Materials handling

[Woodmatt]

Not sure this is in the right section but here goes

I have a number a project to do in the next months or so involving lots of plywood.My problem is I am unable to carry full sheets as I used to so has anyone any good suggestions for moving full sheets around and into position for their initial cuts to reduce both size and weight.

Thanks

Matthew

 

[Jeff Zanin]

The obvious answer is to hire a helper, either to carry the plywood or at least to help you do so.

I have been using the Gorilla Gripper and it helps, but a full sheet of 3/4" or thicker plywood is still difficult especially of maneuvering in hallways, staircases, etc.  There is a variation that you can buy or make that is basically a handle with a shelf in an L shape that supports the bottom edge of the sheet with your arm extended, but I found this can easily tweak the elbow if the sheet bumps into something or is caught by the wind.

The other idea is to have the plywood delivered in such a way that you can immediately transfer it to a cutting table and start reducing the sheets, at least to rough size.  For this I usually set up to slide sheets off the back of the truck onto a cutting table in the driveway or just inside the garage, this reduces the effort of moving full sheets to a minimum.

Jeff

 

[Alan m]

are you talking in the shop or in a customers home.
is the job using all small pieces or  mostly full sheet

the biggest problem iv got with sheets is  getting them from horizontal to vertical  and back to horizontal without banging or scratching them

i saw a video somewhere  that showed someone unloading a traler and loading the sheets onto a cutting table.
they hade a piece of ply (2' x 8"x 2 layers) with a slot down the top layer
there were 2 4" wheels in the middle and a 3" wheel cetered on both ends.
the ply was put onto this dolly and wheeled over the the bench . the difference in wheel diameters allowed  for better manuverability
on the side of the cutting table there were 2 arms that droped down. there was a dowel on each arm.
the ply was lifted one end at a time onto the 2 arms. then the ply was pushed on top and the whole sheet tilted up easily onto the cutting table.

 

[Sparktrician]

You might want to take a look at this methodology. 

 

[tbellemare]

Generally sheet goods are delivered in a stack. If this is the case, you can break them down right there, while still stacked up. Just slip something in between the sheets, either sacrificial foam or battens, and never move a full sheet. The Parallel Guides are particularly useful for that sort of operation but all it takes is a track saw.

Tom

 

[tiralie]

Not sure this is in the right section but here goes

I have a number a project to do in the next months or so involving lots of plywood.My problem is I am unable to carry full sheets as I used to so has anyone any good suggestions for moving full sheets around and into position for their initial cuts to reduce both size and weight.

Thanks

Matthew

http://www.shopcartsusa.com/

 

[Brice Burrell]

Another possibility is to see if the supplier can rip the sheets for you.  I know not many places do that sort of thing, and do it well enough to count on but it worth a phone call. 

 

[Paul G]

The obvious answer is to hire a helper, either to carry the plywood or at least to help you do so.

I have been using the Gorilla Gripper and it helps, but a full sheet of 3/4" or thicker plywood is still difficult especially of maneuvering in hallways, staircases, etc.  There is a variation that you can buy or make that is basically a handle with a shelf in an L shape that supports the bottom edge of the sheet with your arm extended, but I found this can easily tweak the elbow if the sheet bumps into something or is caught by the wind.

The other idea is to have the plywood delivered in such a way that you can immediately transfer it to a cutting table and start reducing the sheets, at least to rough size.  For this I usually set up to slide sheets off the back of the truck onto a cutting table in the driveway or just inside the garage, this reduces the effort of moving full sheets to a minimum.

Jeff

That gorilla gripper is interesting, I often use a bottom edged carry handle like this for any sheet goods http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004UDN8

 

[peter halle]

I had a gripper and after dropping a sheet on my toe gave it away.  This topic is interesting to me because I a working on a design for something to address this because I will have to move sheet goods over 150 ft to my "shop" once I move it, and I need the cart to become part of my shop system and integrate with  the Festool stuff I have.

I will be watching this thread with enthusiasm.

Peter

 

[tbellemare]

I will have to move sheet goods over 150 ft to my "shop"

Is that because it isn't paved?

Tom

 

[peter halle]

Tom,

the avenue is grass.  Then I have ti elevate 10" to get on the deck.  Then I have to get thru 34.5" inches into the shop.

Then most importantly and what I am working on is having a transport cart turing into a cutting table that matches into the heights of the MFT, etc.

Peter

 

[tbellemare]

So, Peter, you have to "run the gauntlet" on the way in AND out of your new shop?

You can't get a truck up to the entrance?

Tom

 

[Paul G]

Tom,

the avenue is grass.  Then I have ti elevate 10" to get on the deck.  Then I have to get thru 34.5" inches into the shop.

Then most importantly and what I am working on is having a transport cart turing into a cutting table that matches into the heights of the MFT, etc.

Peter

We have a solution for that here in California, it's available in the parking lots of most Home Depots and you pay by the hour

Would this cart also be used to transport finished goods in the opposite direction?

 

[semenza]

Integrating the transport cart into the shop and having it be a cutting table matching the MFT will be a tall order.  I'd be inclined to maximize the cart for transport and leave it outside the shop or park it someplace else. Especially since the cart will probably work better for all  the obstacles  with the sheets vertical. Maybe the cart could be made to fold up for easier storage elsewhere?

Seth

 

[polarsea1]

This is what I use, I'm too old to carry a gorilla. [big grin]

Troll

 

[Paul G]

This is what I use, I'm too old to carry a gorilla. [big grin]

Troll

That's pretty cool, but would those wheels do well on lawn?

 

[tbellemare]

I sell those and that Amazon price is cheap with shipping. Stuff like that costs a lot to ship...

Tom

 

[Daddy-o]

This is what I use, I'm too old to carry a gorilla. [big grin]

Troll

That's pretty cool, but would those wheels do well on lawn?

Think it would be difficult on a lawn, but it's quite the schizzle for moving sheet goods around the shop.

 

[phmade]

I used to work in a shop without a drive-in garage door but I would frequently take delivery of 20-30 sheets of melamine.  I had a forklift to get them to the door but I had no way of getting the forklift in the shop.  

Once inside the shop, I had to move and stack all of the sheets by hand.  The most important element that I purchased was a section of pallet racking with plenty of crossbeams.  On the lower sections I stack high quantities of heavy materials; on the upper sections (above my head) I can stack 1/4" material, plastic laminate, and foam.  It was a great investment because I never have to pick thru stacks to get the sheet on the bottom!  I think I paid about $200 for the used pallet rack- they are always on Craigslist.  The second element is a hydraulic lift cart from Harbor Freight (1000lb capacity) for about $250.  Like most Harbor Freight items, it had a few quality issues but the other options were out of my price range.  I am able to slide several sheets onto the cart from the forklift (or pickup truck) and then wheel them right to the pallet rack.  I can raise or lower the cart to the proper height and then load the sheets onto the rack.  I built a 30"x 80" auxillary table top and bolted it to the cart for, it would be too unstable / unsafe without it.  

When I'm pulling sheets to cut, I just place foam on top of the cart and I can use it as my cut table with the TS75.  It has been a great system for me and I'm able to process sheet goods without ever lifting a full sheet.

Hopefully this description is clear enough - I'll try to take a couple of photos this week in the shop.  For a relatively small investment (~$500), I'm able to handle large quantities of sheet goods.  

 

[Woodmatt]

Well I said I had a problem lifting.i am currently lying in a hospital bed having yesterday had a discectomy opperation.So
definitely no work for a couple of months.
Thanks for all the advice everyone,Sparktrician have you actually used your sugestion,it looks good on the video but not to sure how practical it would in real life.
Matthew