I do some volunteer work for a group where I need to use a dolly to haul boxes into a downstairs basement. I have to push the dolly up over a 3" sill plate because there is no way to turn around once inside the building and then go down the stairs. Even with good pneumatic tires it's a big bump and my boxes fall off.
So I went through my scrap pile and found some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate I never knew I had. I plasma cut two sloped sides from steel, then bent them on my hydraulic press brake to form lips. I used my ironworker to punch all the holes, then used angle iron to reinforce the top and add a lip there. Lastly, I grooved in some 3/16" flat (on edge) to reinforce the middle and add rigidity. Once the frame was welded together I air riveted the diamond plate to the frame with 1/4" steel rivets.
Seems to be solid enough for 300 lbs or so, but light enough I can carry from my truck to the door as needed. I'll probably put some conspicuity tape on the sides tomorrow.
I like these one-off projects using scrap. I especially enjoy designing things like this to take advantage of the metal's shape, rather than just overbuilding.
So I went through my scrap pile and found some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate I never knew I had. I plasma cut two sloped sides from steel, then bent them on my hydraulic press brake to form lips. I used my ironworker to punch all the holes, then used angle iron to reinforce the top and add a lip there. Lastly, I grooved in some 3/16" flat (on edge) to reinforce the middle and add rigidity. Once the frame was welded together I air riveted the diamond plate to the frame with 1/4" steel rivets.
Seems to be solid enough for 300 lbs or so, but light enough I can carry from my truck to the door as needed. I'll probably put some conspicuity tape on the sides tomorrow.
I like these one-off projects using scrap. I especially enjoy designing things like this to take advantage of the metal's shape, rather than just overbuilding.
