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3-In-1 Shop Tools Built For $300
“We started out intending to build a heavy duty shop hoist but ended up with a 3-in-1 tool that works as a hoist, press, and removable engine stand all in one. It’s built strong and rides on heavy duty caster wheels so it can be easily moved anywhere,” says Dennis Sensat of Iota, Louisiana.
    The 3-in-1 tool was built mostly from scrap material, including a lot of 2, 2 1/2, and 3-in. dia. pipe. The 5-ft. long legs at the base of the hoist and engine stand are made from 2 1/2-in. dia. pipe and slip inside the 3-in. pipes that support the press. By removing a bolt, Sensat can pull out the smaller legs under the hoist and roll the press around separately on 4 wheels.
    The hoist has a 5-ft. long reach and is operated by a 3-ft. long, 8-ton jack. The press is operated by a shorter 20-ton jack.
    The engine stand sets on a 2 1/2-in. dia. steel post and weighs only 50 lbs., allowing one person to easily lift the stand out of the way. The same post also supports the 8-ton hoist jack.
    “Before I built it I looked at a Chinese-built shop chain hoist. I wasn’t impressed,” says Sensat. “It was built light and had only one upright leg that was made from lightweight square tubing. So I decided to build a beefed-up hoist with two upright legs and mount the 20-ton jack between them so we could also use it as a press. Holes drilled 8 to 10 inches apart into both uprights allow us to adjust the press up or down.
    “We’ve used the press to bend 1/4-in. thick by 6-in. wide flat bar with no problem, and even at full reach the hoist is able to lift a 6-cyl. diesel engine.
    “My grandson Hunter helped build it and got some good practice welding. He even welded his initials on it. We think our 3-in-1 tool is built heavy enough to last for generations.”
    He spent a total of about $300 for the caster wheels, the 8-ton jack, and miscellaneous parts. “If we had bought all three tools separately, we’d have paid at least $1,000 and they wouldn’t be movable or built nearly as well,” says Sensat.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis Sensat, 1704 Fabacher Rd., Iota, Louisiana 70543 (ph 337 523-3867; dsensat08@yahoo.com).


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2016 - Volume #40, Issue #4