On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:42:12 -0500, Ignoramus22161
wrote:

I am thinking of making a set up to drop a heavy weight (old forklift
counterweight) onto objects, such as truck cabs and file cabinets, to
flatten them in preparation for scrapping. That way they will take
less room in the scrap gondola.

To drop that counterweight, it would need to be lifted with a
forklift, and then some sort of a release-under-tension would release
the object and it would fall.

I have compressed air nearby if I wanted to make that mechanism
pneumatic.

Any suggestion for something that could release an appx. 2-3 ton
weight?

First question to pop into mind: How thick is your floor, Ig?

Use pulleys and lift the weight by pressing down with the forks, set a
trip, then back up. Drop the weight when you trigger the release.

Wouldn't a nice plasma cutter work better and be more usable?

--
Energy and persistence alter all things.
--Benjamin Franklin