Is a lift necessary? [Archive]

69Nova

10-14-2009, 06:26 AM

Well guys I'm sitting here at work trying to figure out the best way to spend the money I saved for my garage. It looks like Its either a lift or a pro coming in a coating my floor.

I'm trying to decided is a lift is really needed. I spent most of last week hanging around DSE and playing tourrist at NASCAR shops and can only remember seeing one 2 post lift the whole time. Most everything in view at the NASCAR shops was done on jackstands and the cars at DSE were either on those huge tables or the wooden stands.

Right now I'm leaning towards garage floor coating since my old man has a lift and my garage would look way better with a nice floor.

Thoughts??

JEFFTATE

10-14-2009, 06:34 AM

I'd like to have a lift.
It would save me a bunch of time and effort ( not to mention a sore back , ass , and knees ) if I could just turn around and walk out from under my vehicles instead of having to crawl to get a new tool.

Plus , you can get more leverage if you are standing instead of laying on your back.

I'd love to have a lift.

jy211

10-14-2009, 06:34 AM

start with the floor. You can always add a lift. Just keep an eye on craigslist. Sometime they pop up for cheap. You could always do the floor yourself and get the lift as well....damn decisions....lol

parsonsj

10-14-2009, 06:41 AM

I'm getting a lift now. Too many years of crawling around underneath my car. My floor is still natural concrete...

jp

Rick Dorion

10-14-2009, 06:45 AM

I bought a 4-post lift years ago and love it. My floors are natural concrete. The more I use it, the more I love it. Anything I do on a vehicle can be at the exact height I want to do it easiest. I also bought a hydraulic sliding lift so I can raise either end of a car for more ease of use.

CraigMorrison

10-14-2009, 06:48 AM

It's not necessary, but man oh man will it make your life easier!

Andrew McBride

10-14-2009, 06:51 AM

we have a 2 post in our shop and still talk about why we never had one sooner. Best $ ever spent. I do like the coated flooring too but it would be hard to beat a lift.

oestek

10-14-2009, 06:52 AM

Lift.

f1shman

10-14-2009, 07:00 AM

Has anyone mentioned getting a lift yet?

Epoxy floors are nice, but a lift is a tool you can actually use. If you have the space and budget for one there's really no reason to take a floor coating over a good lift.

David Sloan

10-14-2009, 07:01 AM

Lift.

Yep X2

mach1stang

10-14-2009, 07:12 AM

If you have the SPACE and budget for one there's really no reason to take a floor coating over a good lift.

My shop is 30x50 and I have 2 post lift and I hate it. It is a great thing to have when you need it but when you don't it just seems to get in your way. I am in the process of trying to epoxy my floors and I wish I would have done from the get go.

Kody

69Nova

10-14-2009, 07:13 AM

I hear you guys on the lift. I cant help but want to have my shop this organized and clean..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/charlotte_area017_copy_3-1.jpg

How much should I be spending on a lift to get a good quality lift. I'm wating to hear back from one guy that does garage floor coating and polishing. I guess that will help me make up my mind.

dadto2jays

10-14-2009, 07:14 AM

Being that I have a shop with over 20 rotary lifts in it I would have to say a lift is a "HUGE" advantage....

69Nova

10-14-2009, 07:21 AM

My shop is 30x50 and I have 2 post lift and I hate it. It is a great thing to have when you need it but when you don't it just seems to get in your way. I am in the process of trying to epoxy my floors and I wish I would have done from the get go.

Kody

My shop is the same size. I'm gonna post a few pics later of how it is layed out now to give you guys an idea.

Plus my big thing on the floor is that I already coated the floor when I built it 3 years ago and 75 percent of the floor has came up. It looks horrible.

jy211

10-14-2009, 07:33 AM

http://staugustine.craigslist.org/for/1389475427.html

jy211

10-14-2009, 07:36 AM

http://daytona.craigslist.org/pts/1398810374.html

joemac

10-14-2009, 07:59 AM

I would do the floor. It will make it nicer to work in, be easier to keep clean and make it nicer to roll around on a creeper. Fluids come right up too.

I would love to have a lift too really but think the nicer the shop is the more time you will want to spend in it.

