Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

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c7z06
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Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:16 pm

Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by c7z06 »

I didn't want to assemble my engine hoist every time I wanted to transfer my rotary table and/or Kurt vise to my mill. Since I lacked the space to store a large lift table, I found this alternative:

I purchased a 16 1/2" x 13 3/4" Durhand scissors lift table with a height range of 14" to 36" and 300 lb. capacity. I added a 7" booster block out of 2x6s and plywood as shown in the photos. Six coats of polyurethane on the top helps items slide easily. A small rectangular piece screwed to the bottom of the block registers in a matching hole in the table top to keep it from sliding around.

Table cost around $175 with free shipping at: https://www.aosom.com/item/durhand-3...s~C30-009.html

To prevent the possibility of the lift table moving away from the mill during the transfer, I Installed two 3/8" diameter lag bolts with flat washers as shown. When the surfaces of the lift table and mill table are even, the lag bolt heads align with the .400" wide slot across the front of the Bridgeport table, and slide in place. They don't have to be tight -- they still hold the lift table securely in place. I lower the table when moving a load to lower the center of gravity.
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Russ Hanscom
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Re: Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Very ingenious, thanks for sharing.
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Bill Shields
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Re: Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by Bill Shields »

Very cool idea..lots of food 4 thought as we all age

Uhmw is also a good slippery surface.. as is a piece of formica
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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liveaboard
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Re: Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by liveaboard »

Just say NO to heavy lifting.
RSG
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Re: Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by RSG »

Nice work C7z06!

I looked at doing the same thing exactly but my space is so small I couldn't fit the hoist in the shop LOL! So I had to over engineer something that was elevated and could slide on a rail to move out of the way. My Phase II tilting Rotab weighs the same as me so lifting it manually is not an option.

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Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
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liveaboard
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Re: Affordable Way to Lift, Move, Transfer Heavy Rotary Tables & Vises

Post by liveaboard »

I have a mini rolling gantry hoist in my 6 meter sea container workshop...
Not as nice to use as the scissor table, but I have no floor space.
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