Lifting heavy rack-mount gear (was Re: PDP-8/e rack questions)

[Guy Sotomayor]

On Jan 6, 2009, at 9:03 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote:
>
>> I would highly recommend caution to anyone moving any heavy rack,  
>> don't
>> be stupid.
>
> When I was younger (in high school), I had a couple of minor incidents
> moving big DEC equipment - nothing requiring more than first aid, but
> enough to keep me cautious.  Now that I'm substantially older, I'm
> eyeing that lift as an essential tool - most of my close calls have
> come from hefting large things into racks - RK05s, RA81s, etc., though
> I nearly crushed myself extracting an 11/750 from a Chevy Astro Van
> once - fortunately for me, it wedged in the door opening and did not
> slip more than a few inches, but it could have been much less
> pleasant.

Having dropped an 11/780 off the back of a truck, I completely  
understand.  I've had an equipment lift (that I picked up second hand)  
for a number of years now.  Before I got it I was planning with  
exacting detail how I wanted stuff racked up and wouldn't re-rack  
stuff just because of the effort involved.  Now it's almost too  
easy!  :-)  I'm also considering getting a 2nd lift.  My current lift  
is of the counter weight variety (it has a 400lb cast iron weight on  
the back) which makes it "inconvenient" to move between locations  
(although I *have* done it).  I consider the lift as one of my more  
necessary pieces of equipment (since I found out about J-bars, that is  
a close second - but only when I'm moving equipment).

TTFN - Guy