Thursday, August 3
Danger, Danger Will Robinson!!
I missed a vital observation when creating mobile pallets.... while the short pallet I was using under my (FULL) oil drum was reinforced down the length with solid 2x4s, the one I put wheels on for my other pallet only had 4x4 blocks at the corners, binding the top of the skid to the bottom. I totally missed that when affixing the 300-lb super-heavy-duty casters to the corner blocks. I figured, heavy-duty skid with heavy-duty casters, no problem. Oops.
Fortunately for me, my wife noticed that, after I muscled (OOF!) the 500 pound full oil drum from one skid to the other that the 4x4 blocks were twisting under the load, and were likely going to break. We quickly shimmed the pallet with 2x12 lumber, and I quickly reinforced the pallet that the drum had just been on. 150 nails and two 2x4s later, I had reinforced the other pallet, affixed more heavy-duty casters, and got the drum muscled back (OOF!) to the newly reinforced pallet, before disaster struck. Whew! So much for quickly moving the drum and then doing more fabrication. At least I learned a lesson without spilling 55 gallons of waste fryer oil in my driveway.
Fortunately for me, my wife noticed that, after I muscled (OOF!) the 500 pound full oil drum from one skid to the other that the 4x4 blocks were twisting under the load, and were likely going to break. We quickly shimmed the pallet with 2x12 lumber, and I quickly reinforced the pallet that the drum had just been on. 150 nails and two 2x4s later, I had reinforced the other pallet, affixed more heavy-duty casters, and got the drum muscled back (OOF!) to the newly reinforced pallet, before disaster struck. Whew! So much for quickly moving the drum and then doing more fabrication. At least I learned a lesson without spilling 55 gallons of waste fryer oil in my driveway.
