Small lift for home garage?

[Mad Mike]

My first job was in a Rapidlube -- I worked in a pit. Installing one legally in Ontario is impossible, commercial installs are almost as hard. You need air sampling and, high volume air change, oil collection and containment, sump, sparkproof fittings on electrical and air connections, sprinkler...

I tried, the local building inspector spun a bearing when he saw it under construction -- made me cover it up. I had it tricked out with everything that would be in a commercial pit -- nope, just can't get a permit for a residential property. Someday I'll cut away part of my garage floor to expose the pit, it's still under the concrete floor.

 

[nobbie48]

My first job was in a Rapidlube -- I worked in a pit. Installing one legally in Ontario is impossible, commercial installs are almost as hard. You need air sampling and, high volume air change, oil collection and containment, sump, sparkproof fittings on electrical and air connections, sprinkler...

I tried, the local building inspector spun a bearing when he saw it under construction -- made me cover it up. I had it tricked out with everything that would be in a commercial pit -- nope, just can't get a permit for a residential property. Someday I'll cut away part of my garage floor to expose the pit, it's still under the concrete floor.

I've taken confined space training and assume that's the issue.

I thought about putting in a motorcycle platform lift in a recess (6-8 ") in the floor so it was basically a flat floor. There when needed but not taking up floor space when not in use. I don't know if it would be acceptable to the god of rules.

 

[GreyGhost]

I've taken confined space training and assume that's the issue.

I thought about putting in a motorcycle platform lift in a recess (6-8 ") in the floor so it was basically a flat floor. There when needed but not taking up floor space when not in use. I don't know if it would be acceptable to the god of rules.

Not just confined space, combustible vapors build up in pit and then bang. I like your idea but it has the same problem. Just a much smaller bang.

Although the largest pain to install (and I havent seen them in forever), I love the giant hydraulic cylinders in the floor. When the lift is down there is nothing for kids to bang car doors on. You need a pretty big excavation and they are heavy as hell though. On a somewhat related note, anyone have an assortment of hydraulic bits they are willing to sell cheap? I am building a 5 hp hpu. So far I just have the motor and pump, need gauges for temp and pressure (and ideally flow but I can calculate that), a tank, coupler, pressure relief valve and fittings. It will probably start as constant speed and then I will add vfd for phase 2 when constant speed annoys me.

 

[nobbie48]

Not just confined space, combustible vapors build up in pit and then bang. I like your idea but it has the same problem. Just a much smaller bang.

Although the largest pain to install (and I havent seen them in forever), I love the giant hydraulic cylinders in the floor. When the lift is down there is nothing for kids to bang car doors on. You need a pretty big excavation and they are heavy as hell though. On a somewhat related note, anyone have an assortment of hydraulic bits they are willing to sell cheap? I am building a 5 hp hpu. So far I just have the motor and pump, need gauges for temp and pressure (and ideally flow but I can calculate that), a tank, coupler, pressure relief valve and fittings. It will probably start as constant speed and then I will add vfd for phase 2 when constant speed annoys me.

It gets complicated but if one had to and height wasn't an issue the floor could be raised the required amount leaving a vent path so the pit couldn't accumulate vapors. At some point you realize you should move to a place with a larger garage or build a dedicated shop.

 

[mimico_polak]

I have the Quickjack 5000EXT system. From seasonal tire changes, brake jobs to suspension, exhaust, trans/differential/engine oil changes you name it. They've paid for themselves in more ways than one.

<a href="https://imgur.com/SfkDhM1">

@DJM This looks like exactly what I need. Thank you!

Definitely not going to be digging a pit into the garage! LoL This is more for the tires / oil / filters / etc type of work that I'd like to do without having to go to a shop for the little things. Not pulling motors/transmissions anytime soon.
Thanks guys!

 

[DJM]

Glad you like them. Everything stores out of the way as well. The Quickjacks themselves can lean up against a wall, pump goes on a shelf and I hang the hoses on a hook. Takes about 5 minutes to setup after some practice.

 

[Mad Mike]

It gets complicated but if one had to and height wasn't an issue the floor could be raised the required amount leaving a vent path so the pit couldn't accumulate vapors. At some point you realize you should move to a place with a larger garage or build a dedicated shop.

Clearing heavy vapors from a pit is easy, a 4" PVC sewer pipe with induction fan does the trick. I ran the vents before I laid the concrete floor, the pipe runs between the pit and the outside of my garage.

As for building a bigger garage, that can depend on bylaws where you live. Wheere I live the city limits detached garages to 900sq' and an average height of 12' above grade. The max floor to ceiling clearance is 10' for a flat roof and 8' for a 6:12. This is a common restriction in the urban parts of the GTA.

 

[nobbie48]

Clearing heavy vapors from a pit is easy, a 4" PVC sewer pipe with induction fan does the trick. I ran the vents before I laid the concrete floor, the pipe runs between the pit and the outside of my garage.

As for building a bigger garage, that can depend on bylaws where you live. Wheere I live the city limits detached garages to 900sq' and an average height of 12' above grade. The max floor to ceiling clearance is 10' for a flat roof and 8' for a 6:12. This is a common restriction in the urban parts of the GTA.

IIRC anything less than 18" above the floor in a garage is Class 1 Div 1 electrical. All switches, wiring, motors and devices have to be C1 D1. Like I said, if you want to get legal. Common sense could cure a lot of problems but it can't be legislated.

Edit: In keeping with the explosion proof component line, boat bilge blowers are designed with that in mind. Now you can add a 12 volt supply to the complexity.

