Engineer wanted!!!
 

Ok guys, as with all things winter I am getting cabin fever already and we have a ways to go. I am building a new shop come spring/summer and once the shop is done the back portion of it will be my welding and general rippin and tearin section for the cubs. I would like to put an I beam across the span to put a trolly and chain fall in place. The span of that portion of the shop is like 16' and my thoughts were to get two pieces of like 4 or 5 inch pipe and weld plates top and bottom then weld a few outriggers on it for stability. My question is for that span what size IBeam would be ok. now keep in mind I am not gonna be pulling engines out of a truck with this but I do want it heavy enough to handle lifting the tractor up if need be. Thoughts? Ideas? at this point I am open to suggestions!

I don't drive a train, there may be people here who know the formula for that type of thing, but there are also on line calculators for ciphering problems like that.

The internet is a useful tool...............

Use this chart to find the size needed for what you want to lift.
http://www.harringtonhoists.com/tech...67%20rev02.pdf

Then use this chart to tell you what the I beam size means.
http://www.advantagemetalservices.co...ons-chart.html

Then call your local steel shop and have a chair handy. You'll $**T at the cost of I beam. From what I see S8X18.4 is about $45.25/ft. So $725 for a hunk that would lift 1000#. If you want to be able to lift 1 ton, then about $951. That's the steel mill's price. I'm sure the local shop will need to make a little on those numbers.

I'll just toss this out for thought, I suggest that you consult a professional structural engineer for this project. Reason I say this is none of us know what the loading is or could be and at what point in the span. For any of us to offer a recommendation could subject us to a potential law suit should something unforeseen happen. Very much like the safety switch issue. You may want to consider something like a moveable gantry crane or an engine hoist with a rating on it. I use and engine hoist with wheels in my shop. That said good luck with your project. :beerchug:

Now I see why my Grandpa kept a stack of I beams back in the cattle pasture!

we just bought a 14' or 15' (clear span) gantry at work...its rated at 1000lbs and it has a 6" i beam up top....

I wonder what my 15 year old 57' x 45' shop would cost today?? :bigthink:

All "I" beam construction,,,,,,

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...146640x426.jpg

The roll-up door is 18' wide. for scale

I have a couple beam clamps, but, have not used them much, because of the loader,,,

http://www.liftingequipmentstore.com...lamp-463-p.jpg

I used the beam clamps when I built the building to move the beams.

I got a trolley too, but, again, I have found zero need for it,,,,,, :bigthink: in 15 years.

An engine hoist might be a better, safer and more convenient option??

http://www.cdxetextbook.com/images/enghoist1.jpg

That "beam" is hard to move!! :Huh:

I have a 1970 pole barn type sheet metal shed 28 x 55'
7x 7 redwood posts and 9' apart yellow pine roof 2 x6 joists
I put another 2 x6 screwed to the bottom to make it 4 x 6
and 4 x 4 post to jam under in the middle for support
then took 2 douglas fir 2 x 12 x10' with angle iron countersunk screwed in the top with a 4 " spacer between them and a home made trolley of shafts and bearings with a eye hook below the beams that I hang a chain hoist from . the beams can move side to side 2 ' .
I mostly did import cars 4 -6 cly but it seemed fine on a v8 too hoist rated at 1/2 ton

I'll take a pic and post

Price of the beam isnt an issue i have a chunk of an 8inch beam big enough...was just wondering if anyone had ideas what they used...i will have to do the math on this one to see but just guessing it should be good

Sam / Jon as always your advice is sound...i have a couple friends that do that sort of thing and i will ask...if i dont talk to all of you before merry christmas... daughter had an operation friday and hopefully all is well for her. Never ceases to amaze me why things happen around christmas! All is and will be good.