Trick of the Trade: A Safe Way to Get a Big Machine Up and Down Stairs

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This issue’s trick comes from Casey Ditsworth at Woodshed Flooring Inc. in Pearl City, Ill.:

I had back surgery three years ago, and the first thing I bought before getting back to work was the Magliner powered stair climbing dolly. I’ve been using it ever since to move my big machine around. It has a button that chooses whether you’re climbing or descending the stairs. A foot on the bottom power-climbs up the stairs, and then it uses the friction of the motor to descend. There are two speeds. I bought the 375-pound model and opted for the solid non-marring wheels and the biggest base plate they offer. For transporting my Hummel, I added two aluminum plates that are the contact points for where my Hummel rests against it, and then two eye bolts. I use one ratcheting strap that goes between those two eye bolts and then another strap on top to keep it secure. I’d still like to make a slightly bigger base plate since it just barely fits my Hummel. I’ve been preaching this tool for years, and everyone seems excited about it until they find out the price, but I don’t think $5,000 is too big of a price tag to put on preserving your body.

See Ditsworth and the Magliner in action: 


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Pinterest 100x100See a collection of previous job-site tips on our Pinterest Trick of the Trade board. Do you have a Trick of the Trade to share? Email it to WFB. If we use it, we'll send you a WFB T-shirt.

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