Rotisserie-anyone know how to build one

[magart]

Just sitting here thinking-I could probably do it if I had some plans or drawings

[NYrr496]

Look at uscartool.com.   You could buy the weld it yourself kit where they give you all the special parts and you supply the steel. I think it's 275 bucks.

[GTS225]

Do a Google search for rotisserie plans.  If I recall correctly, you'll find about a 1/2 dozen for free.

Roger

[ab7fh]

I'm building this one: http://www.mts.net/~hpokrant/Restoration_Tips/1-Rotisserie/Plans.htm I've got the steel for it, just a matter of making time to finish it up.

[eldubb440]

i bought mine from accessiblesystems.com.....im thinkin about copying/ building another one

[68_Val_Sedan]

I'm building this one: http://www.mts.net/~hpokrant/Restoration_Tips/1-Rotisserie/Plans.htm I've got the steel for it, just a matter of making time to finish it up.

I built mine like that one ... it cost me less than $100 but I already had some of the steel ... and I got the casters "donated" to me 
  I use my lift to get the car high enough to put on the turner so no cylinders were needed

[Bluescrawler]

I'm building this one: http://www.mts.net/~hpokrant/Restoration_Tips/1-Rotisserie/Plans.htm I've got the steel for it, just a matter of making time to finish it up.

I built mine like that one ... it cost me less than $100 but I already had some of the steel ... and I got the casters "donated" to me 
  I use my lift to get the car high enough to put on the turner so no cylinders were needed

I also built mine in a very similar way. I used, loosely, the plan you have listed here.  I added a few things though. One thing I did, that is not listed on the plan, was weld a coupler nut to the sliding piece that you weld the rotating assembly onto so I could put a piece of threaded rod through the cross bar you attach to the car. I just felt better knowing that there was a little support holding that rotating assembly together (clearly you will have to weld the coupler on before you weld on the round stock).  It's probably not essential but, hey, you can't put a price on piece of mind right?  I also added a small brace, 45 degree, at the joint facing the spreader, on the base, that goes between the 2 uprights.. on each upright. In my mind; this gives me some more assurance that there is lateral stability front and back and that there is something keeping the rectangle from collapsing. One last thing; I added a brace, 45 degree, under the round stock on the rotating assembly that slides up and down the upright. Again just to add some rigidity and keep anything from collapsing.  I have an incline to my driveway and I want to be able to roll it in and out of the garage and worry about it folding on me.

I spent far more than $100 as the price of steel has gone up ridiculously and a good set of casters cost some $$$$ too.  I spent about $450 on mine. But hey... I saw a vendor selling theirs for about $1800 at the "Good Guys" show this summer. I figure when I am through with it I should be able to get what I have into it at least.

Joe

[hydro]

I just built one this spring. The steel alone was close to $500.00 and the electricity for welding was just under $50.00. It sure turned out nice though!

[Bluescrawler]

I just built one this spring. The steel alone was close to $500.00 and the electricity for welding was just under $50.00. It sure turned out nice though!

Hmmmm... apparently so didn't the car (if that's it in the pic).  Nice ride!!

Joe

[flyboy01]

I have seen some built for two heavy duty truck engine stands that hold about 1250lbs each, tied together with square tubing, cost to build about $550. I guess that about half the price of one you buy.

[magart]

Thanx, guys-those don't look too complicated. And after last night, I now am sure I"m gonna need it. My car's body is worse than I thought. The area around the spring hanger on the left is quite soft. I'm getting nervous.

[ab7fh]

I just started putting mine together last week. Here's the progress so far:

[magart]

That looks completely do-able. Please keep the pics coming as you make progress

[bbscamp]

Fixed height,  no wheesl, no center bar, ~$1K from accessible, ~$200 to ship from TN to central NJ.    Eldubb:   what kind of adapters did you need to make or buy to attach the B body?  A's are similar I'm sure.....

thanks!

PS:  anyone want to loan the school one for a few months??   

