4 Jul
2016
4 Jul
'16
3:57 p.m.
So there was some discussion a while back about using lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
Noel
4 Jul
4 Jul
4 p.m.
I just googled "scissor lift table" and came up with something that I might
search for if I had a similar need. Look at the images and see if those would work for
you.
Rich
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 4, 2016, at 6:57 PM, Noel Chiappa <jnc at
mercury.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:
So there was some discussion a while back about using lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
Noel
4:12 p.m.
On 07/04/2016 05:57 PM, Noel Chiappa wrote:
So there was some discussion a while back about using
lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
I've used an "engine hoist" around the shop to move heavy
stuff. It has an extendable beam and a bottle jack to raise
it. It folds up into a pretty small package when not in
use. These can often be had pretty cheaply.
Jon
4:18 p.m.
On Mon, 4 Jul 2016, Jon Elson wrote:
I've used an "engine hoist" around the
shop to move heavy stuff. It has an
extendable beam and a bottle jack to raise it. It folds up into a pretty
small package when not in use. These can often be had pretty cheaply.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-capacity-foldable-shop-crane-61858.html
8:30 p.m.
On 07/04/2016 06:18 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
On Mon, 4 Jul 2016, Jon Elson wrote:
Yes, that is exactly the type device I have. You also want
to get a cargo strap of some sort. I have the kind with no
ratchet, just a nylon sling with loops at each end. Another
handy option for these shop cranes is a load leveler.
Jon
I've used an "engine hoist" around
the shop to move heavy
stuff. It has an extendable beam and a bottle jack to
raise it. It folds up into a pretty small package when
not in use. These can often be had pretty cheaply.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-capacity-foldable-shop-crane-61858.html
4:22 p.m.
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Source for server lift/hoist?
From: "Noel Chiappa" <jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, July 5, 2016 8:57 am
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Cc: jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
So there was some discussion a while back about using
lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
Noel
I've had a look around for something but they are either all expensive or not
available where I live.
So, I'm working on one at the moment, but haven't yet cut any metal. My idea uses
a cheap hand trolley (because I have one spare) with a couple of steel extensions
welded to to the base plate so it slips under the front of an H960 and provides
forwards support when the trolley is flat.
On the vertical frame of the trolley, from the base up past the handle are to
be two bars with a moveable horizontal plate capable of 50+ kg that can go through
the front of the H960. I bought a cheap ratchet hand winch off eBay for the back of
the trolley, I picked one with a belt rather than cable so it can go over a amall
pulley. Withthis arrangement it should be capable of lifting my gear (currently on
a plywood 4-caster trolley) and manouevering into the rack whilst being incrementally
adjustable. That's where my project is up to, next is to knock up a CAD drawing so
I can get some metal RHS etc. and use what I have in my steel scrap bin.
Steve.
4:22 p.m.
Noel; I've been looking for one for a long time, still no luck.
The engine lift idea may work, but I am not sure it would go high enough to
get something in the top of the rack.
All the ones (or similar type of things) I've seen, even at used prices -
were outside my price range.
The best hope I have currently - I talked to the owner of a large
datacenter, he said they don't last all that long, and soon as they
decommission one I can have it (knowing it may need some work/repair).
Best,
J
8:32 p.m.
On 07/04/2016 06:22 PM, Jay West wrote:
Noel; I've been looking for one for a long time,
still no luck.
You can borrow mine any time you need it (I know Jay is
local). I could put the boom through the ceiling of my
basement if I was not careful. With the load leveler and
sling, you could likely lift something to the top of a 6' rack.
Jon
4:51 p.m.
I use a hydraulic lift truck for this purpose, but it was quite expensive:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2347t14/=1353wr8
I justified the price to myself when reassembling my newly-acquired Nova 3 with the
observation that it's cheaper than back surgery.
The truck is itself heavy enough that I need to be careful not to hurt my back when
man-handling it over steps and so forth!
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
5:10 p.m.
On Mon, Jul 4, 2016 at 7:51 PM, Mark J. Blair <nf6x at nf6x.net> wrote:
I use a hydraulic lift truck for this purpose, but it
was quite expensive:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2347t14/=1353wr8
I justified the price to myself when reassembling my newly-acquired Nova 3
with the observation that it's cheaper than back surgery.
The truck is itself heavy enough that I need to be careful not to hurt my
back when man-handling it over steps and so forth!
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
I use the three or four friends hoist. I have a TU10 to put back into it's
cabinet, not looking forward to that day.
--
@ BillDeg:
Web: vintagecomputer.net
Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg>
Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg>
Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>
5:11 p.m.
Mark said:
I use a hydraulic lift truck for this purpose, but it
was quite expensive:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2347t14/=1353wr8
I justified the price to myself when reassembling my newly-acquired Nova 3 with the
observation that it's cheaper than back surgery.
The truck is itself heavy enough that I need to be careful not to hurt my back when
man-handling it over steps and so forth!
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
Wow! that's pretty much the thing I'm building, but for a lot cheaper, apart from
my time and materials. MMC have
some nice stuff, sure wish they would sell to non-US folks. Nice unit, Mark, with the
22" wide platform I suppose
you lift the gear from the side of the rack?
Steve
5:18 p.m.
On Jul 4, 2016, at 17:11, steven at malikoff.com wrote:
Nice unit, Mark, with the 22" wide platform I suppose
you lift the gear from the side of the rack?
Yes, that's what I usually do. I haven't taken any pictures while racking and
un-racking items so far, because my hands have been pretty full!
