V
velmo
anyone have experience with a small garage and using some pulleys to lift the layout (8x4) up and out of the way?
I've seen it done. I once visited a large layout that was suspended in a 3-car garage. And there have been articles about this approach in the MR press over the years.
I personally would only use a garage for a layout if I wasn't going to put cars in it --- so I could seal the edges of the garage door. In other words, make a room out of it.
And if that was the case, there would be no reason to suspend the layout on pulleys.
But to continue to use the garage for cars, lawn mowers, etc., is a bad way to go. Garages are dirty, dusty, bug and rodent-infested places. This is far worse than "not ideal" for a layout. It just about makes it impossible to have any fun. You spend so much time trying to keep the track clean --- not to mention keeping the scenery looking like anything decent, that you won't have much time to run trains.
Why not suspend it over a bedroom or family room. At least it will stay reasonably clean.
BillS
I personally would only use a garage for a layout if I wasn't going to put cars in it --- so I could seal the edges of the garage door. In other words, make a room out of it.
And if that was the case, there would be no reason to suspend the layout on pulleys.
But to continue to use the garage for cars, lawn mowers, etc., is a bad way to go. Garages are dirty, dusty, bug and rodent-infested places. This is far worse than "not ideal" for a layout. It just about makes it impossible to have any fun. You spend so much time trying to keep the track clean --- not to mention keeping the scenery looking like anything decent, that you won't have much time to run trains.
Why not suspend it over a bedroom or family room. At least it will stay reasonably clean.
BillS
pullies
Velmo, I have to go along with the fact of dirt dust and grit on a horizontal layout. I would suggest a (4X8) ?? plywood hinged to fold up against the wall. Use 1X8, or whatever, so all buildings, scenery, and such could stay in permanent position. All necessary would be to remove trains and loose parts, fold it up, and virtually dust and dirt free till next time
Lynn
Velmo, I have to go along with the fact of dirt dust and grit on a horizontal layout. I would suggest a (4X8) ?? plywood hinged to fold up against the wall. Use 1X8, or whatever, so all buildings, scenery, and such could stay in permanent position. All necessary would be to remove trains and loose parts, fold it up, and virtually dust and dirt free till next time
Lynn
just a thought-why not have a `hood' that when the layout is lifted up-it goes up inside it-even put a weatherproof type seal around the lip so it remains dustproof when stored
the hood would be a permantent type fixture on the ceiling so could be built using ply or any othersuitable timber
just an idea havent actually tried it
the hood would be a permantent type fixture on the ceiling so could be built using ply or any othersuitable timber
just an idea havent actually tried it
Boppa's idea isn't bad. With some thought it probably would not be too complex, and would keep out most of the bugs, mice, and dirt.
But I'd go a step further and combine Boppa's compartment with Lynn's hinge-up. A layout that folds up against the wall would be a whole lot easier to "engineer", and probably more stable when it was down. The disadvantage is that sooner or later you'd fold the thing up with your most valuable loco still on it. Bounce, bounce, crunch!
Another approach. Presuming the car does have to go into the garage, why not just build the layout high enough for the hood of the car to go under it.... Then put a removable cover over it when not in use. It could be a rigid box that itself hinges up against the wall. That avoids all the hassles of either the lift up or hinge up layout.
(But I'd still go to great lengths to NOT put the layout in the garage in the first place.....)
Bill S
But I'd go a step further and combine Boppa's compartment with Lynn's hinge-up. A layout that folds up against the wall would be a whole lot easier to "engineer", and probably more stable when it was down. The disadvantage is that sooner or later you'd fold the thing up with your most valuable loco still on it. Bounce, bounce, crunch!
Another approach. Presuming the car does have to go into the garage, why not just build the layout high enough for the hood of the car to go under it.... Then put a removable cover over it when not in use. It could be a rigid box that itself hinges up against the wall. That avoids all the hassles of either the lift up or hinge up layout.
(But I'd still go to great lengths to NOT put the layout in the garage in the first place.....)
Bill S
I knew someday, somebody would ask this. 
My friend has a Stored in the ceiling layout.
1st problem - it cant be too big. Whats too big???
