"Mike in Mystic" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,

SWMBO and I are at loggerheads regarding my wood storage/shop space. To
date, she has had this old POS piano that she says she's going to restore
sitting in one corner of the garage/shop. I need/want the space to set up
more workstation/storage space. She offered that if I take down my wood
storage rack that is along the back wall of the other garage bay, and move
the piano there, then things would be fine. Ugh.

The only other option I have is the attic storage above the garage, which
is
actually quite spacious. There is a hoist on one end and a swing-out set
of
double doors. Inside is a pull-down staircase.

My question is - does anyone have experience dealing with lumber storage
upstairs in a loft/attic like this? Is a hoist the best/easiest/safest
way
to get rough lumber in reasonably long (approx. 8'-12') lengths into such
a
space? It just seems like a royal PITA to me, but I have to live with the
space I have for now. There really isn't any space on my property to
build
an outdoor shed or other storage facility.

Thanks for your suggestions,

Mike


A lot depends on where you live, on the occasions I've been in my loft
during summer here in Texas you get not only extemes of heat but at times
quite high humidity. I haven't been here that long but all the lumber I've
bought has been kiln dried, so at the least I would expect you will have to
be careful in your planning to bring down anything to equalize before
maching operations. In the circumstances I'd at least invest in a moisture
meter if you don't already have one.

On the original question, having lived on a sailboat, a common operation is
lifting the dinghy on deck and that is normally done with a halyard and one
of the the deck winches, unless your going to hauling huge quantities of
lumber it would probably be much quicker to go with a 2 or 3 part block and
tackle. IMO with a chain hoist you'll be running chain forever, a small
manual winch should also give you all the mechanical advantage you need.

Bernard R