Shop Tools

This is my jib crane. 1/4" wall 2" square tubing forms the vertical post and lower brace, 4" I-beam makes the track. The top brace is 1" square tubing. The crane is mounted to angle-iron brackets lag bolted to the 2x6 framing inside the shop. It pivots on 3/4" fine threads, like an old Chevy truck A- arm. I even put grease fittings on the pivots.

The trolley was $50 from Harbor Freight. I had to take it apart and narrow the spreader tubes several inches, and then I made brass bushings so the wheels would turn easier. The chain hoist was another $50 Harbor Freight item.

The little treated lumber deck has my engine cleaning tank, made from a 55- gallon drum, a $15 hardware-store electric water heater element and thermostat, and lye soap, just like Granny Clampett used to use. You can buy it packaged as "Red Devil Lye" at the grocery store. It's pretty strong stuff. The plastic barrel is supposed to hold aluminum cleaning solution, if I ever get around to it.


My Dakota car hauler. I bought it brand new, electric brakes and all. This is the first time I ever used it, helping a friend haul home some old IBM mainframes he got for free. *Old* IBM mainframes. They had 14" disk drives and were wired for three phase 220V power! Felix and his son had a fine old time taking them apart for fun.

My portable oxyacetylene torch. I bought the small tanks and carrier with the intention of mounting them to an old military Alice pack frame for those mondo junkyard excursuons. That's another someday project... meanwhile it's easy enough to carry.

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