Drywall hoist: factory-made and do-it-yourself (drawings)

Plasterboard finishing of surfaces at a considerable height, such as ceilings, is rather difficult. Plasterboard sheets have considerable weight and size, keeping them together for a long time is extremely uncomfortable and tiring. Professionals have long found a solution to this problem using purchased lifting gear. But what if you don’t want to spend money on them? Possessing some skills, it is quite possible to make a drywall elevator for your own hands.

Lift Functions

The main purpose of the GKL hoist is to deliver and hold a sheet of drywall at the right height during installation. This allows not only to significantly facilitate the work, but also makes it possible to carry out the installation of drywall alone.

Naturally, craftsmen quickly adapted the lift to perform other related tasks:

• By attaching the laser level to the drywall hoist, you can more accurately markup and avoid errors. The level is fixed with clamps, and then rises to the required height. This device provides perfect marking of the ceiling and corners of the room.
• It is indispensable for assembly of the frame for drywall from profiles in hard to reach places. The device allows you to fix the profiles at the time of their fastening.
• The lift will greatly facilitate the installation of not only drywall, but also any massive suspended equipment: air conditioners, chandeliers or ducts.

Varieties

By area of ​​use GKL lifts can be:

• wall;

• ceiling mounted;

• universal.

They differ in the location of the plane of the table on which the drywall is attached.

The most practical is a universal lift, the working surface of which can change the level of inclination.

The industry offers many types of these devices, but they are not cheap. Usually they are purchased by construction crews specializing in the installation of drywall constructions. But they often prefer to make lifts themselves.

Prefabricated Hand Drywall Sheets

If there is no possibility or desire to make the device yourself, then you can buy it. In terms of price-quality ratio, craftsmen prefer a lift for the installation of Premos drywall brand.

The device is not much different from a conventional rack and pinion car jack, but it is this simplicity that ensures the reliability of its mechanisms. Together with a fairly affordable price, this allowed him to occupy a fairly solid niche in the market for lifts.

The Premos device allows lifting and fixing various building elements weighing up to 100 kg. The telescopic rod provides a lifting height of up to 3.3 m, and a retractable rod allows you to increase it to 4.5 m.

When working at heights greater than 3 m, the lifting operation is carried out as follows:

1. Rotating the handle, slightly extend the telescopic bar.
2. Then the rail rest against the sliding support, pushing it to the desired height. For convenience, the total height of the table is indicated near the holes designed to fix the retractable support.
3. Fixation is carried out by any hardware inserted into the hole, but many prefer to use a steel pin on a chain.

Independent manufacture of a lift

Finished products do not always suit craftsmen, and extra costs do not add to their popularity. The device for fastening drywall "Premos" will cost about 15 thousand rubles. Therefore, many prefer to make a drywall elevator for their own hands, and drawings are taken from various Internet resources or design the device themselves.

What you need to remember when making your own lift?

Four components can be distinguished, the presence of which is mandatory in the structure:

• The chassis or tripod creating the foundation. Better on wheels equipped with a locking mechanism. So it will be easier to install the device in the desired location.
• Telescopic stand. It can be made of pipes or squares of various sections embedded in each other according to the principle of nesting dolls. The extension in this case is carried out due to the system of rollers and a special cable.
• A spreading table on which drywall or other lifting elements will be fixed.

It is better if the table has a rotation function: this will not only facilitate the loading of drywall, but also make the device universal.

• The winch, due to which the telescopic rack of the device will be extended. It can have a manual or electric drive.

The most advanced craftsmen supply the lift even with remote controls.

Important Nuances

Some points to consider:

• Regardless of the material, it is metal or wood, racks and other parts that are experiencing severe stress, it is necessary to provide "scarves" or other elements that give rigidity and strength.
• The folding structure of the lift is preferable: it is easier to transport in this way, and it will take up much less storage space.
• In addition to the locking device available on the winch or rack and pinion gear, it is imperative to provide an additional device that reliably fixes the working table in the raised position. Otherwise, there is a risk of the device folding under load, which could result in serious injury. What exactly is not worth saving, it is on your own safety.