Open head drum lift for 55 gallon drums

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A few months ago I switched my scrap handling from plastic garbage cans to 55 gallon drums on a drum dolly. I don't know why I didn't do this years ago. When the drums are full roll it under the crane and lift them unto a pallet. Once I have a few pallets worth I can dump them in the large tote with the forklift and drum dumper. Because I didn't have a drum lifter I've been using a couple plate grips.  They work fine but I've noticed by drums are getting bent up. So today I designed one similar to one I'd seen on the net. Most drum lifters are designed for drums with lids. Requirements were easy, had to accommodate an open head drum without deforming and I wanted to only use material I had on hand. I didn't have a suitable lift eye so I decided to integrate it. I had to fiddle with the model for a while to figure out the center of gravity so I could get it right. A few minutes of cutting and a bunch of time putting it all together it is done and works great. I still need to cross drill the bolts for the castle nuts but I was itching to try it out.
Reply:Nice sollution! Those barrels look darn heavy!
Reply:Very impressive! That's well designed and built. Do it damage the side of the drum due to the drum and its contents being heavy? Congrats on such a great build. Miller 302 Trailblazer/Custom TrailerMillermatic 350P/Spool gunMillermatic 252Miller Spectrum 875Miller Dynasty200DxHypertherm Powermax 85Tracker CNC 4X8 Pro Table (Down Draft)Visit us @ www.specialtyrepairscustommods.com
Reply:Very nice build. Will it also lift a drum that has a head on it?
Reply:Nice!Miller XMT 304 CC/CVSyncrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255XTTermalDynamics 52Lincoln 305GComlpete machine shop to back it up
Reply:If it works I can't knock it!But I am surprised you didn't opt for a design that cups the top or the drum like a pair of curved hands grasping it just under the lip.  Of course my concept would be limited to only a single drum diameter....   smaller or larger and it would not be gripped properly and would likely fail.  So I guess your idea is better.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Your awsome Randy! Always thinking outside the box! Nice! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Does the hoist hook pass through a hole in both lift arms, or is one lift arm (in the back as seen in the photos) cut short just above the pivot?- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Very nice work!!
Reply:Nice, you have all that fancy equipment. For my drum of scrap I cheated, just drilled two holes for schackles and use a small spreader bar I made.Yours is fast and efficient, truly professional !
Reply:Q? is there a reason (or an excuse ;o)) for the slotted hole on the inner arm ? it appears on the drawing and i can't figure what it's for.great work thanks for sharing your projects.
Reply:Im guessing to allow for different drum diameters, have a slotted rear hole and multiple front holes to set the clamp diameter?
Reply:both bars are slotted to allow the inner section to spread as the outer sections lifts. IT pulls the inner section apart creating a scissor action to clamp the rim of the barrel. Without it only the outer camps would be grabbing onto the barrel. Nice build Randy.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by CulinaireZakenNice sollution! Those barrels look darn heavy!
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeAlways thinking outside the box! Nice!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55In this case thinking outside the drum. Super cool job as always Randy!
Reply:what happened to no lid?There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Friggin' impressive tool! Wish I could have it on my table so's I could trace out the components on cardboard. Would save alot of trial and error...  Wicked nice build.  POVERTY...is the Mother of InventionMillermatic 211Millermatic 140Miller Thunderbolt XLArcOne 100STS inverter w/TIGThermal Dynamics 38XL Victor Oxy/AcetyleneJancy Slugger Holemaker IIJet 5x6 BandsawNever enough time & sleep.
Reply:I really like the design. Have you lifted a full drum with a lid?
Reply:Patent  pending  ?
Reply:That is cool. I use a nylon drum sling for oil drums, and for my scrap drums I just burn triangle holes and use a chain with slip hooks."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerwhat happened to no lid?
Reply:Originally Posted by leightrepairsI really like the design. Have you lifted a full drum with a lid?