DarkBuddha

10-14-2009, 10:21 AM

I say do the floor yourself and buy the lift. You can get totally pro quality epoxy coatings from higher end paint stores; just skip the crap you can get at Home Depot or Lowes. I went to our local Benjamin Moore store and they had several very nice floor coating samples with all the bells and whistles (like texture, metal flake, etc.) if want 'em. As with all painting, the real end result is all in the preparation and patience of the process. Don't cut corners and don't rush the job. And you should save enough to be able to buy a used lift with the money you save from doing it yourself.

BTW...

I hear you guys on the lift. I cant help but want to have my shop this organized and clean..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/charlotte_area017_copy_3-1.jpg
That is a illusion... I see a ton of cars there but not one tool, not one car actually disassembled, not one part sitting out on a cart or bench, not one spec of dirt or grease. In my mind that just isn't a working shop, especially for the usual home shop. Hell, if I had a garage that size, it would have donor cars, project cars, motors on stands, etc. And sure as hell, I would have a lift or two. Besides, NASCAR shops (or any other race shop) have cars that are designed to be serviced without a lift, while most of us don't have cars where the tranny can be swapped in 15 minutes or diffs that can have the gears swapped in 10.

Tony_SS

10-14-2009, 10:28 AM

My shop is the same size. I'm gonna post a few pics later of how it is layed out now to give you guys an idea.

Plus my big thing on the floor is that I already coated the floor when I built it 3 years ago and 75 percent of the floor has came up. It looks horrible.

I would do the floor. I used a Rustoleum kit from Lowes and its flawless over the past 2 years, and on the cheap. Its all in the prep. No expensive kit needed in my case.

After that maybe youll have money for the lift still.

GRNOVA

10-14-2009, 11:08 AM

If you have the money now get the lift. I worked on my back, gravel floor in my old garage no creepers just cardboard and masonite(it sucked)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Restomod

10-14-2009, 11:17 AM

it's not necessary, but man oh man will it make your life easier!

xx2!!!!!

wedgehead

10-14-2009, 11:20 AM

lift Would not want to work on cars without one.

dhutton

10-14-2009, 11:48 AM

Get the lift. I haven't seen anyone here who has one say otherwise. Once you have it you'll never look back.

BonzoHansen

10-14-2009, 12:29 PM

I love my epoxy floor. Much brighter + cleaner, easier to clean up. Did it myself u-coat-it. 3 years+ no problems. Something went wrong when you did yours.

A lift is more useful in a 30x50 garage than a nice floor. I'd always prefer a 2 post lift if its primary use is work and not storage.

Your floor is aleady messed up so putting it off longer probably would not matter.

bret

10-14-2009, 01:49 PM

I have a Rotary 4 post lift at my house and several Rotary 2 post lifts at our shop. I love them all. The 2 post is likely the most universally useful.

DON"T cheap out with a chinese lift!

If you have a concrete floor that is not brand new it is tough to get any epoxy to stick. I' m told it can be done but with varying results.

Vegas69

10-14-2009, 01:53 PM

I spoiled myself on 2 post lifts working on cars for a few years. Everytime I crawl under my car on a creeper I'm reminded of how nice it would be. I don't know about you, but I always end up forgetting 12 things. Lift!!!!!!!

brans72

10-14-2009, 02:08 PM

Lift all they way!!! you can change your own oil,rotate tires,do brakes,side work to pay for your car etc. I say leave the floor and do the lift. I don't think a pretty floor will hold up to welding,grinding,beating etc over years and years but a lift is a no brain investment. my .02

69Nova

10-15-2009, 04:46 AM

This is how my garage looks right now. Half of the clutter is me going through stuff that was passed down to me.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/201_0723-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/201_0722-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I guess I'm worried that if I try and re-do my floor myself it will turn out like this again and I will have wasted even more money. But like you guys are saying I could probably save enough to buy a lift.

mach1stang

10-15-2009, 05:10 AM

You built your shop the right way (doors on the long side) mine is the opposite so yours would not be as bad as mine. But I still have to say Craig had the best answer, it is not necessary but it does make things nicer to do.

Still got to go with the floor, the reflective-ness of the floor will make it brighter, cleaner looking.

