What new tools have you got lately?

[1STLS1]

I repair material handling equipment as my day job, fork lifts, order pickers, reach trucks, etc. A customer is turning their fleet and I bought this; a '17 Toyota 3 wheel sit down with 3800 lb capacity. The steer wheel placement allows it to turn in it's own space give or take a couple inches.

Its advantages are numerous, inexpensive to refuel with a charger on site, very reliable, quiet, very minimal maintenance. There are 4 grease fittings and brake discs that don't wear out. This unit has a 36 volt battery and is run with inverters or amplifiers that turn that DC voltage into 3 phase, low voltage AC current that run the 2 drive motors and the lift motor. The material handling industry brought to market the technology that allowed electric cars to be mainstream. Its advantage over gasoline or propane is huge, well, right up until you look at the cost of the battery that will require replacement in the next year or so. They are $7-8K and would have a 7 year warranty. This one needs paint, tires and seat cushions. An internal combustion unit may be a more common choice but knowing you have to chase the fuel for it, change tanks every 5-6 hours of use, then the day it doesn't start because somebody left the lights on and there is a truck that needs unloaded, the maintenance of the IC engine, etc. I think it's going to be a wash in terms of cost vs time saved.

If you have ever used one of these with a jib attachment to pull motors and such, you will never go back. The precision control of the lift, tilt and side shift makes it so simple. Internal combustion ones can surge, their hydraulics are rpm dependent and just are not as smooth.

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[78C10BigTen]

Got a couple gift cards to HF for Xmas so went shopping yesterday

First grab was a cart for the welder my dad bought me last xmas. This year was too crazy, I never got a chance to get it set up and start playing with it. I'll need it for modifying/rebuilding my exhaust on the C10 so it's time to start gathering the rest of the stuff

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Grabbed some welding pliers, butt clamps and the step bits were my "free gift" for being an ITC member

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Been wanting the hydraulic wire crimper for a while. I'll be relocating the battery to under the pass side of the truck, so I'll need to make some 0 gauge battery cables, this will do nicely

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My dad got me the 1/2" lockable ICON ratchet. I grabbed the 3/8" lockable one cuz I've been eyeing it for a while now too

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Started to grab a welding helmet but decided to hold off and do a little more asking around/research. Started to grab the red one up top for $49 but I think the one I've been using at work is the $149 red/white/blue Vulcan on the bottom row. Less than 7sq/in vs 10.1sq/in of viewing area, don't think I wanna go backwards.

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Good luck on that welding cart, they fold up like a pretzel in no time. We have that wire crimp tool at work, works pretty well!

 

[goldpack]

I repair material handling equipment as my day job, fork lifts, order pickers, reach trucks, etc. A customer is turning their fleet and I bought this; a '17 Toyota 3 wheel sit down with 3800 lb capacity. The steer wheel placement allows it to turn in it's own space give or take a couple inches.

Its advantages are numerous, inexpensive to refuel with a charger on site, very reliable, quiet, very minimal maintenance. There are 4 grease fittings and brake discs that don't wear out. This unit has a 36 volt battery and is run with inverters or amplifiers that turn that DC voltage into 3 phase, low voltage AC current that run the 2 drive motors and the lift motor. The material handling industry brought to market the technology that allowed electric cars to be mainstream. Its advantage over gasoline or propane is huge, well, right up until you look at the cost of the battery that will require replacement in the next year or so. They are $7-8K and would have a 7 year warranty. This one needs paint, tires and seat cushions. An internal combustion unit may be a more common choice but knowing you have to chase the fuel for it, change tanks every 5-6 hours of use, then the day it doesn't start because somebody left the lights on and there is a truck that needs unloaded, the maintenance of the IC engine, etc. I think it's going to be a wash in terms of cost vs time saved.

If you have ever used one of these with a jib attachment to pull motors and such, you will never go back. The precision control of the lift, tilt and side shift makes it so simple. Internal combustion ones can surge, their hydraulics are rpm dependent and just are not as smooth.

one of my old neighbors lived in Manhattan in the early 60s next to a bakery, it had a tall electric step van that had floor filled with regular car batteries. it was a one trick pony and really did its thing right: use to park it plugged into the van dock in the alley behind the bakery,...it use to prowl the streets of Manhattan overnight delivering bread and pastry to restaurants, and back at its dock by 7am to recharge and get hosed off/ hosed out. so a purpose built bread truck (1speed direct RWD, and never left Manhattan, so lots of stop and go, crusing along at 20mph,...just like today when 20mph is as fast as you can go on the surface streets. )

 

[TotalyHucked]

Good luck on that welding cart, they fold up like a pretzel in no time. We have that wire crimp tool at work, works pretty well!

My dad’s had that one for 15+ years now, hopefully I get at least a couple out of it

 

[KSSB]

That's good to know. I have a 3 ph drill press that was going to get a rotary converter, but this is a better, and probably cheaper option.

I was lucky, the Bridgeport already had a single phase motor.

It's cheaper and way less setup to get it going. VFD is the only way, unless a guy has a shop full of 3 phase equipment, and no access to 3 phase power. Then a phase converter would maybe be a better option.