Reply:That's freakin slick!There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Well done, it looks great!*************************************Mike AccardiHenderson, [email protected] 250XLincoln Weldpack HDMiller Syncrowave 180 SD*************************************Two things.#1 Where is your hard hat?  (kidding)And #2 Why do I live so far away from all the cool people? Slick job. If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerThat's freakin slick!
Reply:And to think, I wasted $5.00 on this thingBe wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:Way cool, I just watched the vid! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Perfect design and nice vid.
Reply:I can see now the technological education group will need to come up with a new course (Drum lift operator). Then OSHA will need to come up with warning labels about pinching fingers, lowering drums on feet.  Unions will tell you how many hours an operator can work without a break.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:Originally Posted by mike837goAnd to think, I wasted $5.00 on this thing
Reply:Nifty!!"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Where is the order form?
Reply:Originally Posted by leightrepairsWhere is the order form?
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammNifty!!
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireHere's another design I really like. It was more complicated and required more storage space so I opted for the simpler design. I would like to know how the release mechanism works. I may have to noddle on this. Any ideas?
Reply:Originally Posted by mike837goI like Forhire's design better. It pinches the drum for a more secure lift.
Reply:Fun question. How much weight can you put in the average barrel before the bottom falls out?  Or if you used a lifting device like this, which would happen 1st, the lip tear out or bottom fall out? Saw a ramshackle mining operation once. The guys had hundreds of barrels setting around filled with what they 'claimed' was black sand and fine gold just waiting for a special shaker table to be built. They moved them with a set of forks set real close. Never asked the weight. I shoulda.  Of course 20 years later and that separator and shaker never got finished."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyFun question. How much weight can you put in the average barrel before the bottom falls out?  Or if you used a lifting device like this, which would happen 1st, the lip tear out or bottom fall out? Saw a ramshackle mining operation once. The guys had hundreds of barrels setting around filled with what they 'claimed' was black sand and fine gold just waiting for a special shaker table to be built. They moved them with a set of forks set real close. Never asked the weight. I shoulda.  Of course 20 years later and that separator and shaker never got finished.
Reply:Here's the video of the updated drum lifter in action. This makes the lifter a lot easier to use.
Reply:Slicker then whale snot drum lifter 2.0DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:That updated latch is inspired Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:well done Randy.as for the bottom tearing out vs the top lip ripping off, based on the design Randy used, I'd have to say the top would rip out before the bottom. you've got to remember the force on the top is isolated to a VERY small area when you compare it to the bottom of the barrel. Unless the bottom of the barrel is damaged the top will rip out first assuming you could get enough weight in the barrel to cause either to happen.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:That would be "drum lifter 2.0"Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Very nice indeed!  Let me toss in a little food for thought.  If you ever go out for a "Version II" model, could you toy around with using a turn buckle type of threaded center section to provide the fine tuning of the width dimension?  Don't get me wrong here, there is nothing bad about having the slotted configuration at all.  I guess I have just always had a soft spot in my heart for the left hand/right hand turn buckle devices since I was a young kid and tried to figure out how the heck those things work.
Reply:Originally Posted by acourtjesterSlicker then whale snot drum lifter 2.0
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerweldVery nice indeed!  Let me toss in a little food for thought.  If you ever go out for a "Version II" model, could you toy around with using a turn buckle type of threaded center section to provide the fine tuning of the width dimension?  Don't get me wrong here, there is nothing bad about having the slotted configuration at all.  I guess I have just always had a soft spot in my heart for the left hand/right hand turn buckle devices since I was a young kid and tried to figure out how the heck those things work.
Reply:We have one of these at work. It's not designed for topless drums but it has a little mechanisms that automatically releases the lifter to clamp on the drum. We use a forklift to move our drums so it's nice not having to mount/dismount to clamp/unclamp the drum.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:Yeah, I went back and watched the first video again and I see the slight movement of the slotted piece as it finds its center.  Until you pointed that out, I thought you adjusted it "rigidly" to fit before using it.  Way too cool man!  We need a thumbs up smiley in the choices.