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I don't claim to be an engineer, however I like to try We are building an athletic jersey dryer for the school and I think I have a solid design, but I'm worried about tipping if only the top rung on one side is used.Size is 8' x 3.5' x 11' when fully hanging, roughly weight of 150-160 lb. (estimated)-The red lines indicate bars where jerseys will hang. These will be 8' long made from 1" DOM .062 wall-The purple lines respesent the 2"x 1/4" strap and 1/2" round for hanging from the roof perlins.-The green lines between the red lines represent 3/16" chain that will attach each level to the next level. The other green lines represent 3/16" cable that will be used to raise and lower.Any ideas on counterbalance or think it will be good? Attached Imagesdrying rack.pdf (39.1 KB, 81 views)Last edited by moparman68; 09-13-2012 at 04:45 PM.
Reply:you could always hang it from 4 lines instead of two. that way the load is carried at the outside corners instead of the center between the racks.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:It will rotate if loaded on one side only.  It does not matter if it is the top, middle, or bottom that is used.  The amount of rotation depends on the distribution of weight of frame and load.  ThorsHammer's idea is good if the rotation will cause problems.
Reply:I was thinking about this, and I'd probably just swap out the chains between the rungs and make it a solid unit. with a cross bar on the bottom at both ends. This will eliminate the racks tipping unless you load only one side. but even then it will only be a slight lean.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:I want to apologize, I left out some details as I was writing this post between classes yesterday.I forgot to mention this has to be able to stored collapsed fully lifted to the perlins, hence the chains instead of solid mounting. Each lower level will be able to hang from the level above, there will be hooks on the ends of the tubing.I did think originally to hang from all 4 corners, but I do not want to have $200 in cable/pulleys to hang this thing, that is why I went with the center hung approach
Reply:why use such heavy steel to hang shirts?  #160 lbs can crush some poor guys skull when it falls on them or or a hell of a scar if you walk into it.wood closet rod wont rust.  1.5" or 2" pvc pipe wont either and it will support plenty of jerseys without the problems of heavy steel.  and 1/4" rope will be plenty.Some dumbass will try to climb it or swing from it if it's steel but not if it's seemingly flimsy plastic*.  yet the plastic will do the job.  at a fraction of cost.  and safely.  and it wont rust stripe the shirts.  all the chain and cable can be 1/4" nylon or similar rope.  no chain , no cable.  no grease marks on shirts. tipping is a non issue, so what if it hangs a little higher on one side?  * they might swing from it but will be less likely to see how many buddies can hang from it while another buddy hoists them all the the ceiling.-never underestimate the dummasity of a group of kids.Last edited by dsergison; 09-14-2012 at 01:37 PM.
Reply:we do a similar system in our hunting tent and it gets pretty heavy with wet cloths hanging form a single bar. Jerseys will be lighter, by a lot. If I were making it I'd make it out of wood too. ligher and cheaper. Rope is cheaper than cable as well. and will handle the load, but not be so entising to the locker room monkeys.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:Here was my reasoning:During football season it must be able to hold 80 jerseys each wet jersey weighs 1-2 lbs, thats 80-160 lbs. alone. I know 3/16 poly rope will hold, but I want to be sure.If I make it out of PVC/wood and it gets broken, which measns I get to redo it. If I make it out of steel, it lasts long time and no worries of breaking it.It's not that I'm worried about grease either. All the cable is vinyl coated and the chain is zinc plated. It is locked in the laundry room and I worry more of what the janitors will hang on it than the kids.Lastly, the welding class needed a project to do for the school we were elected to do this one and then a bike rack for the elementary school will follow.In hindsight wood or PVC wood have been more economical, but this is our chance to highlight the welding program, which doesn't happen often in this small district.I think I will redesign using something lighter, conduit maybe, and maybe poly rope.Last edited by moparman68; 09-14-2012 at 04:30 PM.
Reply:4 lines of 1/4 will still be cheaper than cable will still hold the load and eliminate the tipping.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger