another unique shop helper

[dmidkiff]

I hope this link works


https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/crazy-horse-dolly-handles-panels-shop (https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/crazy-horse-dolly-handles-panels-shop)

[Tom Bachman]

That's a pretty cool idea.

[Brady Watson]

Yeah - neat idea. Jose Jalapeno would approve...

Of course you probably need a very smooth floor and good casters...getting hung up would suck.

-B

[jTr]

Gotta have one.
Now.
Would consider building my own, but the rubber hemisphere is the catch...

jeff

[Burkhardt]

Gotta have one.
Now.
Would consider building my own, but the rubber hemisphere is the catch...

jeff

Maybe a slice of a soft rubber ball over a wooden hemisphere.

I just built a height-adjustable tilting table cart that picks up vertically stored sheets with vacuum and can be used with one hand. Surely not as compact as the one in the video but since shop carts are all the rage lately maybe I should take a picture of that and post as well.

[JimDav]

Maybe a slice of a soft rubber ball over a wooden hemisphere.

I just built a height-adjustable tilting table cart that picks up vertically stored sheets with vacuum and can be used with one hand. Surely not as compact as the one in the video but since shop carts are all the rage lately maybe I should take a picture of that and post as well.

Yep. Please do. Aging muscles and bones need help. My other problem is tight spaces in a basement shop using 5x5 panels.

[Brady Watson]

X2 on pics...you usually do nice work ;)

-B

[dmidkiff]

Getting hung up sucks with any cart but he did show going in & out the door which looked a little rough. Maybe a piece of leather for the sphere.
X3 on pics.

[Burkhardt]

O.K., took some pics before it got dark. I am also planning to do a video to show how it works but that has to wait until I come back from a trip in January.

This is the cart in horizontal position. There is also the little brother on top, a 1:2 scale model that I built first to test the concept. The full size cart will get a set of retractable rollers for easier sliding off the sheets. I had planned to reverse the vacuum (i.e. use it as a blower to levitate the sheets but that does not work as well as I thought.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tnl9AFNe-keZkzlepg9SSXnXt7ShrcC3XtSWuOiBWAwIipw19fbNAyr0iao wwdV7_JKdxZrClIi5hplAzc513X7eJG7nXUqiuAaZbnoyY1CHG FmtZmGTZypPvWTxqtKD8WNfY95LK3L-GppxHsCVXfowlDg3e-mq0DuQExmmEJ7b47-bh6oZvsa_hIuVW6606WuhcnK7cKZoJDbZlQwDbzJhwUw1-PmTYPUa-1UuTtxDOFijxJQ4xfL3u-1nl74TpH6eIZvbud5rjzfpu_0cUxQWhxxE1QeBEjY55xeWQbpN ZpedeHU5szu4PVhI_64aQQUpT9MHicLwuhGI1tWkz14HvdcoPF Di6bSg7-4W8u9rfHZw9UtrqTwqNwmOz1H_FgRZSO45Bgxy1GFrzhWiZKrS OkSCtACu2eZ33TFB4nD1MTTJ6KfemNnZL--UdThViNXarpSUKNUk_VAnLkYvLf0jgjBDb_uWzX-7gbIJzOjc5pKCpnn1Hj2mOvWG8snC1HJzfyTmbLAIMOshFOcqL 8Ywbf0SsmNc4TZR7cBfOTk_Zx1X-R7V5AazDBoEKuDA1tXmhJu2QHBA4m3i7po7wR0gW9Qyho3c4nx 93RCTfQ=w918-h949-no

This is the cart in vertical position (actually can lean somewhat beyond vertical). That way it can pick up vertically stored sheets off the floor without lifting. I can swing back horizontally with one hand.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ERvJBNc9TU2QJbLkV27_QY25KaALXssER0TrxYpTFcA9vY8PF8 oYKmNxLgnGEkGZPOUZ37JeemaCOzH1vS9FyEchk8dczi2dfNpq 90Eknj-hMDnXCrv--XAqjUNhCeJJ_HPHpTvEWusoUW8PAKEqCl1yGsX3xWm5p0eVhp-gbB65tIcbe7Mjmh1m7IRFwGtXNJB0_ff1uqJXKI_XU8Qnze4dQ bvFqeeAavy9W73X2qXBqIbwMmTG55RhXdPLTmjNqjEo3Wz3xPe r2_Mu_-G3Ab52ZqPmPJZk_YYYI0-7X_Tw8OswKii1Sem5fAN12uJdQVfPBNDqVj8Vgl0mIdfOpQKOE vGQcqWcSG33gqsUT0MxJbjGig1k5RMCkofPvbPLQpPq7c8XBZ_ XHhs0KDgRhtAFKldd6noxJ-nFkTWCJc5p9BJ-5P5EmQkeWHjCh6HfNSqcT4mLoumu2tATBn4vmHNxQf6vQ1c6be xINeycA268QjbCKC4_VMV_LXBmr-PZXl_jBDcujFgkccOi0g8s5YsYZNY6WrBrpxTucawNCXLD_SYS 8XSoNU9JJpLVS-daUF93_h2SCX7tTqLl7mebzUumF2664OdOq44JnQqseQ=w1059-h949-no