 

[78C10BigTen]

My dad’s had that one for 15+ years now, hopefully I get at least a couple out of it

The one we had at work didnt lol

 

[Dmack]

My dad’s had that one for 15+ years now, hopefully I get at least a couple out of it

I modified mine with bigger wheels, and made handles that stick out the front (easier to lift the smaller front wheels and roll on larger pneumatic rears over gravel and uneven surfaces), as well as a tall handle loop on the front for pushing around. And horseshoes welded on for hanging musc crap on. Works well for me. Enjoy.

 

[Blue Ox]

It's cheaper and way less setup to get it going. VFD is the only way, unless a guy has a shop full of 3 phase equipment, and no access to 3 phase power. Then a phase converter would maybe be a better option.

The current shop has 3ph power, but its days are numbered, and I'm not sure where we're going to end up, hence my concern about the drill press and a few other machines.

I knew VFDs offered speed control, which is a nice feature on a step-pulley Bridgeport or a lathe. I just wasn't aware they offered phase conversion. Static phase converters lose 30%. Do these inverter types maintain full output?

 

[legopnuematic]

@Blue Ox yes VFDs offer 100% of the motors available power. They also offer circuitry protection so no need for a motor starter/heaters.

ETA: 100% power at 60hz, if you run above or below 60hz the power/torque will drop off.

 

[KSSB]

The current shop has 3ph power, but its days are numbered, and I'm not sure where we're going to end up, hence my concern about the drill press and a few other machines.

I knew VFDs offered speed control, which is a nice feature on a step-pulley Bridgeport or a lathe. I just wasn't aware they offered phase conversion. Static phase converters lose 30%. Do these inverter types maintain full output?

I didn't know static converters lost that much. That's a good bit for sure.

All the VFD's I've dealt with maintain full output. They're pretty slick, the several I've used.

 

[waterpirate]

Some vfd yes, and some no. Be sure to check your vfd spec sheet prior to purchase and go accordingly.
Eric

 

[89Suburban]

I repair material handling equipment as my day job, fork lifts, order pickers, reach trucks, etc. A customer is turning their fleet and I bought this; a '17 Toyota 3 wheel sit down with 3800 lb capacity. The steer wheel placement allows it to turn in it's own space give or take a couple inches.

Its advantages are numerous, inexpensive to refuel with a charger on site, very reliable, quiet, very minimal maintenance. There are 4 grease fittings and brake discs that don't wear out. This unit has a 36 volt battery and is run with inverters or amplifiers that turn that DC voltage into 3 phase, low voltage AC current that run the 2 drive motors and the lift motor. The material handling industry brought to market the technology that allowed electric cars to be mainstream. Its advantage over gasoline or propane is huge, well, right up until you look at the cost of the battery that will require replacement in the next year or so. They are $7-8K and would have a 7 year warranty. This one needs paint, tires and seat cushions. An internal combustion unit may be a more common choice but knowing you have to chase the fuel for it, change tanks every 5-6 hours of use, then the day it doesn't start because somebody left the lights on and there is a truck that needs unloaded, the maintenance of the IC engine, etc. I think it's going to be a wash in terms of cost vs time saved.

If you have ever used one of these with a jib attachment to pull motors and such, you will never go back. The precision control of the lift, tilt and side shift makes it so simple. Internal combustion ones can surge, their hydraulics are rpm dependent and just are not as smooth.

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We have a few of those in our warehouse. They are great machines. Very easy and fun to operate. As you stated very precise controls. My only gripe is I wish they had better leg room for us bigger fellas. And I am not a big fan of the small steering wheel. Good luck with yours! Enjoy!

 

[1STLS1]

We have a few of those in our warehouse. They are great machines. Very easy and fun to operate. As you stated very precise controls. My only gripe is I wish they had better leg room for us bigger fellas. And I am not a big fan of the small steering wheel. Good luck with yours! Enjoy!

I just need to test drive and function check them but can see an issue if I was on it 6-7 hours a day. I would see if you could drill new holes in the battery cover to give you an extra inch or so back. Some seat adjusting brackets also have 2 sets of holes that give some flexibility also. The steering wheel should have a mount for a spinning steering knob, that may help some.

 

[89Suburban]

I just need to test drive and function check them but can see an issue if I was on it 6-7 hours a day. I would see if you could drill new holes in the battery cover to give you an extra inch or so back. Some seat adjusting brackets also have 2 sets of holes that give some flexibility also. The steering wheel should have a mount for a spinning steering knob, that may help some.

I do like the horn button on the right rear grab handle when backing up.

We have been running Toyota lifts here for quite a few years. Electrics for inside the warehouse. Including a stand up. Propane for the yard.

When I first got hired back in the late 80’s they were all brand new komatsus.

We had a few heavy lift Hysters. We called the big dually one Big Bertha. She was a manual trans with a 2 speed. Used to have a really wicked death wobble and n the steering if you went to fast in that one.

We also had some Princeton Teledyne truck mounted lifts on some of the trucks with some kind of air cooled German diesel engine .

After we wore those wore out we got Navigater units.

 

[Old Guy Bill]

I've done some fork truck maintenance over the years working in factories.
I currently take care of about a dozen where I work part time.
The Toyotas are heavy and well built in my opinion.
I remember the three wheelers were great in tight aisles, I haven't seen one in several years though.

As for powering shop equipment I installed a 5hp phase converter.
I can run my 2hp Bridgeport or my 5hp Clausing with no problem.
Way more power than any two phase equipment.. and there's lots of used machines available.