Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 11 to 15 of 15

Thread: A Little Winch For The Shop

  1. #11
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    77
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 205 Times in 43 Posts

    Don42's Tools
    Good one! Thanks for the laugh!

    A question for you: have you ever actually lowered a heavy load with a simple ratchet strap winch? It's easy to control when raising a load where the ratchet "catches" the spool if you relax on the crank, but when you must rely purely on your strength to resist load torque on the crank from a spool that can spin freely, it's a very different story. Your arms must exert force on the crank in different directions depending on the angular position of the crank. If a not-quite-strong-enough grip or sweaty hands results in the crank getting loose, a stretched nylon strap has a LOT of stored elastic energy. A load can only accelerate at rate of g in free fall, but the stored tensile energy in that strap can almost instantly get that crank spinning at very high speed because cranks tend to have quite low moments of inertia. Injury is almost inevitable if the crank gets away from the operator under load and free of ratchet constraint.

    I do indeed make mistakes -- but I try to make them only once, particularly those that hurt. That's exactly why I want a me-proof Weston-like brake on my little winch. It really does work as intended and described. Do as you will at your own peril, but please advise others responsibly or not at all.

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Don42 For This Useful Post:

    Frank S (May 26, 2022)

  3. #12
    Jon
    Jon is online now Jon has agreed the Seller's Terms of Service
    Administrator
    Supporting Member
    Jon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    25,451
    Thanks
    7,928
    Thanked 38,621 Times in 11,284 Posts
    Congratulations Don42 - your Shop Winch is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

    This is a nice light-duty design for everyday shop lifting, and the ability to use it in a Skyhook-style configuration opens up even more options.

    Some more good builds from this week:

    Power Hacksaw by yair feldmann
    Block Lifting Tongs by hemmjo
    Drywall Cutter by orioncons36
    Oil Can Nozzle by mr_modify1
    Spoke Bending Jig by Mr. Factotum's Workshop
    Hose Clamp by diy creative crafts
    Desktop CNC Modification by ericinventor
    Wheel Hoe by liberal
    Bandsaw Sled by Make Things
    Squaring Stick by e_m_maker
    Electronic Edge Finder by rgsparber
    Sliding Bevel Gauge by fox craft
    Clamp and Press Organizer by Eloy Workshop
    Mini Lathe Motor by engineer steve
    Welding Cart by Haslip Cycle Works

    Don42 - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

    This is your 2nd Homemade Tool of the Week. Here are both of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again



    2000 Tool Plans

  4. #13
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    55
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 32 Times in 21 Posts
    Don, this is brilliant. In my small shop I don’t have room for a gantry or engine lift, but this is perfect for chucks, dividing heads, vises, etc.

    Can’t wait to build one!

  5. #14
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    77
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 205 Times in 43 Posts

    Don42's Tools
    Rebuilder 1954: Mark II is always better than Mark I, right? If you build it, I'd suggest going with coarser threads like 1/2-13 -- or even 1/2-10 if you're comfy making odd threads on the lathe. The idea is to minimize friction in the threads so it releases more easily when lowering load. Make the threads as smooth as possible. I might even make the nut of brass or bronze. Lubricate with the slickest grease you can find, but keep the lube away from the friction plate, disc and ratchet disc. I once had some red stuff intended for rebuilding engines that was incredibly slippery but I can't remember what it was. You might know.

  6. #15
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    55
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 32 Times in 21 Posts
    Good idea. I actually have a stick of 1/2-10 acme with nuts, so I may see if that will work. I will let you know how it comes out.



    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •