett]

Matt, I dont care what any body sez, I like it. I need to do the same thing in my shop over my plasma table since I cant lift sheets since I got disabled anymore. If it's long enough I could swing it over my welding table and kill 2 birds with one stone. Hmmmmm, got me schemin now, thanks for the idea. It's either that or an overhead track. Neother is really inexpensive, but they are neccessary for me to be able to work alone. Pics when I'm done if I can get the camera to charge.
Bob

[Matt_Maguire]

After the last batch of toolholders I decided to get back to this. My left shoulder bitch3n at me helped motivate me a bit.

I added a trolley to the cable lift and made a better spreader for the hard to balance parts.

Pics tell the story.

Matt

[forhire]

Nice trolley. Did you put bearings in the wheels?