I recently made a desk from a 200-lb. walnut slab. Because I work alone, picking up this monster or turning it over was a back-breaking chore. So I designed a hoist system that uses a commonly available 4-ton cable come-along (available at farm-supply stores) and common hardware. To make the hoist, first install a top plate in the shop ceiling above the joists. You might need to span several joists if the workpiece is really heavy. The other parts of the hoist and the hardware are shown in the sketch. Be sure the eyebolts are strong enough to carry the weight—mine are made from 1/2-in.-dia. stock.

To use the hoist, first attach the workpiece with the rope-loop system shown at right. Add scraps of carpet under the ropes to protect the workpiece. Use the cable come-along to raise or lower the workpiece. The rope-loop attachment system has the advantage of allowing the workpiece to be rotated. When the workpiece is in position, lock the pulleys with wedges to keep it from rotating further. Then it can be lowered onto sawhorses and the rope system removed.

Drawings by Jim Richey.

Drawing by Jim Richey.

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