Hive Lift

[tommyt]

I really like your Idea I have a bed frame sitting in the garage waiting to build
what you already did
I would like to know if or when it gets top heavy what do you think of
putting something on the lift to hold the top portion of the hives
so they don't topple
Nice job
Tommyt

[Steve10]

Tommy,
Between the 4 vertical 1 1/2" x 4" pieces on the arms and the pipe clamp squeeze, it seems to hold the box it's grabbing rock steady. I always lower the load (i.e. honey supers) when I'm moving the boxes. Since it has to tip back to move anywhere the uprights are narrow enough that if the boxes tipped back, the just would rest on the uprights avoiding a catastrophe. The propolis helps too. You could always throw a ratchet strap around the whole stack too. That's what I think I'd do come spring bringing a stack empty supers to the yard that don't stick together. Guess you could also rig a horizontal strap like the use on refrigerator-moving hand carts.

[Beefarmer57]

Steve,
Really great contraption. I was going to build a swing arm lift to load hives into a pickup. But, that would be something that would be a semi permanent installation. I like your Idea much better. What is the material you used on the uprights and the slide tubes.
Thanks,
Clay

[Steve10]

Clay,
Glad you like it. I just happen to have some 1 1/2" and 1 1/4" round, steel tubing in the shop left over from a race car chassis I built. They happen to be a size that that the larger size slides over the smaller size. I imagine anything along that idea would work. I too was seriously thinking of a swing arm lift in the back of the truck, but figured I'd get tired of trying to position the truck just right so I could lift the hives.
Steve

[slickbrightspear]

very nice I love it

[bluegrass]

Nice steve10
I would suggest that you add a scale to the winch cable so you can weigh hives with it as well.

[utahbees]

beautiful... I love the design. I can see this being produced

[utahbees]

You could use one of these for moving more than just bee boxes... lots of other uses... railroad ties, small pallets, rocks around the yard, and etc... might need retrofitted a little or have different attachable "arms" for carrying and loading other items? Fantastic!

[Steve10]

Slick, Blue, & Utah - Thanks for the kind words.

Bluegrass - A scale is an easy mod. Great idea!

Utahbees - Careful, we make it too versatile and the "Honey Do List" for the spouses might get too long!

[snl]

Steve10...

Ok, I've seen & heard enuff, if you'll motorize it, add the remote control and scale, I'll give you $100 for it

[Steve10]

snl-
Thank you for the offer, but I'm getting kind of attached to my "first-born" if you know what I mean

[geebob]

At the risk of sounding 1/3 of my age... "WANT!"

[Steve10]

Hello again gang,

Gotten enough PM's asking about some closer shots. I apologize, I've been trying to put labels on the pic's for dimensions, but I'll be a lot greyer by the time I get that done. So here's a link to a bunch of close-up pictures. Sorry I didn't post sooner, but filling that woodshed in the background was a bigger priority after tucking the bees in for winter. We heat entirely with wood so I want to keep my other Honey happy too. You married guys understand!

http://s474.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/Hive%20Lift/

Anyways, here it is and I'll gladly answer any questions and look forward to seeing how other folks take and modify the design for there own purpose. Sorry, it was a build as I went with what I had so there are no paper plans, just backyard cobbling. Took a hand cart and put a hive body in front of it and this is the contraption that resulted.

Steve

[sqkcrk]

For those who missed this the first time.

[bluegrass]

For those who are not handy enough to make one. You can buy one here:
http://www.swienty.com/shop/vare.asp...vareid=100915B

[Happy Honey Farm]

Steve I"m putting my order in right now I"ll be picking it up in early spring LOL!!