lift table as part of electronics shop

[w4bfs]

I'm considering one of Harbor Freight's hydraulic roll around lift tables ...I see they have a 500 lb table at $200 and a 1000 lb table at $260 .... does anyone have experience with these or recommend another ... this is for home shop so cannot afford big $ stuff ...thanks  John

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I bought their 1000 lb cart last year. Love the thing.
The 1000 lb cart raises to 34 1/2 inches; the 500 lb cart raises to 27 1/2 inches. The 34 1/2 is closer to my workbench height. The hydraulic system works very well and the hydraulic oil was already installed when I opened the box (which is really not a one-man operation to try and lift).
I'm on their e-mail mailing list and on some holidays like Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc. they offer a one day 25% coupon. So, it think it was 4th of July I went over to my local store and picked it up. I think it cost me $195 + NJ tax.

[w4bfs]

thanks, Pete .... sorry I landed in wrong forum ... showin' my age

[W9GT]

Great suggestion for handling heavy gear.  I have considered getting one of those myself, although the lift tables are quite heavy and a bit cumbersome to move around.  You can also build up a few spacer platforms or just pieces of scrap boards to allow sufficient height to install or remove gear from relay racks. If you want to get fancy, you can make a roller platform to allow easy sliding of gear back and forth.

73, Jack, W9GT

[Opcom]

Guys please be careful you don't lift something like a 400LB transformer or Inductrol too high, because it'll get top heavy quick and those carts with wheels tend to scoot away from under non-secured loads when things go tilt. Watch pinch points/scissors. Just be cautious and not over confident.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I've got something called a Genie that looks like a stout hand truck with a crank up shelf that folds up out of the way when not in use. Rather than the tongue or lip across the bottom for lifting, there are two legs that extend out with roller balls in them. Only good for about 250 lbs, but I don't think I want to be trying to lift and move a lot more than that very high or alone. Got pinned against the wall once by a transmitter I was trying to move alone and had to wait for someone to find me. Learned my lesson then. The only injury was being bored out of my mind until discovered.

Thought I had a photo of the Genie on here, but can't find it. Will look around for it.

[w1vtp]

I got the 500 lb version.  The rubber mat didn't come glued to the top and I can't seem to find anything that will work.  I'm considering some sort Masonite covering fastened with machine screws on the corners.

It's a great working machine.  I'd be a bit cautious with the scissors flexing a bit also.  That's the back side view of my Viking 1   If I had my druthers, I'd have all 4 wheels on swivels - it's a beast to maneuver in tight quarters.

Al

[KA2DZT]

If you think this Ham radio stuff is heavy, try moving some 4000lb milling machines around.  They don't have caster wheels on them.  I sold a few of these monsters two years back.  One went to a guy in PA.  This past Easter Sunday the guy calls me (hadn't heard from him).  He tells me he had just finished putting the machine back together.  He had taken the entire machine apart, down to the last bolt,  clean all the gears, shafts, parts and pieces.  Stripped the machine down to bare metal, repainted the entire machine.  Some of the bulk sections of this machine can weight a 1000lbs.

He texts me a picture,  the machine looked brand new.  I couldn't believe what I was looking at.  I knew I sold the machine to the right guy, some 30 yrs younger than me.  It was great to see the machine restored back to its original glory.

So, the point, we Ham operators are not the only group that's crazy about restoring old equipment back to original.  What this guy did was a lot of work.

A little OT,
Fred

[Opcom]

I got the 500 lb version.  The rubber mat didn't come glued to the top and I can't seem to find anything that will work.
Al

Try "shoe goo". it seems to stick almost anything. That's a very tidy back-of-table power arrangement there.

[Steve - K4HX]

Have some of these at work. Worth their weight in gold.

[K1JJ]

I prefer to lease a lift table when needed. This one has a powerful computer chip and memory:

[Steve - K4HX]

Does Hulk get angry?