 

[GreyGhost]

Clearing heavy vapors from a pit is easy, a 4" PVC sewer pipe with induction fan does the trick. I ran the vents before I laid the concrete floor, the pipe runs between the pit and the outside of my garage.

As for building a bigger garage, that can depend on bylaws where you live. Wheere I live the city limits detached garages to 900sq' and an average height of 12' above grade. The max floor to ceiling clearance is 10' for a flat roof and 8' for a 6:12. This is a common restriction in the urban parts of the GTA.

Where I live, for some ridiculous reason, you are allowed no taller than your house or 4.5 m (~14.5') tall whichever is less for an auxiliary building. This means that technically, I could build a 10'x10x14.5'tall shed with no permit.

 

[Scuba Steve]

Not just confined space, combustible vapors build up in pit and then bang. I like your idea but it has the same problem. Just a much smaller bang.

Although the largest pain to install (and I havent seen them in forever), I love the giant hydraulic cylinders in the floor. When the lift is down there is nothing for kids to bang car doors on. You need a pretty big excavation and they are heavy as hell though. On a somewhat related note, anyone have an assortment of hydraulic bits they are willing to sell cheap? I am building a 5 hp hpu. So far I just have the motor and pump, need gauges for temp and pressure (and ideally flow but I can calculate that), a tank, coupler, pressure relief valve and fittings. It will probably start as constant speed and then I will add vfd for phase 2 when constant speed annoys me.

Pm me I have what you need.

Sent from my moto g(7) plus using Tapatalk

 

[crankcall]

whats a 5hp HPU ??

 

[DJM]

Hydraulic power unit? High pressure underwear? <shrugs>

 

[GreyGhost]

whats a 5hp HPU ??

Hydraulic power unit. This one is nothing fancy, just a vane pump. Primary purpose will be DIY endless pool but it will have QR on the hoses so it could also be repurposed for other applications as required. For the pump I have theoretical max is 7.3 gpm and 2500 psi but that would need a 10 hp motor and I only bought a 5. 10 hp motors for 230V are not cheap or easy to find. That is also the reason for a vfd, I may need to overspeed the motor to get the flowrate I want :/

 

[Mad Mike]

Where I live, for some ridiculous reason, you are allowed no taller than your house or 4.5 m (~14.5') tall whichever is less for an auxiliary building. This means that technically, I could build a 10'x10x14.5'tall shed with no permit.

We have similar restrictions. FYI, the building height referenced in bylaws is typically the average height, not the height at the peak. I was allowed 12.5' from grade, this allowed me to have a garage with 8' ceiling and a loft above. I was allowed 12.5' average, the peak of my garage is about 19' .

 

[Trials]

My first job was in a Rapidlube -- I worked in a pit. Installing one legally in Ontario is impossible, commercial installs are almost as hard. You need air sampling and, high volume air change, oil collection and containment, sump, sparkproof fittings on electrical and air connections, sprinkler...

I tried, the local building inspector spun a bearing when he saw it under construction -- made me cover it up. I had it tricked out with everything that would be in a commercial pit -- nope, just can't get a permit for a residential property. Someday I'll cut away part of my garage floor to expose the pit, it's still under the concrete floor.

Call it your bomb shelter and do the whole air exchange thing sounds awesome and you have the dog wash covered.

 

[Mad Mike]

Call it your bomb shelter and do the whole air exchange thing sounds awesome and you have the dog wash covered.

I'm finishing the upstairs part of the garage into an apartment so I still have the local building inspector clowns to deal with. After the I get the occupancy inspection done I'll be finished with them and I can activate my pit. Wiring, ventilation air, and sump are already installed, all I have to do is cut the concrete, install stairs and I'm done.

 

[crankcall]

Hydraulic power facinates me, I have no idea what I woukld use it for around my garage beyond the small press I have and a porta-power jack left over from my auto body days.

@GreyGhost what are you thinking about doing with 5hp power? log splitter?

 

[GreyGhost]

Hydraulic power facinates me, I have no idea what I woukld use it for around my garage beyond the small press I have and a porta-power jack left over from my auto body days.

@GreyGhost what are you thinking about doing with 5hp power? log splitter?

Endless pool primarily. I figure I can put one together for <$1000 so it's worth a shot to be able to actually swim instead of just splash with kids.
I've got the inlet structure, am working on hpu and then need to fab up the outlet structure and some support system so I can put it in and out as required.

A press is a good secondary use, but not really enough space for one until kids crap leaves the garage (a long time away). As the GPU is going to be quite awkward to move (probably +/- 200 lbs and 12 cu ft) and require a decent power line, there is a good chance it will live in a shed outside and I'll run a set of lines into the garage that I can tap in to. For most jobs, it would just be easier to use an air operated hydraulic jack and maintain the ability to easily move it around or fire it up in the winter when the hpu oil is like molasses.

 

[crankcall]

I spent about 3 weeks cobbling together a blast furnace with a turkey deep fryer burner, an old blow dryer and some fire bricks so i could sand cast some aluminum parts for a boat restoration. I dont feel so alone anymore LOL.

best of luck with your pool plans

 

[Trials]

I spent about 3 weeks cobbling together a blast furnace with a turkey deep fryer burner, an old blow dryer and some fire bricks so i could sand cast some aluminum parts for a boat restoration. I dont feel so alone anymore LOL.
...

You over-engineered it all you need is eucalyptus charcoal, clay pots, long tongs and scrap car parts.