5 years ago, I decided to see if using firewood bins on casters might help down in the basement. They sure did. Built two 48" x 60" x 32" bins using 3/4" plywood and 4" HD casters. I got the idea from reading many different members ideas back then, that they had done, and adapted some of them to my set-up. There are a lot more members here now so, during a re-fill and vent add-on, I thought I'd take some pics, in case anyone might find an idea to make work at their place. Uglies, that I'd had on the bottom for 5 years, (would re-load over them) had stayed damp, with no air circulation, so I added 4 vents holes on each end, and beefed up in between them. Plenty of air now flowing around the splits. The bins have held up really well. And, they're heavy when filled. Guessing over 500 lbs easily. The rope is a brake, so I don't take out the wood stove at the bottom of the short ramps... The Bilco area works well letting me close the outside and/or inside door, in bad weather, while moving and filling the bins.
That "track" rail on the floor, gave me another load moving idea 3 years ago... a lift system, using a winch. I use it mostly for sound gear, but it could be adapted easily to be a firewood rack fork lift, instead of a flat deck carrier. Stack wood in small 2' x 3' x 4' racks with casters on them, up at ground level, and then lower the lift, setting the racks on the floor, and roll them off the "forks" where you need to. Here's a few pics of my lift, before I put it back in the Bilco today. The main frame is on casters too. That's a 2000 lb winch under the base. The rope is rigged in a reverse block n tackle, so it speeds the lift x2, which is about right. There is a 3rd caster upside down, underneath the main rails, that handles the cantilever load. I use the lift quite a bit. So far, so good... If anyone sees something that might work for them, I'm always happy to help if I can. I have pics of the original builds too.
This system is fascinating, like a coal mine elevator shaft for firewood! Those bins are well made and gorgeous also. I have a defunct Bilco entrance that is no longer in use because I now have a walk in entrance from an addition we put on the house 7 years ago. This would be a perfect use for the old utility entrance if I had a wood fired furnace down in the basement. Just a fantasy though and would have to be built with a few modifications because your engineering skills surpass mine. Yours is an inspiration piece for sure! * edit...I have solid cement steps with slate treads going down my Bilco doorway. I would need to use a ramp idea of sorts. Either that or jack hammer out the steps
Could just build the rails section, and have lag anchors set in the concrete steps, top and bottom, for mounting. Glad you might be able to do something similar. It's pretty handy and sure saves my ole back... ...
Loved this before and still do. One thing I just noticed though.......do you get excess wear on the 2X under the caster wheels on this? Would a strip of aluminum or steel help if it's a problem?
Looks worse than it is Dave. The black wheel skid lines are WD-40 sprayed on the casters, every once in a while. I wondered if the 2x rails would split, but they look the same after 3 years. A metal strip would work too. The whole rig could be made out of steel, aluminum or whatevah ya got, I guess...
Wow....that is a very cool setup. I'm guessing that was just too much fun figuring and building. Were the dimensions for your light/heavy loads determined by OSHA? ....and good to see that all of this is being done under the watchful eye of the sidewalk supervisor.
It's a 2002 X575 JD ... they don't make em now... the 700 series is pretty much the same these days... and, for me, it's been the perfect size too.
Thanks Stinny for the info. I tried looking it up as X575 earlier but not much luck I will check out the 700 series
