A low-budget in-ground lift

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I saw Kolot's post on his new lift, and I figured I'd post about mine.  I'll say it's welding related because I had to weld a strip of 1"x1/8" around its perimeter, to make a border for the flooring tiles I put on top of it, and also because it'll work for lifting heavy stuff and then functioning as a work bench when I need it.But mostly it's for the track car.The downside is that it isn't a good solution for others, since it will pretty much only work with a lightweight car with a flat and unobstructed belly pan.  But I've had my old 911 for 11 years now, and it's pretty much the only car I do regular work on.This thing took me a week and a half to install -- not full time, but there were some long days in there and a fair amount of digging.  I rented a diamond saw to cut my concrete pad.  A friend loaned me a cement mixer.  The lift table itself cost me $455 second-hand.  With materials and tool rentals, the whole project cost me a total of $670.Here's a video that has a kind of chronological slide show of what I did.And then here's the cheesy, over-the-top show-off clip with the big music and all of that.  The nice thing about it is its footprint, which is basically nothing at all:I got to use some more of my trademark green paint to make it looks like it belongs there:Last edited by Jack Olsen; 05-03-2011 at 02:06 PM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Fantastic job Jack,  Very well thought out and build quality to suit,Must make working on the Wheels,brakes,bearings etc an absolute dream.Kneeling down is OK for the young fella's but a comfortable working position makes all the difference.Added bonus is the lift is completely stowed away when not needed, Best regards Gordon,Lincoln SP-170 MigHypertherm powermax 45Lorch T220 AC/DC TigButters FM 215 synergic MigKemppi 180 adaptive mig RULES ARE FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FOOLS AND THE  GUIDANCE OF WISE MEN.
Reply:I've wondered many times if you are the same Jack Olsen from the Pelican forum, and now I know.  I had an 89 Carrera coupe which I have regretted selling and I always admired your dedication to BB and of course BB II.  I enjoyed your progress reports and pics from several years ago so it's funny to find you here.Nice work as usual on your garage and the lift.  Looks like it would be easy to drop the engine and get to everything else underneath.  I'm sure you won't have any trouble justifying your work and expense on the lift.Nice paint scheme too.  What kind of paint do you use?  I've tried painting a few cabinets and things but it usually ends up kind of soft.Hobart Handler 210Lincoln AC-225Smith Torches/Regs
Reply:Your set up is amazing!!!Great work per your normDave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:Oh i am all over that like a stripper on a rich fat guy i need one great job
Reply:Very nice Jack..........
Reply:I dunno Jack, As a tile setter in a previous life, I would re-lay the floor so the lift square coincides with the grout lines, instead of the half tile cut you have going on there. It could truly disappear then...I can say things like that from the other side of the country, and behind a computer screen, and not even  break a sweat...More seriously,how about a "t" moulding that matches the tile color (like a vinyl flooring termination) to cover the gap when lowered. Might keep dirt out as well. Just a thought.
Reply:Slick
Reply:I believe I've seen and admired that garage on a garage forum a while back.  It seems its gotten a little cooler with an in floor lift.  Nice work
Reply:Great work Jack. Cement, tile and all. Looks good. That color you call green sorta works on me tho. "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:Thanks very much, guys.  Next up is a rebuild on the Porsche motor -- so it's going to get a little messy. Originally Posted by daddyI dunno Jack, As a tile setter in a previous life, I would re-lay the floor so the lift square coincides with the grout lines, instead of the half tile cut you have going on there. It could truly disappear then...I can say things like that from the other side of the country, and behind a computer screen, and not even  break a sweat...More seriously,how about a "t" moulding that matches the tile color (like a vinyl flooring termination) to cover the gap when lowered. Might keep dirt out as well. Just a thought.
Reply:thats freaking awesome !!!!Adam MMorales Ranch
Reply:Thanks.  The floor is tougher than you might think.(That's a four pound sledge.)Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Yo Jack! Impressive work-as usual.Do you have some form of positive locking to prevent the lift from coming down, when hydraulics leak or fail?Blackbird
Reply:Nice job Jack.  That's really slick!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Thanks. Originally Posted by dave powelsonDo you have some form of positive locking to prevent the lift from coming down, when hydraulics leak or fail?
Reply:I'm at a loss for words as to how cool that is!  And clean! Reminds me of an operating room.
