Installing a crane for my lathe

[Smouser]

Earlier in the year, I spotted a 'van crane' on FB marketplace and thought it would be just the thing to install behind my lathe to help lift chucks and heavy stock.

While I can manage a 10" 4-Jaw chuck, it is heavy and awkward to lift when installing and removing it.
With my 'new' Huvema lathe, I also have a 320mm 3-jaw chuck that has quite a weight to it.

Here is one of the crane listing photos.

It is an Easilift 150 from bri-stor.co.uk

Photo of the crane once I got it home.

I expected the task of mounting the crane against the wall to be relatively quick and simple.

Wrong!

Some challenges:
The wall I wanted to mount it to is made out of breeze blocks (not known for their exceptional strength in holding shear loads).
The column was too short (to reach the floor).
The column had brackets that prevented sitting flush against the wall.

I cut the offending brackets off, extended the column and welded some steel plates onto the column so that I could spread the load on the breeze blocks, which should help to reduce the twisting force on the breeze blocks.

A baseplate anchored to the floor will further reduce the load on the breeze blocks, so I dug through my scrap pile until I found a thick (albeit small) plate.

I welded the column to the baseplate and also added some reinforcements.

Quick test fit.

It gives me about 170cm to the bottom of the hook.

 

[Smouser]

With all the cutting and welding to the column, it looked a bit worse for wear.
I also struggle with condensation in the winter, so all exposed steel should be painted really.

Off to the paint shop!

While in the paint shop, I decided to paint the new foot spacers for my lathe, too.

I used some HB05 primer I bought at an auction once. Now 'expired'.

For the topcoat, I used Nisocoat 2, also 'expired'.

Then disaster struck. A bit of random rain in the middle of the 'heatwave'

Oh well, the paint is just there to prevent corrosion. It is not a beauty contest.

Next up was drilling the holes in the breeze blocks.

I used resin, resin sleeves and threaded rod.

Column installed.

Crane installed.

I then proceeded to do a highly technical load test.

Test passed.

All that remains is to connect a 12V power supply to the crane and give it a real test.

 

[Dapph2]

Very nice especially as you have used chemical anchors in sleeves to secure it to the block work , did you use a brush & puffer to clean the drilled holes of dust before filling them up ?

 

[Smouser]

Thank you.
Yes, I used a pump type device to blow the holes out.

However, allegedly, the holes don't need to be cleaned out if you use the sleeves

I had one of those hole cleaner pumps so I used it.

 

[Dapph2]

I had a disastrous experience drilling cinderblock then using chemical anchors & sleeves .. they pulled out easily a week later when I tried to fit a wall mounted strong box.
I repositioned in new block work , cleaned the holes well, re anchored them , Finally fitted the strong box after a week of curing . I was able to swing on it all 100 kg of me .

 

[Smouser]

Makes sense to me to clean them. Regardless if the sleeves claim no cleaning required.

I hung on my anchors about 2 hours after I installed them

 

[Gareth J]

If a hurricane passes and destroys your garage, I expect that column of wall will be the last bit standing

 

[dieselsamurai]

Great idea , if I didnt need a bit more reach and capacity i would definately do the same as you did . Those van cranes often appear at a reasonable price on FB if (when) I get a bigger lathe i need to keep an eye out for one of those

 

[jo1010]

Presumably with swl of 150kg ....should be no problem ....as you say blockwork can easily be pulled over with bigger loads ...