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 | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa 
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2007-01-07 138523
First off I do respect everyone's opinions and advice that was given here a couple weeks ago on building a loft in the shed. So I did seek professional advice as far as engeneering, load linits, etc.. First off as you may remember we sold the property where my shop was located, so it ws either sell 90% of my metal and woodworking equipment or find another home for them. Our reason for selling was as most everyone knows farmland prices are at alltime highs, the building maintenence, mowing, etc. was becoming a burden. Some people came to us and made us a good offer, so done deal. This coming Tuesday a crew is scheduled to begin on a 46X18 loft in our 46X46 shed here at the house engeneered to support 83,000 lbs. with a heated workshop underneath that will hold all of the single phase equipment I have. My heavier three phase things wil have to go, I can't get three phase here. It will be insulated and lined with white barn steel. This was our compromise, the wife did'nt want another building here at the house, so it was kinda go this route or call an auctioneer. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Frank.
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 | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-01-07 138528
Frank that's 50 lb. per sq. ft. load rating---you can't load up one side with 80,000 lb. and nothing on the other---it's gotta be distrubuted to no moe than 50 lb. per sq.ft.
I guessitmated that the large Gator or whatever it's called takes up about 32 sq. ft. of floor space and weighs about 2000 lb.
If so you're already over the design weight by 400 lb. And I didn't take into consideration the actual footprint of the vehicle tires which exterts weight in 4 concentrated areas. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-07 138530
EW; Sorry I should have explained a bit further. I've dropped the plan for an elevator and puting the Gator and the mowers up there, it will be lumber and misc. smaller things. The plan is to concentrate the heaviest of things near the front or back where the support system is, altho not required by the builders, with a walkway down the middle The engeneering firm used the calculation of 46X18X100 lbs. per squ. ft.= 82,800 load ratung. I've checked the weight per cu. ft. of different specie of lumber, some can be stacked about 2ft. deep and others in the 3-3.5 ft. depth range. I asked if they would stand behind it, (Or under it)long as I stayed within the limits, and they said yes, they are a big company that's been in business probably 50 yrs. They're using those 12X2 beams like is used in most new homes anymore only a haevier duty type than is used in home construction spaning 18 ft. resting on stud walls of 2X10 reg. lumber. Frank. ....
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-01-08 138535
Hardwood,
In reading this I can easy think of hay lofts that use to hold a lot of weight. The load are not normally shock loads of any amount and yes they are very well spread out. One thing on hay lofts I can think of, they were not long runs for the lumber. At same time I have seen a full grown horse walking in a house on crawl space. He sure exceed 500 pounds per square foot. That floor was not normal, had full 2 by 12 and tounge & grooved subfloor and top floor. Made before lumber was downsized. Hope you enjoy your shop. ....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-01-08 138537
Frank, before you get too excited about ditching the 3 phase stuff, look into a rotary phase converter.
I have the same problem with my company's shop, no 3 phase power in the area. I got several pieces incredibly cheap at auction, but they all had 3 phase motors, which is why they were cheap.
I nearly fell over when I found out the price of the motors to convert them, but then the guy in the motor shop asked why I didn't just put in a phase converter? I'd never even heard of one let alone seen it. It is basically just an electric motor, but with extra windings, although you can also convert most motors to do it too. It works by using the motor as both a motor and generator, you power it single phase, and it gives you 3 phase back out.
Not spendy at all. Look around, you might be surprised.
Best of luck. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-08 138538
Murf, I did know there were phase converters, but just assumed they were way above my price range. I've got a friend who runs a motor shop whom I'm sure could price me one of the right size. I also was kind of toying with the idea of a PTO generator with three phase capabilitys. but again have no idea of the cost of one to fit my needs. I've still got five tractors sitting around doing nothing, might be good for them to run a few hours now and then. I really apreciatre any ideas or comments. Frank. ....
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| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-01-08 138545
Frank, I don't know what size motors you are dealing with, but in my case I got one big enough to run a 7.5 hp. motor for about $750 (Cannuck bucks) installed. This is larger than I needed, but it was only about $100 more than the one I needed so I thought it was better to over-size it a big.
