My back hurts, help.

[bob p]

there's another option that nobody has mentioned yet -- bicycle hoist.

i know quite a few people who use bike hoists to lift heavy light canopies off of their saltwater reef aquariums. they're nothing more complicated than a set of pullies, but they're an easy to find off the shelf item that isn't very obtrusive.

[Ampclutz]

What about this from Harbor freight?

ITEM 7620-4VGA

It's a 2 ton shop crane. $149

[bob p]

DIY link I found on Google:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bicy..._s-bike-out-o/

[Enzo]

I like the red cart, it takes up little more room than a plain cart would, and it is on wheels.

[Ampclutz]

I like the cart too but how do you get something onto the cart in the first place? Wouldn't you have to lift it onto the cart?

[Enzo]

As someone who hurts a lot myself - arthritis - it is a lot easier to stand ther and lift an amp up a few inches by the top handle and set it on something than it is to bend over and pick the whole thing up and lift it to table height.

[turbolx5oh]

Here are some options for you:

Rolling Scissor Lift Table
A bunch of lifting hand trucks

[Steve A.]

Some recent study showed that the 'use your legs' approach doesn't actually help reduce injury. I don't have a link, or I'd provide it, but I did hear it on NPR.

The trick I used to use to get heavy stuff up and down (carpeted) stairs was to 'roll' it.

Hope this helps!

In my old job as an HVAC service tech, there often was no opportunity to use your legs in lifting- you had to yank a 100 pound compressor straight up, often having to twist one way or another to avoid damaging other components.

However, I do think if you could avoid putting a strain on your lower back, it would be a good thing, regardless of what NPR might have said...

I had first injured my back at work almost 25 years ago, and since then its always been a bit "iffy". One trick I learned was to avoid setting heavy items down on the ground: put them on a milk crate- or anything!- to keep them off the ground. And I'd always keep a few 2x4's in my work van to use for leverage whenever necessary.

I designed a tripod for lifting up compressors- 3 pieces of pipe joined at the top, with hooks to secure a chain which would keep the pipes in place, and with a come-along suspended from the top of the tripod. I was going to put this together for a specific job but it was moved up so I got a helper instead (who incidentally hurt his back- the last I heard he was still on disability).

Of course in a shop, a cherry picker-style rig would work better...

Steve Ahola

EDIT I forgot to add that doing stretches first would have probably helped a *lot* at my old job- they should have had a trainer come in to look at what we were doing and prescribe some warm up exercises to prevent injuries...

[JC@]

End of my search

Here's what I finally bought. About the price... ouch!
But it's made in aluminum (just 58 lbs / 26 kg), completely collapsible, and seems quite strong and well made. It's made in the USA I believe, and after a long search nothing came close to it (including the price! I got it at $825 but have seen this same one at more that $1100)
I can't wait for the moment to have it here.

MAX. LIFT HEIGHT: 5' FT. 7" IN. / 1.7m
LIFTING CAPACITY: 200 LBS / 91 kg
http://www.genielift.com/brochures/m...loadlifter.pdf

[Brad1]

Well, that thing just about packs all the ideas into one, huh?

Now you're not gonna have an excuse to not mow the lawn, though.

Brad1

[JC@]

Well, that thing just about packs all the ideas into one, huh?

Now you're not gonna have an excuse to not mow the lawn, though.

Brad1

I will find something for that too

[Guitarist]

Physio tip: When you first wake and are still in bed do up do 5-10 minutes of stretches, be creative and do a few low key exercises. This is the best time to stretch, rather then at work etc. when you're on your feet.

Steve A: When is the Promaniac going into production?

[JC@]

Guitarist, I've been doing that a few times and it really works, at least I feel a nice relaxation feeling when I do. Maybe that's what most cats do when they wake up!

[JC@]

And, here it is!

Standing on four points, the floor has to be well leveled, but that's all.
Fantastic.