Let me guess. You're under 50, aren't you. I will inform you that getting down on the floor is easy; the hard part is getting up,
Someone on the HAMB once said you know you're old when you bend down to pick something up, then look around to see what else needs picking up before getting up again. Damned if I didn't curse myself for being old the first time I did that Cheers, Harv
When I designed our new, current, house I made sure the staircase was wide enough for a chair lift 'just in case'. After finishing the build many years later, I kicked myself for not making space for a small elevator. I haven't taken to falling but my wife, at 72, is afflicted balance issues. Now, I gotta find a place for that tube. Yeah, getting older is less-than-fun but, not interested in being 30 again.
It's funny, when I was a younger man I seldom paid any attention to handrails. Now that I am in my mid-seventies they are my friend.
For those building stairs; a friend did his w/half-height treads. & made the stairs at least 4' wide(this also really helps). Since I got to help put in the 2nd floor & mezzanine(+ of course, the main floor in the 16'-walled pole bldg), I asked him why, after helping haul loads of stuff up those many treads. ;( . He said when he gets old(he was 60+ then), it'd be easier to go up than a std height step. & for those still able, it's easier when carrying a heavy load. All true, but he still eventually put in a small hoist to from main -> 2nd floor. Another friend who bought a timber-framed train-station depot(talk about room!!!), disassembled it, moved & reassembled it on his property, had the std height stair treads, but kept the lift elevator(nice - basement, 1st & 2nd floor use. But iirc, the attic had to be hand carried from 2nd floor). While I'm not sure about the being 30 again, I sure as hell don't like the effects/reality of being ~70. While I can't do all that much about it, I don't have to like it. Getting old wasn't fun, being old downright isn't any fun. Bleaah... Marcus...
I put tracks in the ceiling with a big bungee cord and a harness for myself. I just kinda float/bounce around the place. Seriously, you're mechanized lift and railings would be good for anybody, young or old. Alright now. Geezers onward ho!
try a harbor freight moving blanket very comfortable to lay on and nice and warm when it is cold i keep the smaller one in the trunk of my daily driver
For those that plan to keep on working on these old cars as long as possible............. If you want to be able to do that, remember that not only are you getting older and less able to do many tasks, but your friends are getting older as well and you often will have no one available to help you. While its hard to say "the two tools I couldn't live without are: NAME ANY TWO (Welder and Drill Press ??? or Bandsaw or Vice or Lathe or Mill......) But thinking about it, while I also need all those things, I need my overhead crane and my 2 post car lift. I say that because its difficult to get up and down constantly and there are sooooo many things I end up lifting that are far too heavy for me and my friends. Not just engines, but car bodies and frames. So it doesn't do me much good to have the other tools if I can't do the heavy lifting and the ability to get to all the things under the vehicle easily. Make/obtain those two items and you will find life much much easier as time goes by, and it will even help you a lot more when you are younger. You just would not believe how handy an overhead crane can be.......never heard of anyone not liking one and removing it. They can be pretty simple to construct and take up almost no room. You can also use the 2 post lift to help hold the crane rails if you get one with tall enough uprights...... Here is picture of how we did my sons shop. He already had the lift. (click on picture so you can see it better)
About 30 years ago I had a friend who had that rail and hoist setup in his garage to raise and lower stuff from the second level and it worked pretty slick. He built it in when the shop was built though. He had built a setup that was more like a small metal pallet with a framework that had a ring that the hoist hooked to to lift or lower what ever fit in it up and down. He sold the place and moved out of the area a few years back though.
I'm following this with interest, if only for ideas! As we get older medical issues start to intrude! I'm going to need to get some sort of lift as I can no longer work while on my back under a vehicle for longer than 15 or 20 min without developing some form of vertigo that will then last for several hours, & from what I've heard, I'm not alone!!
I bought and installed a four-post lift 7 years ago. (I wanted a two post, but the shop floor wasn't up to it.) With proper "jack trays" it's fully usable.. I'm glad I did it then, because it would probably be too difficult for me tthese days. It's nice to have the high ceilings so you don't have to worry about clearances. Between the mezzanine and the lift, I make full use of my available space.
I recently got a two post lift at a local auction. It's nice but I still have too much crap on the shop floor. Then, I decided I wasn't going down easy so I bought another MillerMatic so I can have two different wires on hand and save some energy on swapping parts. I'm sure there is some logic in there somewhere.
Get some pallet racking. You can make the bottom rack into a work bench and all the floor stuff goes on or under the rack. Years ago my son (who is much more organized than me) bought a house with a 1 1/2 car garage. He couldn't park in it because he had it full of other stuff. I told him I would bring him a section of pallet rack I had. He said he didn't have room for it..... I twisted his arm a little and he said he would try it. Next time I visited, he had everything neatly organized and most sitting on the shelves.....and plenty of room to park a car inside. It was amazing how different it was. I had no trouble convincing him to put pallet racking in his newest homes shop. Guys, you can procrastinate on this stuff and refuse to accept that it will make your life easier.....then time flies by and its too late...... Get going!
A four post lift and 2 welders...........hmmmm, probably be very easy to support a crane with a little adaption. What I like with the crane and lift set up, as it makes installing and removing engines (especially Hemis) easy. Lower the engine in with the crane and then lift it up to button up the underside. Up and down and never laying on the ground...easy peasy
Something to consider when building is that a taller building will be harder ($$$)to heat in the winter . Best to make a tall ceiling in an area where you want to have a lift (and hopefully a crane) and keep the rest of the building 12' or less. You need about 12.5' to raise many vehicles, other than that higher ceilings don't accomplish much. I'm also a fan of putting a "lean-to" addition on the back or side of a building. Its a less expensive way to add room and the typical 8' ceiling works well. This gives cheap working and storage. I put most of my larger tools on wheels, and roll them into the leanto when not needed. It really works well for keeping my shop somewhat uncluttered and easily usable. Going back to the "crane" thing and geezerizing my shop.........I have an old work bench I built eons ago thats 16' long. I have an old SS countertop over a small portion of it. Works great for dirty parts. Then I mounted an engine stand in it and a brace to support the stand. Again no lost floor space. Over that I added a smallish crane with a trolley. Again, no floor space lost. So now I can take engine blocks or transmissions off a cart and easily set them on the bench in the SS top. Its just a matter of watching for some decent buys on Facebook and cobbling stuff together to Geezerize well. I'm always looking for someway to make things work easier............ click on picture to see it better
Years ago I put in two of the harbor freight hoists to lift the bodies onto the rotisserie. Works great to lift the truck box off. I use them to lift frames up onto my taller saw horses. Hoist will be necessary one day but I think it will also be in the way when not being used.
There is a special place in Hell for the guys that developed keyless chucks, temporary spare tires, and hidden windshield wipers (especially in Minnesota in the winter). This goes way back, but I ain't too happy with the guy who decided to get rid of vent windows, either. (Chevrolet called it Astro-Ventilation on the '68 Corvette.)
Good for you! Instead of deciding to stay out of the garage you made it suit your needs. Great job and when you come back in the spring it’ll be ready for you to jump in and get those projects done.
And the Camaro. Tubman I am with you 100% on this! I swear that the reason they did this was because it was cheaper to build them not because it made the car better.
You beat me to posting this. Those things we USED to be able to do with physicality, we now do with mental work-a-rounds. The job is still accomplished, but it takes more time. Hang in there, you should be good for a couple more decades! Jon
I'm in my 70's and I feel just as strong as ever. I guess I'm just lucky that the things I lift and carry have gotten lighter.
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