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So, part of my vision for the workshop that I keep talking about includes a dust collection system. Â This is necessary for a woodworking shop if you don't want to be dragging a shop-vac all over the place to collect sawdust. Â Plus, shop-vacs are small and have to be emptied a lot for this kind of work and they just don't have the power necessary for full-sized equipment.
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Dust collectors are large and noisy and dusty. Â Go figure. Â So, I decided that I'm going to install the dust collector behind the workshop in its very own lean-to shelter. Â The first step for this is to make a foundation for the shelter. Â That's the area on the left.
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Oh, by the way, I'm going to be installing an mini-split HVAC system in the shop so that I can work year round. Â The small concrete slab on the right is a leftover from the previous owners (actually, I think from the first owner) that was just sitting out behind the shop. Â It's just the right size for a mini-split system, but it needs to be moved and leveled. Â
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So, I built a crane. Â Sort of. Â I took some stuff that I had and built a crane and I have to say that it worked pretty well. Â What you're looking at is a 1000 lb capacity scaffold from Lowe's that I bought to remodel a house last year. Â I drilled a couple of holes in the deck to allow me to slip a chain through. Â Between these holes, I placed a beam made of two married 2x4s. Â The chain goes over the beam and through the holes. Â To that, I connected a Harbor Freight 1000 lb manual hoist.
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I used some 1000 lb straps to sling my concrete slab (my math told me that it weighs around 800 lbs based on the perceived volume and the weight of concrete). Â So, the math was on my side. Â I leveled the "crane" with concrete pavers and hoisted away. Â
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Success!
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This is one of many, many steps toward meeting my vision for the workshop. Â If I just keep doing one step at a time, it will get there. Â Eventually.

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