Portable vacuum source, a battery operated handheld vac (B&D 20V Lithium). It has maybe only 2" Hg vacuum but due to the large table surface it can easily hold 1.5" thick sheets. When not on the cart it is useful to clean some machine and tools.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/51LDzdLazNznR1RKLkbEj4Wdgh-IqmkNFKCfGKRC8BjICF2WEwdBXtlfjuLaj7V0Vw0sR2SOdMgAb oqvGePO74QRMdpswJd6I53z4h6-z2f77mmxTQCRyZAsS8p54kq4t-TvCEoO0k_9LUkEr4P7OXLiE44B1h5T2Ded3YYuZ4xktA5XufKk _emsS0n2Ao_CcRsapBBb_zqKs9Cf-k-t_hbg5mdWG-_AVkVzVm2dDihCXQKdje9ZyJ0KH5zQReDCbsbaLflujym-N2dxGdj1VVUAKj_VJBpCsymBUAvDMB5BF6Os4oBHWRU9yhp-ipLXnSzzfr2ZQHX24XZGUzcWJHCNPtqAW-DlwxKv2pq9VxMkOHDKBXd9wrV2rHicqP5bNID0ucEGmIgzq85T 561fMuDAaA5hbbOO_t2rpd8THExuostBkKsXUH976jlZMfVIA9 HT4sKt1Zskk3qjP7TBFBARBm_n826kp-mtNTTqsnaP6MIn60LHpSc0u-nyWqJEGAJABPE5GEiWGRJ2hO2eMgKrNsj0s9ar2icR22nVT4Xd Nq4epP7ukNNi21WULnqn3pPw8AdAzPCKjPSdoGnnBo-g8gxZWK_-ZetCgSNeKg=w633-h949-no

Locking mechanism to make it stable horizontal table:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/49jUKG7VvgpMkeq93DiUipdC_q0z3H9vP_rys5xP-ix-q4yAHse2CIDCCoY67Ml0dfJGlfZOTlK-yfnraCV0wtqg8qzpBRcD9sgzy8mUIJwMuf0X1YSlbH3RPDDg78 O-Jgt0nyuvCKIa5hYafxEgNB3z3KSL_XLeAlOqf1QTn_3SVTY6jF vLGBydUQ89FjeIlcpp8Gs7Tk0XouTf2Xgd4nNsi8z_1gjqTRgG wZbwUB5jaRQoLUQRDJ2TL6rQEbyjWNkd7EiRKAzXBo-OujJbAFO6Y4Dbob3dsg3CedqVsFs4nbO-HwgRowoRJETi_rilV5B-H6kTl3HImWA3wDG2629OqfNY__ew9JWRUNimS82ZwWMoxiyvIc UmsRF84To-ORnoI1OLyc5EsN-96oCRNI-GHKYVdDn7F_tFLybdwzhppjYiwYYHDVOnZ7kK4ZQEZeD3o5HmM 6CL3yN2xi5zWQecFqZDFOXitpRozuS9fzHx-LTWivDvbYG2VzeBDLBW-QC4ATMbf47aXYrVs_84gjr8nDHEt9OGMxe3ZvaUcQ4Fe1Dt5kx RQhM7c50XGw9-AEQh7H4ONnVAMCjlberJy61p-TbSWtmJeRkGsVEMCw=w1434-h949-no

There is a little more work to do like the mentioned retractable rollers and to synchronize the two lifting screws with a bike chain so that both ends go up and down together. But hey, I just retired from my day job and can really focus on wood working now...
Not sure how this project will end up but just to be safe I filed a provisional patent application.

[dmidkiff]

That's a nice looking cart. Thanks for sharing the pics. Can't wait to see the video. Nice touch with the vacuum.

[Brady Watson]

Pretty cool! First impression reminds me of a Workmate with wheels.

I'm confused though....there's not one piece of bamboo on the thing that I can see :p

The only addition I would want personally is the ability to lift/raise up to match the tailgate and CNC.

Hafele made a nice shop cart, which I think they may have discontinued recently. It flipped up 90, laid flat and could be raised hydraulically - no vac though.

