Reversing a Shop Crane
When my new mill was delivered, the driver put it exactly where I wanted it – on its pallet. Setting it on the floor would have cost extra, but I had a plan. My generic shop crane is rated at three tons, the mill weighs about half that. The way the thing is assembled, none of the joints care whether the load is one way or its opposite, they and their associated pieces are strong enough. Reversing the crane superstructure was a simple wrench job requiring only four new bolt holes for the mast and tension straps. All it would require is some way to hold the other end of the hoist down. I needed some rocks for something else, so a van with a load of rocks in back provided a portable counterweight. Those boards lying on the hoist legs are important. Steel on steel can move with surprising ease, the boards are friction pads. I raised the whole works on blocks to keep it from trying to move on its casters and to reduce the angle of the boom. With the van backed into place and the slack pumped out, all looked good so I started lifting. I figured lift it an inch, pull the bolts, slide out the pallet. It looked like an anti-climax until one bolt froze, it was necessary to lift the thing the length of the bolt and knock the pallet free. No problems in the hoist department.
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