How to lift & move heavy plate?

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I'm new to welding and just getting started on a welding table.   How do you guys move heavy plate like 1/2" around?   I have a chain hoist, but haven't set it up in my shop yet.  Is there a way to attach straps, chains or similar to a 4'x6' sheet of 1/2"?
Reply:Weld on an Eye for the chain hoist hookEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Yes Sir!Simply weld some lifting eyes/pads to edges of plate, then cut off and grind afterwards.....That's one way.Also support plate off floor with scrap 2X4's or whatever when storing it so it's easy to slip chains/straps under it when you need to move it-when stored flat or on edge, keep it off floor.Edited to add; if you have cherry picker style shop crane available, then store it flat/on edge on above floor spacers high nuff tol allow you to roll cherry picker legs under it to lift it....once off spacers, you can allow weight of plate to rest on legs of hoist to make it much more stable when rolling it around shopLast edited by wornoutoldwelder; 11-21-2014 at 04:24 PM.
Reply:Pros use magnetic lifting devices. You put it on the plate and activate the magnet and then you can attach your chain hoist to that.If it's a one time thing you could besides welding also drill a hole near the edge and put a shackle through it.
Reply:Lift with your legs.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeLift with your legs.
Reply:At home, these. On the job, oh on the job we had big toys to play with! Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I simply drilled and tapped 2 holes near the center and used my engine hoist with leveler. Very easy and can set it in place without horsing it around much.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:You could make some of these but prefer the ones with a bolt.Jeff Attached Images
Reply:Where you located ? A nylon lifting sling will work well with a engine hoist. Get that chain hoist set up. Your close to 500 pounds.
Reply:CEP how large is the smaller Crane?
Reply:Originally Posted by johnrbauerCEP how large is the smaller Crane?
Reply:Thanks would like to see something that size. Nothing like that around here.
Reply:I made up 4 corner hooks out of some old scrap years ago, I don't use them often but they come in handy from time to time. These just slip onto each corner.Cheers AndrewWIA 270amp Mig Transtig 200 AC/DC Tig/stickHypertherm PM45
Reply:The boom in that derrick weighs 100-tons. 30-feet across at the heel.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by FODFAI made up 4 corner hooks out of some old scrap years ago, I don't use them often but they come in handy from time to time. These just slip onto each corner.Cheers Andrew
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPThat's a slick idea! Never seen that before.
Reply:For picking thin sheets to load my CNC table. I made this spreader bar, and use 6 of the double suction cups you can buy at Harbor Freights. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Let the supplier cut the plate to size, then you will not have to handle 1000 pounds of steel.  Last time I moved 1 inch plate I was able to pick up one side, and then used a two-wheel dolly to move it around.   I had my supplier cut the pieces to approximate size so that I could move them around.  I calculated the weight to make sure that no piece was too big for one person to handle.   I always set it on a 2 by 4 or something so that I could get under it.   Obviously this only works if the piece is light enough to pick up one side.   The heaviest piece took two men to get it out of the truck, and after that I used the two wheel dolly.  No one has mentioned equipment moving dollies, or even furniture dollies.When I am cutting plate with my plasma cutter I use a piece of channel under it to avoid marking up my floor.  The channel has a piece of flat bar loosely secured in it, so the distortion ends up in the flat bar, not the channel.  The first piece of channel picked up quite a curve after a few uses.   This piece of channel has remained stable.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:If you have a hoist, use it with a plate clamp. Having your supplier cut your sheet down for you raises your material costs.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I built this plate clamp probably 30 years ago and it has moved tons of material through the years. I copied a strand clamp for sagging strand in aerial construction as I didn't have a plate clamp to copy at the time.  It has worked well for me and was not that hard to make. Attached Images
Reply:FODA, Man, I love those corner brackets you came up with!...I gotta make myself some.Yaknow, if a guy wanted to use them to lift a plate up right, all he would need do is use two of them and place them on lower corners with eyes on alternate sides of plate.
Reply:I don't have much to add to the 'lifting plate' conversation, but I use a 2-ton cherry picker to pick up heavy things.  I like the load slings.Here is a spreader bar I designed and fabricated (someone else stick welded it for me).  I use it to lift a 52"-wide 3-in-1 sheet metal machine.  I originally built it to bolt directly to the end of the cherry picker arm, but I later just used a grade 8 bolt and use a hook to pick up the bar.http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/p...ictureid=18484http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/p...ictureid=19702KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Originally Posted by FODFAI made up 4 corner hooks out of some old scrap years ago, I don't use them often but they come in handy from time to time. These just slip onto each corner.Cheers Andrew
Reply:Originally Posted by FODFAI made up 4 corner hooks out of some old scrap years ago, I don't use them often but they come in handy from time to time. These just slip onto each corner.Cheers AndrewSlickest idea I have seen in a while, AWESOME!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Thanks everyone, glad you all like them.Cheers AndrewWIA 270amp Mig Transtig 200 AC/DC Tig/stickHypertherm PM45
Reply:Originally Posted by FODFAThanks everyone, glad you all like them.Cheers Andrew
Reply:Originally Posted by whiskeymikeHow thick is the material you used to make the corner brackets out of?  (roughly)
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Looks like 3/8'' and the lifting lug , 1/2''.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Looks like 3/8'' and the lifting lug , 1/2''.