[eldubb440]

   Eldubb:   what kind of adapters did you need to make or buy to attach the B body?  A's are similar I'm sure.....

Mike, in front i used a length of square tubing bolted where the bumper brackets go.  i slid it inside the piece that came from accessable(for adjustable length) .and the back i fabed up a steel plate to bolt where the rear bumper brackets go (slid that inside the bigger tube also)........you can pretty much see them in the pics

[loiq]

A buddy of mine has a rotisserie that uses FWD wheel bearings for the rotation part. It's really sweet, spins like butter. You can use a blown out bearing, just swing by a repair shop and ask them to hang on to a couple from cars they work on for you.

[ab7fh]

She's a rotatin'!!!











It turned out longer than I expected. I never sat down and calculated the total length once attached to the car. I had to turn it sideways in our three car garage for it to fit.

It rotates super easy. I used a torsion bar in one of the cross bars and that was it. I can't rotate it on it's side with the rolling jig still attached, as the wheels contacts the cross bar on the bottom. I'll be pulling that off tomorrow. Enough work for today;)

[68_Val_Sedan]

looks good .... nice work ...

[eldubb440]

yeah, thats sweet!

[ab7fh]

Thanks!:D

[fourspeed]

A buddy of mine has a rotisserie that uses FWD wheel bearings for the rotation part. It's really sweet, spins like butter. You can use a blown out bearing, just swing by a repair shop and ask them to hang on to a couple from cars they work on for you.

Not a bad idea. Of course, every time I press out a FWD bearing, it falls apart.    But I was thinking about a Chrysler mini van's rear bearings. They have a square flange where they bolt to the beam axle.

[magart]

Do you guys worry at all about the body sagging or twisting?

[eldubb440]

yes!.........i keep my middle supported when upright..........i had it tilted on its side for a few years, it was very rigid on its side..........

[bbscamp]

nice job magart!   I'm going to need one quick....so it looks like I"m going to buy one from accessible.  I will be more of a project getting reimbursed from the school than actually rebuilding the car!  .

[eldubb440]

i prefer to do all structural welding BEFORE it goes on the rotisserie

[bbscamp]

Good point eldubb.   I'm planning on using the cart for the stripping and cleaning.  Once stripped clean...then I'll set i back down on the chassis and tack in the frame connectors.  Then I flip it to finish up the welding.    I'd really like to find a mobile soda blaster to come to the school on a Saturday and blast it clean in the parking lot! 

Anyone recomend a blaster in central NJ?? 

[jamesdart]

there is a guy that always advertises on craigslist.  i dont know every time i look at pics of people welding on a car on a rotisserie it kind of freaks me out.

[topcopeo]

  It seems there are a number of internet rotisseries.  Most have a single thing in common, they are scary.  There is only one that I felt comfortable with, the designer is an engineer.  You can find it at westcoasttechnical.com.  I built one and use it, it is very stable and works well.
After all, if you are under one of those, you are betting your life is works well!

GOOD LUCK, 

[ab7fh]

My down and dirty rotisserie is hardly scary. I can turn the car all the way around by myself without a leverage bar. Nothing creaks, pops, or moans along the way.  I placed a safety stop bolt below the bracket that raises and lowers the rig, so if it did slip, it can't come crashing down. The material size seems perfect for the job at hand, no flex. If you wanted to add four more casters, that would be super easy.

It would also be very easy to adapt a hand winch on either end to make raising or lowering quick and easy. It's a very good basic design which can be added on to very easily.

I disagree with the guy at westcoasttechnical about using two fixed casters. Using all swivel casters allows you to move the whole rig sideways which is a very desirable feature.

[68_Val_Sedan]

my guess is that the topcopeo is the guy in the video on that web site and it drumming up business for his $30 video ...     I also built my own turner and am very satisfied that it will not fold up or fail.  the extra caster jsut make it harder to move around ...his is no better than any of the others online ...