If you Google "rotary phase convertors" you will also find articles on how to make your own, as well as a bunch of place that sell them pre-made.
Best of luck. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-08 138549
Murf; We might both have heart failure for the one I would need. My widebelt sander has a 30 hp. motor to run the belt, a 3 hp. to run the conveyor, and a 3 hp. to run the dust evacuation system. All must run at the same time. The power company almost sent me thank you cards. Frank. ....
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| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-01-08 138551
Frank, you might be pleasantly surprised.....
According to the websites I found a 50 HP Rotary Phase Converter is selling for US$799!!
Have a look around the 'Net.
Best of luck.
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-08 138563
Thanks Murf, I'll do some surfing and also call my friend at the motor shop. He is quite a trader and might have a used one just my size. Frank. ....
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| earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-01-08 138567
Frank hopefully you're in good hands. I can't count how many times I've seen homes here in 'sippi that have had some or most of the floor blown out including the subfloor and joists due to the floor being over stressed with flood water that couldn't escape fast enough. Same is true where the flood water rose too fast and it pushed the floors up a foot or so. I'd be looking for a beefed up joist system resting on well-connected ledger boards and joist hangers and cross bracing to prevent joist flipping. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-08 138579
EW; I've mentioned in several posts that we are about a mile from the river, but the elevation difference is aprox. 50ft., 899 at the top of the dam and 952 at the base of our flagpole near the shed, about the highest flood we've had in the 100yr. history was about 922 ft.. I can see how that could be a concern if I were in a flood plain. The insurance rep. just left, I called him to make sure there were no unknown problens insuring a loft. He checked the buiding looked the blueprints over and said there would be no concern on their part. He also said their company really likes steel lined shops but doesn't require it. We had decided to run the steel horozontaly for ease of attaching it to the studs, his only comment was that he has saw steel both horozontal and vertical, and that the vertical was easier to keep clean. I think the steel is already cut so I'd probably better not bug the builder about that Thanks for your intrest, you've brought up some good points. Frank. ....
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| earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-01-08 138589
Frank what I referring to was the excessive weight bearing down, in the cases I saw which was water (yours being lumber, backhoe buckets, etc.) on the floor system and how it could not withstand it, that's all. Now that you've spoken to your agent that should should give some rest.
I hadn't seen commercial-type buildings like yours with horizontally laid metal siding. Having put up 25 foot long sheets up vertically by myself and bending the top half (DOH!) it does make sense though. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-08 138597
EW; We have a rather large Amish community north of us about 30 miles. I go up there about once a year to get Red Wing Shoes and stock up on home made jams and jellies. They are very particular and neat about their farmsteads. I've noticed the last few years that any new steel building has the siding horozontal, they must be frame buildings, it does make a lot of sense. Frank. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-01-09 138620
Hardwood,
I wanted to put metal siding/roofing on my shop and run it horizional to sort of look like boards. My wife said politly no. So, it is vinyl. My guess the point about keeping it clean is due to the little ledges the ribs will give you for the dust to settle on. Found out the other day working on leaf blower, they are great on dust and such in shop. Bet most of you'all knew that.
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2007-01-09 138624
KT; I've had a leaf blower for several years, there the best thing since canned beer to blow the dust and chaff off of a combine. You soon learn to stay upwind then turn the combine around to do the other side. Keep warm. Frank. ....
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 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2007-01-09 138625
Early on in tractor ownership I discovered that a leaf blower is by far the best way to clean dry dust and debris off of a tractor. It's great for cleaning out a dry garage floor, too, and does a nice job on the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-01-10 138643
Men, could it be our wives have it backwards...rather than vacuuming the house, they need a leaf blower? I like the concept. No doubt husbands would find that better to operate.
I have used leaf blower on a peanut combine and it did good job. Wonder why I had not thought about it for the tractor itself? Have used air hose on it and had considered setting up pressure washer for quick use. ....
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