Reply:i'm working for a contractor who has to lift 15" channel sections weighing over 400 pounds. he's using those foot powered pump jacks that the masons and siding trades like so much. the channels have to go 16' up and will sit on angle lugs that i am welding later today to existing iron. i'm not sure i like the sound of that so along with my camera i'll be bringing my american bridge safety belt and hardhat if i can locate the welding shield attachments. pictures to follow.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by wornoutoldwelderYou possess very highly calibrated eyes.....Except that they are scaled for SAE and FODA's for Australian metric. Australian metric is an inverted version of that used in Northern Europe, but it works out the same.
Reply:It's a great idea. I've never seen one like it before.   I do think that there could be a slight improvement on the idea. The way it's built it puts a lot of bending strain on the corner and the hook itself. It should be turned around so that the eye is toward the inside of the plate putting the pulling forces more inline. Something like this.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitIt's a great idea. I've never seen one like it before.   I do think that there could be a slight improvement on the idea. The way it's built it puts a lot of bending strain on the corner and the hook itself. It should be turned around so that the eye is toward the inside of the plate putting the pulling forces more inline. Something like this.
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitIt's a great idea. I've never seen one like it before.   I do think that there could be a slight improvement on the idea. The way it's built it puts a lot of bending strain on the corner and the hook itself. It should be turned around so that the eye is toward the inside of the plate putting the pulling forces more inline. Something like this.
Reply:Altho IrishFixit does have a slight improvement , from my point of view, the bend points are still on the same place on the plate. Only the twist is reversed by placing the lift eye on the inside instead of outside.Thanks for sharing FODFA.
Reply:If you was using a spreader bar then the bending forces would be the same and the eye should be directly above the part that wraps around the plate.  But I don't think that would be safe since there wouldn't be any inward force to keep them on the plate.  Maybe this drawing will help to understand what I'm talking about.  The blue line is the way I'm thinking. If you've got it slung with a chain then it will be putting pressure on at a angle. If you put the eye on the hook right then the forces from the plate contact to the hook are neutral. Notice how the blue line is straight through the eye to the plate.  The red line shows how they're made now. They're basically trying to lever the corner of the plate over. Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:We have plate booms up to 90 ' 5/8 two hook chains every 10 to 20 ft and plate dogs up to 4" and magnets. Have 1-1/4 grade 80 chains around 6000 dollars a set needed for 100 ton pieces.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanWe have plate booms up to 90 ' 5/8 two hook chains every 10 to 20 ft and plate dogs up to 4" and magnets. Have 1-1/4 grade 80 chains around 6000 dollars a set needed for 100 ton pieces.
Reply:that's the best idea i have heard yet
Reply:the plate clamp in post 21 and the corner hooks are both excellent..if you dont wanna build those, for the little piece of plate you're talkin about a few  pair of visegrips with welded eye bolts in place of the factory bolt will work. as with any rigging dont ever get under it..and i'd tiewire them shut just to be sure they dont catch on something and open before you want em to..
Reply:Here's a pic of what I use. I built them out of what I had on hand at the time with my old Marquette cracker box. This was before I went to work for the local machine shop. I was building stock tanks for my dad and needed to lift the 3/16" plate. I'd borrowed some from the machine shop for the first tank but wanted my own. Back then I worked out of a junk pile and had no plate to build them like the ones they had (which where cut out of about 1" plate). I did have this square stock and used it. They've worked a long time now. At first I didn't have a ring in there and had to take a hook off a chain to thread it through. I finally added the rings a few years ago.  I guess it's my training at the local machine shop but we didn't trust the self closing plate clamps. All of them where set screw type. Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitHere's a pic of what I use. I built them out of what I had on hand at the time with my old Marquette cracker box. This was before I went to work for the local machine shop. I was building stock tanks for my dad and needed to lift the 3/16" plate. I'd borrowed some from the machine shop for the first tank but wanted my own. Back then I worked out of a junk pile and had no plate to build them like the ones they had (which where cut out of about 1" plate). I did have this square stock and used it. They've worked a long time now. At first I didn't have a ring in there and had to take a hook off a chain to thread it through. I finally added the rings a few years ago.  I guess it's my training at the local machine shop but we didn't trust the self closing plate clamps. All of them where set screw type.
Reply:Not that bad. You don't just tighten by hand. I built it with the tee handle so I could use a hammer or any piece of metal that was handy to tighten it. Just hit it nice and tight. The ones we had at the machine shop had square head setscrews (which I didn't have available in a large enough size even if I wanted to use them at the time). Also in the field it was hard to keep up with the crescent needed to tighten and loosen them all the time. This worked better.   As for the ring well its proven to be enough. I don't know the rating since I made it. I've lifted 1" plate with these and never had a slip. There is a washer welded to the bottom jaw to provide a tight contact point.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Weld on a lifting eye
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitIf you was using a spreader bar then the bending forces would be the same and the eye should be directly above the part that wraps around the plate.  But I don't think that would be safe since there wouldn't be any inward force to keep them on the plate.
Reply:Maybe this will help some of you visualize what I'm talking about.   It has to do with the leverage applied by the hook in a twisting force to the corner of the plate.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Irish, your lifting ring is on the outside. Same as FODFO's. The vectors are the same and pulling inward. The twist is clockwise with lifting ring on outside and counter clock from inside. The contact point remains the same. I believe.
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitMaybe this will help some of you visualize what I'm talking about.   It has to do with the leverage applied by the hook in a twisting force to the corner of the plate.