Tool to help carry plywood:

[GreenGA]

Last year we were sheetrocking a kitchen and found something at the Borg (Orange).  It worked well, cost about 8 bucks and could carry two sheets of 5/8 rock.  IF you were strong enough to carry two sheets by yourself.

It works by placing the sheet into the grip of the "hand;e", lifting everything and walking away.

I do not recall who manufacturers it.

 

[Greg_R]

Eli's line idea is fine if the sheet is already out in the open.  If you've got to pull a sheet from a vertical stack then it wouldn't work (you'd have to manhandle it down and then hook up the string for carrying).  I bring my Gorilla Gripper to the wood store when picking up sheet goods... just hook it on an edge and yank it out of the stack (really nice for melamine, fine plywood, or other smooth / slippery material that's hard to grab).  I've also used it to drag sheet goods up a ladder.  I would worry about the string catching / hooking something when used for that kind of application.  The handle is very comfortable and you can grab 2 sheets at once (good for

 

[natsign]

There is a new product out that works very well for carrying heavy sheets. I use it in the sign business and it has worked great. It is called J Handles www.jhandles.com
1. The gorilla gripper is a single purpose tool.  It is designed to lift drywall or plywood sheets and thats it.  The jhandle can be used to move many other items such as doors, cabinets, wall sections, fence panels, sign panels and especially items too heavy for one person.  The bottom line is that almost any item with a vertical flat surface can be lifted with the jhandle.

2. The jhandle keeps the user in an ergonomic position all  the time.  It also allows the user to see where he's going and to have the balance to maneuver around objects safely.  While the gorilla gripper is definately more ergonomic than carrying by hand it is still a bit awkward and somewhat limits the line of site of the user.  The gorilla gripper also forces the user to balance the material (front to back) while carrying it.  When the users are on opposite sides of the product the jhandle ballances the product for one hand carrying.

3. The gorilla gripper sells for $49.95 (some at $47.95) for just one gripper.  The jhandle sells in a set of two for $24.95. It is also a tool with no moving parts so it is a more reliable product than others. With more functionality and a lower price it should be more a good solution for most.

 

[Jimhart]

Seems the company was unable to afford www.jhandles.com or they let it expire. Just a parked ad page that doesn't seem to want to redirect you to the product.

here they are on Amazon; http://www.amazon.com/JHandles-JH-326-Lifting-Handles/dp/B00006FRJR

Most of the reviews are from 2003.

Jim

 

[GreenGA]

While the J Handles seem effective, they require two people when moving panels; which may be the situation in most instances.  The carrying thingy I found at The Borg needs only one person.

 

[greg mann]

I used to have a couple tools that worked great for moving plywood. They had been laying around collecting dust for 15-20 years or so not doing much of anything before I got them to working right. They worked great for a year or two, then they moved out.  :

 

[wnagle]

I use the gorilla gripper all the time to move my ply.  And to get it onto my cutting table I made a J hook like the one they sell for your table saw.  I made mine out of some scrap OSB.  It works like a dream.  I can flip a full sheet of ply or mdf onto my cutting table without any help and without any strain.

And since I cut my sheets to precise dimension with my TS55, I never have to re-carry the pieces to the table saw like I did before I had Festool in my shop.  One of these days I will add some pics of my cutting table.  It collapses to about the size of a 4X4 by 8 feet long... only weighs a couple pounds... and easily supports a couple thousand pounds... and has my j hook attached for one handed lifting of the sheets to the table.  Plus it goes together in a couple minutes from storing in the corner to full function.  And the best part I made it from scraps or maybe $20.00 worth of lumber.  I use it in my parking garage since it is so easy to set up/take down and use.

 

[Carryme]

Just stumbled across this post.  The correct web address for JHandles is www.jhandles.net . The old address is from the prior owners of the company.  We purcheased JHandles Inc. in March of 09 and since they had let the address expire we had to use the .net address.

Mike

 

[jmbfestool]

It's called a gorilla Gripper. You get them for about $50 from McFeely's, Amazon, and many other stores. The reviews are mixed; those that claim it didn't grip well say a newer model has come out but I don't know what is different in the new model.

Has any one here on the FOG used one?

I mite get one! I did think yeah grip could be a problem but then I thought of many ways I could solve the problem if it comes to it  so that the device would never slip.

 

[bonesbr549]

I'm a one man shop now that my Son is grown (it was great to have the extra set of hands).  I don't do a lot with plywood, but a 3/4" whole sheet is heavy IMO.  I picked one of the gorilla gripprs up on sale at woodcraft and that is one handy little sucker.  I can move and handle a whole sheet of 3/4" ply with no real issues.  Niffty little tool. 

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I have one of those plastic panel carrier jobbies (not the Stanley, but the borg-carried version...) 

But I find it's too short and therefore the panel sits too high.  I'm 6'1", so moving full sheets from here to there isn't so much an issue, but it's actually a pain to get through a doorway using one of those.  Also, the lip is not big enough to prevent a panel from sliding or bumping off (if, for example, you run into a doorway!)

While, I find the Gorilla Gripper a good idea (haven't used one), gravity is not on your side in the event of a bump which concerns me.

I recently picked up this, which hangs a lot lower, and has a deeper channel the board sits in.  Good for shorter folks as well as the taller, IMO.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32088&cat=1,43456,43389

 

[PaulMarcel]

I just find it ironic that the OP who posted "the video" is 'No Body'

 

[peter halle]

My Gorilla Gripper doesn't get used after I took it into Lowe's and then proceeded to drop a sheet of plywood on a clerk's toes.  If others are happy with it, great.  Not for me.

 

[mwhafner]

I have tried a couple of these products, and have been disappointed by all of them. 

If you need to carry a panel, a framing hammer under the bottom side works as well as anything.  For sheets of "good" sheet goods, I use a small piece of pipe insulation to protect the sheet.  The only better method, is to use a cart like this.

 

[John Langevin]

The only better method, is to use a cart like this.

I built one of those and it works; but it could be improved. As designed, it unstable because the bulk of the load is on one side. if one of the casters hangs up and you are pulling in the direction of the load side it can tip. I am planning to build another one by simply building two units back to back, effectively doubling the capacity and greatly improving stability. I will also have to choose some good casters to enable ease of movement.

 

[bruce-ter]

Garden rake?  requires a healthy grip but I find it works well.
Bruce