Reply:Thanks, but it's going to get very messy.  I've got an engine rebuild coming up for the 911.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenThanks very much, guys.  Next up is a rebuild on the Porsche motor -- so it's going to get a little messy.I thought about tearing up all the tile for a few moments.  Then I thought about the work involved in that.  I decided that 'it's a garage,' and I'm fine with the extra lines in the floor.  Laziness always wins, in the end.I've thought about a kind of skirt that the top of the lift could pull up to keep things from rolling down there.  But I think I'll see if it's a real problem first.  It's only 8" deep.
Reply:your crazy... in the best possible way man, awesome miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Wow! I thought your garage was cool before... now with a lift. Very nice.What kind of light fixtures are the large round ones? They look really bright.
Reply:Thanks.The lights at the opening to the garage are home-made.  They're inexpensive cake pans that I drilled out and dropped in some lighting hardware.  The trick to them was making long arms to hold them from the side so that the garage door could still go up and down.Here's the thread about making them.Last edited by Jack Olsen; 05-05-2011 at 01:41 AM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:You're a sick man Jack Olsen. Love the videos. MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:All right, then.  One more clip.  This is made with still pictures, since my regular camera takes a nicer picture but can't shoot video.  It looks good if you switch it to HD.This was my last chance to enjoy it all nice and clean.  I opened up one of the motor's oil filters today to see the silver and copper rod bearing pieces that are going to mean... the garage getting pretty messy.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I was going to comment last night, then I woke up, laptop open and a strange info-mercial playing...Let's try again, the lift is outstanding IMHO, sorry about the bad stuff in the filter. I was also (after re-reading the first page), gonna ask for my Makita impact I've been looking for back. After zooming in, yours is newer and not a 12Volt job so I'll just keep looking...After seeing the cake pan lights I'm leaning towards Duane's point of view, "they do look good though".MattHa!  I won't argue the crazy part.  The real trick with those lights was working out how much the 76" support bar would sag under their weight so that I could pre-stress it in the other direction when I welded it.  It worked on the first try.I looked at second-hand industrial pendant lights, even.  Too expensive.That little Makita is awesome -- one of those tools you don't know you need until you've got it.Last edited by Jack Olsen; 05-05-2011 at 07:23 PM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Wow, now thats Garage Porn totally. Got me goin anyway. I have been to several Porsche and VW dealership shops in my time and as I recall they all wore labcoats and had floors you could eat from.....even saw an independant shop in the Scottsdale Airpark that had a beautiful '85 turbo carrera on the lift , motor out, and when I checked, you could have eaten from the floor.........What I am getting at is, I am sure your idea of a mess is a far cry from mine. I only dream of having a shop like yours , and , hopefully, noone ever sees my reality. MLM
Reply:Jack:Got a couple of quick questions for you about your garage:What thickness and material did you use for your upper sliding doors? I made mine out of 1/4 inch hardboard but they have warped significantly and now I'm looking at changing them out.Tell me about your neat little bench top vertical band saw. Is it a steel cutting saw or just for wood?I have severe lift envy now. Dare I say I"m Green with envy??Another great Jack Olsen project!!!Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Thanks.  I'm pretty sure mine are also 1/4".  It could be that the dry climate makes them less prone to warpage -- or maybe I got lucky with whatever pieces I got.  I have one door set where I think I cut the grooves too narrowly, and I get some binding, though -- is that what you're getting?  My plan was to take the track piece out and widen the grooves.The vertical band saw is a Craftsman three wheel model from the 1950s.  It's a restoration project that keeps getting pushed back.  I got a motor and the correct pulleys for it, but haven't built a base to mount it on yet.  It's for wood.I'd like to get a metal band saw at some point, but don't know if I've got room for it.  One option is a portable band saw with a home-made base and vise.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenThanks.  I'm pretty sure mine are also 1/4".  It could be that the dry climate makes them less prone to warpage -- or maybe I got lucky with whatever pieces I got.  I have one door set where I think I cut the grooves too narrowly, and I get some binding, though -- is that what you're getting?  My plan was to take the track piece out and widen the grooves.The vertical band saw is a Craftsman three wheel model from the 1950s.  It's a restoration project that keeps getting pushed back.  I got a motor and the correct pulleys for it, but haven't built a base to mount it on yet.  It's for wood.I'd like to get a metal band saw at some point, but don't know if I've got room for it.  One option is a portable band saw with a home-made base and vise.
Reply:We use the 18v Dewalt impact drivers ar work and they are amazing. They will twist off a 3/8" bolt with no problem.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:I thought about tearing up all the tile for a few moments. Then I thought about the work involved in that. I decided that 'it's a garage,' and I'm fine with the extra lines in the floor. Laziness always wins, in the end.