--- Small enough for you Yourself to raise & lower. You don't want to have to resort to getting someone to help you raise & lower it. Why?? - If you want to work on it until 1:00 Am "just to finish that project" you're stuck. Or how about - everyones out shopping - I just want to see .......(Insert any reason here)
--- Small enough that the plywood won't "bow from it's own weight" -- try to keep the track connected while the plywood it's nailed to, is bowing. - Stop it from bowing with more "benchwork"? - see "weight" above
--- Small enough that - Like my friend - you can hang it on 2 hooks yourself - and then swing it up by yourself. Would it bow????
--- The best idea so far is just build it in place - 6" higher than the hood of the car.
2nd Problem - Does my buddies O-27 platform work - Never did - every time we pulled it down off the ceiling, it took more (Way more) time to get it running than we had time to operate & enjoy it.
What did he do??? We re-built it on a Ping pong table (no you cant play ping-pong on it anymore). he got tired of trying to raise & lower the layout.
My friend has a Stored in the ceiling layout. 1st problem - it cant be too big. Whats too big???
--- Small enough for you Yourself to raise & lower. You don't want to have to resort to getting someone to help you raise & lower it. Why?? - If you want to work on it until 1:00 Am "just to finish that project" you're stuck. Or how about - everyones out shopping - I just want to see .......(Insert any reason here)
--- Small enough that the plywood won't "bow from it's own weight" -- try to keep the track connected while the plywood it's nailed to, is bowing. - Stop it from bowing with more "benchwork"? - see "weight" above
--- Small enough that - Like my friend - you can hang it on 2 hooks yourself - and then swing it up by yourself. Would it bow????
--- The best idea so far is just build it in place - 6" higher than the hood of the car.
2nd Problem - Does my buddies O-27 platform work - Never did - every time we pulled it down off the ceiling, it took more (Way more) time to get it running than we had time to operate & enjoy it.
What did he do??? We re-built it on a Ping pong table (no you cant play ping-pong on it anymore). he got tired of trying to raise & lower the layout.
Hi:
Why not combine Imatomboygurls method of covering your layout with the winch? She's making fold up, hinged sides. When operating she folds the front one down, the other three act as backdrops. When she stores it, she can put a cloth cover over it that rests on the sides, and so doesn't mess up her scenery.
The winch thing just needs to be adjusted so you have enough mechanical advantage to handle the weight. Use another set of pulleys/block and tackle or get a crank winch with which you can haul it up or down. I’d make the benchwork as if it’s gonna have legs and place a hanging support at each place you have a leg. Might want to install fold up legs or 2x 2 insertable legs as well as the hanging system. That way, if you can keep the car out of the garage for a couple days you could unclip the strings.
“I got no strings, to hold me down, to make me fret, or make me frown”
Regards,
Ted
Why not combine Imatomboygurls method of covering your layout with the winch? She's making fold up, hinged sides. When operating she folds the front one down, the other three act as backdrops. When she stores it, she can put a cloth cover over it that rests on the sides, and so doesn't mess up her scenery.
The winch thing just needs to be adjusted so you have enough mechanical advantage to handle the weight. Use another set of pulleys/block and tackle or get a crank winch with which you can haul it up or down. I’d make the benchwork as if it’s gonna have legs and place a hanging support at each place you have a leg. Might want to install fold up legs or 2x 2 insertable legs as well as the hanging system. That way, if you can keep the car out of the garage for a couple days you could unclip the strings.
“I got no strings, to hold me down, to make me fret, or make me frown”
Regards,
Ted
another chuck it in idea
the winch up flat table- 4x winch cables-all to one cable-then to hand winch(sheesh super cheap has them for less than ten bucks-a whole 5 us dollars!!
so that one person could (according to ratings on the winch i use on the hiliux) raise a 2 tonne table
anyone who has one-please raise both hands and legs lol
so any layout could be raised/lowered(im thinking hinged legs here for nthe table when dropped)by at the max ......1 person
this is becoming a more than `thunking' idea here hummmm.
the winch up flat table- 4x winch cables-all to one cable-then to hand winch(sheesh super cheap has them for less than ten bucks-a whole 5 us dollars!!
so that one person could (according to ratings on the winch i use on the hiliux) raise a 2 tonne table
anyone who has one-please raise both hands and legs lol
so any layout could be raised/lowered(im thinking hinged legs here for nthe table when dropped)by at the max ......1 person
this is becoming a more than `thunking' idea here hummmm.