On Jul 4, 2016, at 17:12, Jason T <silent700 at gmail.com> wrote:
I work in a datacenter. We use a lift from the
aptly-named Serverlift
Corporation almost daily. They're run off of 12V batteries and can
lift a few hundred pounds. Of course, they are nowhere near cheap:
http://serverlift.com/solutions/products/sl500x-server-lift/
The slidey bit on the lift looks particularly helpful. The lift truck that I use isn't
ideal, since the platform doesn't end up very level, so I can see how a
custom-designed racking lift would work better in a professional environment. But my
less-specialized lift gets pressed into service for other uses, too, and it can work in a
much less clean environment than a datacenter thanks to its simple construction.
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
5:16 p.m.
On Mon, 4 Jul 2016, Mark J. Blair wrote:
I use a hydraulic lift truck for this purpose, but it
was quite expensive:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2347t14/=1353wr8
Looks ideal.
Northern Tool has a cheaper version:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342354_200342354
($599)
for $3K, they have something similar that will go up 24 feet
Or, hire the guy who delivered my refrigerator. He just picked it up and
carried it. And with its doors open, just danced it through a couple of
narrow doorways. Ahhh. Remember when we could lift and carry?
5:20 p.m.
On Jul 4, 2016, at 17:16, Fred Cisin <cisin at
xenosoft.com> wrote:
On Mon, 4 Jul 2016, Mark J. Blair wrote:
Only drawback is that the platform doesn't go all the floor, which will make it a bit
harder to get really heavy stuff off the floor and onto the platform vs. just dragging it
and cussing.
I use a hydraulic lift truck for this purpose,
but it was quite expensive:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2347t14/=1353wr8
Looks ideal.
Northern Tool has a cheaper version:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342354_200342354
($599)
for $3K, they have something similar that will go up 24 feet
Now I'm picturing a 24' server rack full of PDP-xx gear! :D
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
5:26 p.m.
Right said Fred:
Northern Tool has a cheaper version:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342354_200342354
($599)
Also nice but I doubt the front wheels at 3.5" dia would slip under a rack
base so the equipment mass can be lifted directly inside the rack frame.
5:32 p.m.
On Jul 4, 2016, at 17:26, steven at malikoff.com
wrote:
Right said Fred:
The wheel-less base of mine doesn't slip under a rack, either, due to its width. It
just lets the lip of the platform lower to ground level, so heavy things can be dragged on
and off of it.
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
Northern Tool has a cheaper version:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342354_200342354
($599)
Also nice but I doubt the front wheels at 3.5" dia would slip under a rack
base so the equipment mass can be lifted directly inside the rack frame. 
7:01 p.m.
On Jul 4, 2016, at 5:26 PM, steven at malikoff.com
wrote:
Also nice but I doubt the front wheels at 3.5" dia would slip under a rack
base so the equipment mass can be lifted directly inside the rack frame.
No wheels are going to slip under a bolted down rack frame.
5:12 p.m.
On Mon, Jul 4, 2016 at 5:57 PM, Noel Chiappa <jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:
So there was some discussion a while back about using
lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
I work in a datacenter. We use a lift from the aptly-named Serverlift
Corporation almost daily. They're run off of 12V batteries and can
lift a few hundred pounds. Of course, they are nowhere near cheap:
http://serverlift.com/solutions/products/sl500x-server-lift/
They also weigh enough that you'd never want to bring one down a
flight of stairs.
The Grainger and McMaster manual lifts do look useful and far more manageable.
-j
5:41 p.m.
On 04/07/2016 23:57, "Noel Chiappa" <jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:
So there was some discussion a while back about using
lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
Noel
At work we were given a Genie Lift a few years ago, for a manual lifting
device it's easily one of the best things I've used. Almost child's play to
get something like an AlphaServer ES45 off the workshop bench and back into
a rack single handedly. They'll even carry fully loaded HP Bladecenters.
Just :)
http://www.genielift.co.uk/en/products/material-lifts/genie-lift/index.htm
--
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?
6:21 p.m.
Re: Adrian and Genie Lift
Yep, the genie lift works very well (I've used them before, but don' t have
regular access to one).
As I said, virtually all of the "scissor lift" ones don't begin to go high
enough. And on top of it all, generally start around $1000.
J
11:40 p.m.
I've used a Genie Load Lifter to lift a PDP-11/40, a well-endowed PDP-8/E, an Origin
2000 module and many other heavy things in and out of racks. It will go right under most
racks, and lift to a height of about 6 feet. Not very expensive, I think I paid UKP 300 or
so. (I have very limited inet access ATM so I don't know how that compares to other
things already mentioned). So useful my colleagues at work bought three more. And they
fold up into a fairly small space when not in use.
BTW, thanks, Jay, for that suggestion several years ago!
Pete Turnbull
On 5 Jul 2016, at 02:41, Adrian Graham <witchy at
binarydinosaurs.co.uk> wrote:
On 04/07/2016 23:57, "Noel Chiappa"
<jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:
So there was some discussion a while back about using lifts to put heavy gear
in racks. I'm going to be doing some of that soon, and I was wondering how I'd
go about acquiring something like that at a non-exorbitant price? (eBait was
not useful, and Googling "user server lift" didn't produce anything
either.)
Any ideas?
Noel
At work we were given a Genie Lift a few years ago, for a manual lifting
device it's easily one of the best things I've used. Almost child's play to
get something like an AlphaServer ES45 off the workshop bench and back into
a rack single handedly. They'll even carry fully loaded HP Bladecenters.
Just :)
http://www.genielift.co.uk/en/products/material-lifts/genie-lift/index.htm
--
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?
3044
days inactive
3045
days old
20 comments
12 participants
participants (12)
-
billdegnan＠gmail.com -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
elson＠pico-systems.com -
jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu -
jwest＠classiccmp.org -
lyndon＠orthanc.ca -
nf6x＠nf6x.net -
pete＠dunnington.plus.com -
rich.cini＠verizon.net -
silent700＠gmail.com -
steven＠malikoff.com -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk