What do you use for lifting heavy objects?

[Dabbler]

I was thinking about using the 2 bolts that attach my follow rest.

That is a much stronger place to mount it. Brilliant!

 

[Dabbler]

So here is another shop built skyhook clone. In several ways it is better than MrPete's:

 

[jmarkwolf]

I bought one of the cart mounted Skyhooks (see below) off CL a few years ago for $400. It was unused at a factory that had bought several, but decided they didn't need all that they had bought. New one lists for nearly $5000 nowadays. One of the best deals I ever found on CL.

I bought another one from CL with the dovetail for mounting directly to a tool post as well for cheap.

 

[hman]

congratulations ...you got a GREAT bargain!

 

[matthewsx]

It seems like the Sky Hook attached to the compound would cause a lot of stress to the compound and cross slide.

The compound already has a lot of stress on it. Cutting forces are large and dynamic, the skyhook probably doesn’t come close.

 

[Charles scozzari]

The compound already has a lot of stress on it. Cutting forces are large and dynamic, the skyhook probably doesn’t come close.

Hi, I have to be honest, when I look at that set-up I cringe. Your point is well taken but I would make a fixture to mount that on the tailstock. Thank's.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Hi, I have to be honest, when I look at that set-up I cringe. Your point is well taken but I would make a fixture to mount that on the tailstock. Thank's.

I admit, the thought of mounting my crane to the tool post has always given me the heebie jeebies, so I've never done it. In fact, I've never used this crane in favor of my cart mounted crane.

I may eventually rig an adaptor to mount it to the bed of my lathe instead.

 

[Charles scozzari]

I admit, the thought of mounting my crane to the tool post has always given me the heebie jeebies, so I've never done it. In fact, I've never used this crane in favor of my cart mounted crane.

I may eventually rig an adaptor to mount it to the bed of my lathe instead.

I think that is a better place to mount it with isolation pads even off the back of the lathe stand.

 

[Illinoyance]

I bought this for use with my pickup.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200672544_200672544

I made a flange that bolts to the floor, with a socket that accepts the rotating part of the crane. It sits next to my lathe and is used for handling chucks.

 

[matthewsx]

Hi, I have to be honest, when I look at that set-up I cringe. Your point is well taken but I would make a fixture to mount that on the tailstock. Thank's.

You can buy one that’s bench mount.

Premium Bench Mount Sky Hook

These Sky Hooks can be easily mounted to a bench, heavy cart, machine surface, truck bed and so much more. By simply rotating the hand wheel, you’ll be able to lift up to 500 lbs. without breaking a sweat.

skyhook.cc

Formula

Turning lathe cutting tool forces

Tool forces vary with cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and rake angle. Force may be measured experimentally by using a 'cutting tool dynamometer' in which the tool is mounted on a flexible steel diaphragm and its deflections in three planes measured by three electrical transducers.

www.engineersedge.com

Calculator for people like me.

Cutting Force Calculator | Turning – Kennametal

Cutting Forces, Torque, and Horsepower for Turning Applications

www.kennametal.com

They sell toolpost mount skyhooks to professional shops. Maybe their machines are more robust than ours but I have to assume if it’s rated for 500lbs and OSHA approved they’re confident of the use case.

Fortunately my chucks are all still easy for me to handle by hand. But, if I get to the point of needing something to help I wouldn’t be afraid of using my BXA toolpost with a product designed and engineered for the job.

I know we have members on here who use them, maybe they’ll chime in to let us know how they work in real life.

John