Hi all,

Its been a while since I posted but I'm in the process of getting my workshop underway. It is a 42x58 pole building. Heated/AC full bath, ect. one 20 ft door and a 10-12 foot x14 high. Inner ceiling is 15ft all insulated 6" concrete with fiber reinforcement.

I'm looking into lifts. I really like the Rotary self contained smart lifts. 2 post inground. The two post above ground lifts probably won't work for me. I use a wheel chair and getting the door open far enough and haveing the room to get in and out is probably the limiting factor there.


In ground is about 2x as much but will take up so much less space.

The other option I like are the 4 post park/work lifts. More space taken up but it may be easier to get in and out of for me and they are portable with casters. I could do most all I want to and when not in use store one up top and one below.



What do you think? Also brands? US made vs China/off shore? Who has what?

What do you have?


Next I want to coat the floor in some kind of industrial epoxy. What stuff do you have or would you get? I do use a torch and welder so I may have to have a set area for that.


Help. I need help fast. The more I read / look the more confused I get.

Thanks,
Rob

I am very happy with my Bend pac two post lift. I know this would not suit your purpose but they do make a lot of different models and I am sure they have something you would like. I have been very happy with the quality of there product. I have also purchased several items from there sister company Ranger and everything I have of theirs works great!!! I would highly reccomend them and just to let know I have NO stake in either outfit I just like the stuff they sell and pass on info about products that treat me right :thumbsup:

Here is a link http://www.asedeals.com/lifts2.html

This is the lift I have Model XP-15C
Heavy Truck LiftLifting Capacity
Max. Lifting Height
Lifting Time
Overall Height
Overall Width
Width Between Posts
Drive Through Clearance
Minimum Pad Height
Motorhttp://www.asedeals.com/MX12CLiftJpg.jpg15,000 Lbs.
80"
45 Seconds
170"
155"
120"
106"
5"
220 VAC 60Hz 1ph.

check out the board and gallery here...

http://www.garagejournal.com/

Lots of info

I think a 4 post would work for what you want. About the only thing I see that they can't do without buying extra stuff is allow wheel-off type work. With the accessories though they can do that too. The only other thing is they take up a little more space. I have a Bend Pak 2 post from www.asedeals.com and it is nice quality and works well. I would expect consistent quality on their 4 posts. Congrats and good luck with the new shop :thumbsup:

BTW they are on sale :cool:

http://www.asedeals.com/garage_lift.html

Rob, I have a lot of the same issues as you, I am also in a wheelchair(talked to you in Nashville a couple of times I think). I have had a four post for several years. It works well for the wheelchair, except my pickup is too high to get back in. Works great for the cars, but suspension work is next to impossible unless you want to get the bottle jacks out or buy a rolling jack. I did the brakes on the 65 on it, the left front wheel is tough to get to with the pump and tank in the way. I bought a two post asymetrical lift this year for the new shop(40x60x14) and even with the offset, you are right, next to impossible to clear the door far enough to get the chair out. There is almost always someone around to move the car ahead the extra foot, or i set up a tire chuck ahead to where I want it to stop, get out and shove the car the last foot or use a come-a-long. Looked at the undergrounds, but budget breaker, sure would be nice though. Lot easier to work on the two post, mostly just use the fourpost for storage and cleaning the cars on now. Good luck, keep us in the loop of what you end up doing. :)

Just a suggestion..........I've got a Rotary 4 post. I like the drive on factor, as opposed to setting the "feet" under the car every time. For suspension work, I've got the air assisted lift attachment for that. I've done a few other things, I had a friend make extensions for the suspesion lift, so I can get more height when needed. He also made me a square tube assembly (tube and rebar) 36 inches deep, set it front of the lift. I can attach an electric winch to it and pull "dead" vehicles onto the lift, rather than push them up. Just some thoughts..........

I put some stuff down called Muscle Gloss in July (new house, had been completed 5 months when I applied). I've done some light work, floor jack, stands, etc........... this stuff seems bulletproof. You get kinda spooked with tracks, etc. then you mop and it looks new again. Was a pain to apply with etching, drying before application, wait 24 hrs after application, etc but I have to say it looks great. And, zero smell, wet or dry.

Thanks for the input. I'm looking at the Rotary In-ground smart lift 2 post. I think its more now but we won't be doing any moving for a long time. I'll have to dig it up and take it with me if I do.

Are the Epoxy floor coverings pretty tough stuff?

Any one abused it?

Can they be touched up OK?

I suppose I'll really have to be careful of using the torch and welder.

I bet is a whole lot nicer and faster to clean up.

Is the Rusto-leum any good?

I used the Rustoleum Pro version about a year & a half ago. This is the 2 part Epoxy version. No complaints at all. It cleans up very easily. The clear coat has yellowed where it extends beyond the closed garage doors, but it is still solidly in place. The clear gives the floor a bit more shine. Prep is critical. I think that you need to rough up the finish significantly if you want to touch it up. And I bough several welding blankets to protect the finish. For a LOT of info on flooring go to www.garagejournal.com (http://www.garagejournal.com) and check out the forums.

Picture of floor: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/rickas47@sbcglobal.net/album/576460762347680412/photo/294928803719836071/84

Not to be controversial here, but painting a floor in a garage that you work on cars, might create a hazard doing certain things. You mentioned using a torch and being carefull about the floor. When a guy is using a torch he should be concentrating on the torch and never the floor, it could be a distraction.

If you have something in a vise on the work bench and you have to get right on it, a painted floor might be a little slippery.

Floors get wet and also oily, so you have an increased slipping hazard.

I think sometimes we forget about working safe at home, a lot of us have safety meetings at our regular jobs, then we go home and go out to our garages.

We like to set them up nice, but we need to keep in mind, the tools were using and what were working on, after all these are work shops.

I have a friend that worked for about a year with me, he lost one leg in a cycle accident, and he is in a wheel chair. He is about 6' 5'' and 280 lbs, a pretty large man.

He never had a problem getting around on the regular concrete floor I have, and it isn't real smooth. He never mentioned it, but he could tell if I had just vacuum'd it.

Anyway, just trying to help out here.

Rob

The garage floor coatings are crap unless you buy good ones. I used the Rustolem Epoxy and it worked good for what it has gone through. Has been on for 6 years and has come up in spots but that may be due to concrete being green. I would suggest either an acid etch or shot blast prep prior to install. I will need to recoat my shed floor next year, but it will need to be steam cleaned first.