30961

-B

[tri4sale]

Of course you probably need a very smooth floor and good casters...getting hung up would suck.

-B

My thought too, wouldn't work for me at all, that thing isn't going to work going over a yard. And as soon as it hit the expansion joint in my driveway it's stopping and the board isn't.

[Burkhardt]

Pretty cool! First impression reminds me of a Workmate with wheels.
Well, kind of. Both have the dual lever linkage. But the Workmate is configured to fold as flat as possible while the purpose here is to swivel from a vertical position offset to the side of the cart to a horizontal centered position with the center of gravity also moving mostly horizontal.


I'm confused though....there's not one piece of bamboo on the thing that I can see :p
As you know I am a real fan of bamboo and it would work well for this project. But actually, simple plywood does the job and the bamboo price becomes prohibitive. I pay for an individual 3/4" 8x4 sheet $240 nowadays.


The only addition I would want personally is the ability to lift/raise up to match the tailgate and CNC.
The table height can be adjusted from approx 31" to 37" with the 2 lead screws. Should be enough for many machines and pickups.


Hafele made a nice shop cart, which I think they may have discontinued recently. It flipped up 90, laid flat and could be raised hydraulically - no vac though.

Originally I had intended to copy a design similar to the Hafele cart but that still requires to lift the sheets onto the table ledge in the first place. I wanted something that can pick them up right from the floor (or drop them off). I have not tried it with sheets that are stored vertically with the long side up but I guess that should work as well.

So, now off to the airport...

[Brady Watson]

Hope you got where you're going safely. Nice to sit on the plane with a sketch pad...sometimes you can get lost in design with thought loud enough to drown out babies crying...

Yeah - I did notice the distinction in the mechanism from a Workmate - didn't mean to sound like I was minimizing the thought that went into the 90 deg flip. Nicely done.

I added a 2x12 framed riser (about 60" long) to a horrible freight hydraulic table. It's been pretty good for unloading materials from the truck and getting them in the table by sliding off. It's the larger of the two that they sell. I use the 2 smaller ones for in-feed - out-feed of parts while machining.

-B

[Burkhardt]

I finally got around to taking some video clips of how that thing is operated.
After all, I think this is quite useful. At least I can move around full sheets easily without waiting for somebody to help me.

http://youtu.be/_dWUwHI1mvg
(Go to YouTube for full screen)

I loaded a pair of 3/4" sheets together and that works just fine without much effort but to be reliable it would need more heavy duty clamps instead of the Irwin mini clamps

[Brady Watson]

Very nice execution! I admire the smooth action of the tilt mechanism. Doesn't appear to have any tight spots or areas that aren't linear...but you're the builder. You know EVERYTHING that's wrong with it! :p

Funny I was thinking while watching "Wonder how vacuum would work instead of clamps"...and right then the annotation popped up! ;)

-B

[dmidkiff]

Looks like the cart works as good as it looks.

[Burkhardt]

Looks like the cart works as good as it looks. --- Thanks! Yes it does the job it was designed to do.


...but you're the builder. You know EVERYTHING that's wrong with it! :p Funny I was thinking while watching "Wonder how vacuum would work instead of clamps"...and right then the annotation popped up! ;) -B

Yes, there are ample improvement opportunities showing after a few tests. I will probably redesign the entire table top and remove the vac sucking surface. While nice, it adds a level of complexity that is not justified by the advantage.
However, If I ever had to build a gantry crane like overhead material handler I would reconsider the handheld vacuum device. It would be inexpensive and perfect for that purpose but that is more pro shop stuff and nothing for my garage business.

Another improvement would be the height adjustment. Right now I can crank it from 32" table height to 38" for transfer from/to a work table, truck or machine but I would like to be able to change from 30"-40" or maybe 42" with less cranking effort. I will keep working on it...

[Burkhardt]

When I designed and built the cart it was intended to lug full size sheets from my storage shed onto a work table to chop off a piece and back. Unfortunately not directly onto the CNC table because my machine is too small. It is meeting this intent for my own purpose.

But after some testing I finding it an interesting concept and was wondering about a method to market this design (I am not in a situation for series production of such large parts, not to mention marketing and selling the final product). I did apply for a provisional patent which should give some protection until October.

A practical concept might be cutting the parts from simple cabinet grade plywood on a full-size CNC machine and packing in IKEA-style flat boxes for storage and shipping and tell end customers "some assembly required". Probably much more cost effective than shipping the bulky finished cart. The whole cart mechanics can probably be cut from one 8'x4' sheet.

Oh well, just some ideas. If anybody here has an opinion or another proposal how to use this design (or if you find this to be a real stupid thing), please let me know! You can PM or email me as well.

Thanks, GB