Plywood

[labusch]

Hi, I handle sheets of 8x4 and 10x5 plywood sheets and as you can imagine these are not the easiest of things to move around. I know you are all saying well get a trolley to help you. Unfortunately space is limited and I don't have much room to move. I was sitting on a train the other week when the train stopped for a signal change. I noticed some guy wheeling a sheet of ply in through his workshop door. He lifted the sheet up and slid under the middle a small V shaped trolley with just two small wheels on. Such a simple idea and about the size of a bag of sugar. Has anyone seen one of these and do you know where to get one from or any plans to make one. Cheers Steve

 

[PowerTool]

Hello,Steve,and welcome to the forum

Haven't seen anything like you've described,but agree it sounds a very effective way of moving sheet goods.(Wonder if I can find the kids old roller skates... :-k ?)

Andrew

 

[wizer]

I know what you mean but can't find it at the moment. I did find this tho:

I had the hoist idea a while back, but that sheet dolly looks good too.

 

[George_N]

I mabe a panel carrier out of a strip of 1/2" ply, 4" wide by about 18" long. The handle is a short length of 1" dia broom handle, fitted through a hole in the ply and there is a 1" ledge at the bottom end to rest the panel on. It is basically a home made version of this or this. With the carrier in the middle of the long edge of a panel it is easy to balance and carry a full sheet of ply, MFC, MDF etc and tip it onto my cutting grid or sliding table.

 

[Grinding One]

I use a Gorilla Gripper ,look it up on U tube ,real handy,cost just under 50.00 us and is a snap to work with,you can even put a rope on it and drag sheet goods up ladders.

 

[labusch]

Thanks for the replies. I looked at the gorilla grip but try lifting an 18mm 10x5 sheet across a 60 ft room about 10 times and you'd have an arm like a Gorilla. The one I saw, if I recall, was as if it had a hinge in the middle and a couple of castors on it.

 

[Tusses]

I have a home made one the same as George .

would be nice with wheels tho

 

[TheTiddles]

I've used them at a boat builders years back, the only issue is that if the floor is uneven you can catch the corners and chip them, so we made trolleys just like the 4-wheeled version shown above

 

[George_N]

Thanks for the replies. I looked at the gorilla grip but try lifting an 18mm 10x5 sheet across a 60 ft room about 10 times and you'd have an arm like a Gorilla. The one I saw, if I recall, was as if it had a hinge in the middle and a couple of castors on it.

Cheaper than a gym subscription though :wink:

 

[Tom K]

Something like thisGeorge?If it was made a little wider perhaps a couple of wheels could be fixed to the base?

Regards Tom

 

[labusch]

I saw a more sophisticated one for those who have plenty of room at http://www.workbenchmagazine.com/main/w ... ddy01.html

 

[George_N]

Something like thisGeorge?If it was made a little wider perhaps a couple of wheels could be fixed to the base?

Regards Tom

Mine is even simpler than that Tom. I drilled a 1" hole near one end of my piece of ply and fitted the broom handle into that, held with a wedge. On the opposite end and opposite side I added the ledge (glue and screws), made from 3/4" ply. This is where a picture would make it clearer, but you already have the general idea. I did think about wheels...My son left some roller blade wheels lying around that might have done...but I decided that they would just add weight and not be a lot of help in my single garage workshop.

 

[marcus]

Some neat ideas here! Another idea, often overlooked, is to get it pre-cut by the timber merchant. I have a small workshop and when I need sheet materials I just email a cutting list off, and it all arrives cut to size on a pallet next day. I recently made some wardrobe carcasses which required over 30 plywood components. Cost me £30 to get them cut, which I reckon for the saving in time and hassle and back pain was well worth it. Of course one does need to find a timber merchant who can be relied on...

Cheers,

Marcus

 

[wizer]

what was the cost of that? and where the components square and accurate?

 

[marcus]

The cost was £30 for the cutting. And yes the components were square and accurate - but then i am maybe lucky to have a good timber merchant with a decent machining department close at hand Perhaps there aren't so many of these left nowadays....

 

[George_N]

I get the impression that the OP is working in a pro workshop i.e. he is the guy who machines your parts for you. After all, ten 10' x 5' sheets of ply a day is not that common for a DIYer, is it.

 

[Grinding One]

Thanks for the replies. I looked at the gorilla grip but try lifting an 18mm 10x5 sheet across a 60 ft room about 10 times and you'd have an arm like a Gorilla. The one I saw, if I recall, was as if it had a hinge in the middle and a couple of castors on it.

Is this the one you saw
http//www.gorillagripper.com/video/index.html

 

[labusch]

After searching for days I think I have found the solution. It's not like the one I originally saw but check this out for simplicity. The Troll® Panel Handler Model 49 at http://www.worldsbestequipment.com/

Click on "The Troll" and its the model 49. There is also a video on u tube worth a look.

 

[wizer]

some good products there, easy to make your own

 

[Tusses]

This is mine I made about 8 years ago. The handle is just below arms length so when you lift it , the bottom is a couple of inches above the ground. The panel goes under your arm - so wouldn't work this way round with a 10x5 LOL