a 4/6 nor more cabled system seems the go here
no crunchie locos on fold up for vertical sysytem-not to mention those pesky houses/towers etc etc etc
to me keeping it flat seems the easiest in terms of layout fixtures
ie no gluing houses down so they dont do `the dive' on foldup etc etc
lifting the table is soo simple-after all if i can lift a horse float on and off a truck-5 mm slots that pegs drop into
then a lightweight table seems soo simple
4 lift points-6/8 or more for the winch
all join together-so one cable down to the winch as per usual
weight becomes a no factor
2 ton handwinch is the price of 2 handburgers here-yum
a 2 ton layout-id like to see it-be awwwwsome
no crunchie locos on fold up for vertical sysytem-not to mention those pesky houses/towers etc etc etc
to me keeping it flat seems the easiest in terms of layout fixtures
ie no gluing houses down so they dont do `the dive' on foldup etc etc
lifting the table is soo simple-after all if i can lift a horse float on and off a truck-5 mm slots that pegs drop into
then a lightweight table seems soo simple
4 lift points-6/8 or more for the winch
all join together-so one cable down to the winch as per usual
weight becomes a no factor
2 ton handwinch is the price of 2 handburgers here-yum
a 2 ton layout-id like to see it-be awwwwsome
hey i just did it for 55 bucks. it is inside a heated garage. the dust is a problem but mine goes up to a flat drywalled ceiling. i used garage door cable and garage door pulleys rated for 300 or so pounds. with a counterweight you can lift an 8 by 16 table up with one hand. the only limit i have is my train setup without removeable mountains is limited to about 10 inches in height . this alows tripple crossing height. it was easy and turned out absolutly great. Wireyanker. i used a 1 by 12 for and edge all the way around which does block some of the side view however.
Hi wireyanker,
welcome on board!
Your post sounds like a success story. Could you post some pics of it?
Ron
welcome on board!
Your post sounds like a success story. Could you post some pics of it?
Ron
pulley setup
my pulley set up i like alot!!! the first time it was up and working we ran the table up and down probably 50 times. all i did was build a table and mine you iv'e been outof this for twenty years. anyhow i turned a scrap 1 by 12 board on it's side for an edge all the way around. again it does block your direct side view. i turned 2 by 4's sideways underneath 16 on center flatways. i may have to beef them later. i used 1/4 luan plywood for weight cause foam is on top. the pulleys were 2 for like 5 bucks . regular garage door stuff and used the 350 lb cable. i bought lag bolts that would go through the pulleys and cut small 6 by 6 holes in ceiling then screwed the pulley over the table on the edge where i wanted the cable. using several other pulleys i brought 4 lift points to one spot where you can be creative with a counter weight. wala i can lift a 7'6" by 15'6" table with two fingers. the cables are best brought to one spot so one end doesn't tip up before the other. tight to the ceiling out of the way little room fo dust but i am limited to 10 inch height unless using removable mountains. camera broke but you get idea. wireyanker p.s. cost about 60 bucks
my pulley set up i like alot!!! the first time it was up and working we ran the table up and down probably 50 times. all i did was build a table and mine you iv'e been outof this for twenty years. anyhow i turned a scrap 1 by 12 board on it's side for an edge all the way around. again it does block your direct side view. i turned 2 by 4's sideways underneath 16 on center flatways. i may have to beef them later. i used 1/4 luan plywood for weight cause foam is on top. the pulleys were 2 for like 5 bucks . regular garage door stuff and used the 350 lb cable. i bought lag bolts that would go through the pulleys and cut small 6 by 6 holes in ceiling then screwed the pulley over the table on the edge where i wanted the cable. using several other pulleys i brought 4 lift points to one spot where you can be creative with a counter weight. wala i can lift a 7'6" by 15'6" table with two fingers. the cables are best brought to one spot so one end doesn't tip up before the other. tight to the ceiling out of the way little room fo dust but i am limited to 10 inch height unless using removable mountains. camera broke but you get idea. wireyanker p.s. cost about 60 bucks
V
velmo
pulley
thanks for the suggestion. I am not using my garage for a car. Unfortunately the grand kids go in and out sometimes.
thanks for the suggestion. I am not using my garage for a car. Unfortunately the grand kids go in and out sometimes.