Kody

Charley Lillard

10-15-2009, 05:49 AM

I have two 4 post lifts. A US made Backyard Buddy and a Chinese made one. Big difference in quality but the US made is over 4 grand while the Chinese is under 2 grand. If you are not a pro shop and aren't wearing the thing out the Chinese one will work fine. Buy a hoist and do the floor later. My workshop floor is bare concrete and is great. You might look into having you floor ground to a fine finish. Was expensive but getting cheaper. Very smooth finish that is almost non slip. No coating to worry about coming up. Get a lift...best thing you will buy for your shop. You will wonder how you did without one for so long. Here is one like my cheap one.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Post-Auto-lift-7000lb-Standard-Lift-Equip-Car-Hoist_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3ca64a0089QQitemZ 260487905417QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Rhino

10-15-2009, 06:22 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Post-Auto-lift-7000lb-Standard-Lift-Equip-Car-Hoist_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3ca64a0089QQitemZ 260487905417QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Am I reading this link correctly? It comes with a caster kit? I don't think I'd want the potential for my car to move around while it's 8 foot in the air.

jy211

10-15-2009, 06:23 AM

what about trying a company that does concrete staining?

69Nova

10-15-2009, 07:42 AM

Yeah I'm thinking about just seeing if I can get someone to grind just the top little bit off to clean it up. I'm a little nervous about epoxy coating so I think thats a good route.

Nine Ball

10-15-2009, 07:53 AM

Am I reading this link correctly? It comes with a caster kit? I don't think I'd want the potential for my car to move around while it's 8 foot in the air.

Casters only work when the lift is all the way down. That is how they function, the down position of the lift forces the casters to support the lift. They are removable, you only use them when you need to relocate the lift. Never with a car on top.

If I had to choose (I did) between epoxy or lift, it would be a no-brainer. Lift all the way. I built quite a few cars on jackstands, and it is a pain. You also gain more parking space with a lift. I have two Rotary lifts now, a 2-post and 4-post. The 2-post is more versatile.

Jim Nilsen

10-15-2009, 07:56 AM

Have you ever seen the floors in Jay Leno's garage? With his $$$$$ he still has ugly floors in most places. The floor the Bugatti is sitting on or at least was a couple of years ago was as bad or worse than yours.

You walk on the floor so treat it as such and put your money in the lift or your car.

I am glad that I didn't spend the $2500 to do my floor because I would have been an Ahole about keeping it nice and would be a frustrated man about something like a floor.

Remember that the floor only has to hold you up and let things roll on it to be a good floor.

dropit69

10-15-2009, 08:01 AM

are power tools necessary? no can do it with hand tools but HOT DAMN are they nice to have..first thing im doing when i get to build my new building is a lift..way too handy..my garage now the floors havent even been sealed adds to the look with the stains..lol

406 Q-ship

10-15-2009, 08:24 AM

Between epoxy floors and a lift........handsdown LIFT. Sure it will be easier to wipe up spills off a smooth floor, but when your climbing up off your back for the twenty sixth time then a lift will be the most wanted item. Ask yourself this how many times do you have the car up on jackstands? If the answer is more than three times a year then it is lift all the way. Thank God I have the keys to work and can use their lifts.

monza

10-15-2009, 09:18 AM

I have three cheap chinese four post lifts, mostly for storage. For sure not as nice as the beefy American made ones. They work great and I can't really see any areas where they would fail/brake for the average guy. A busy shop for sure beefier would be better. I also have easy access to a two post lift.... it's a toss up which way to go, both work great.

Lift before floor for sure, so handy. Nice shop buy the way!

I did do my floor with a quality epoxy system worked great, as said before prepping the floor is the key (chemical etch). I spent three days prepping a 20X40 garage floor. Cost of the epoxy was only 300-400.00. I've also hired people to do a floor with mechanical etching and a cheap epoxy coating, it looks like crap.

(please don't flame me for the chinese lifts, already went through that)

bret

10-15-2009, 10:39 AM

Your floor is not "ugly" it's ..."charming". Think of it as being a rat rod floor...full of character!

John Wright

10-15-2009, 10:58 AM

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/exhaustairjack-1.jpg

Featherburner

10-15-2009, 02:15 PM

I installed a lift a few months ago and wish I had done it sooner. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/Trailblazeronlift2-1.jpg

dadto2jays

10-15-2009, 08:09 PM

here is in my shop that is my private one to work on my bucket..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/1229-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/12292-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

it makes my life working on my buckets super easy...