Jon:
Back in 08 we did a job in a nice barn with a concrete floor.
It was fairly level and most of the large timbers were stored outside, until we needed them.
The owner rented a fork lift for us to use outside to move timbers around the yard and help with the raising of the addition we were working on.
In the shop he had a very sturdy steel cart, just a little taller than my saw horses.
We would roll the cart out the door onto the barn doorway concrete apron and then carry the timbers over to the cart with the fork lift.
On top of the cart we'd place two small blocks to set the timber onto.
Then we'd roll the cart and timber into the barn/shop over the to the saw horses.
Then by tipping the timber one way like a see-saw, and then the other way, we'd remove the blocks on the table and set the timber down onto blocks on top of the saw horses. Then roll the cart out from under the timber.
Again tipping the timber like a see-saw we'd remove the blocks on top of the saw horse and set the timber down onto the saw horses.
This worked great for every size timber. Even the 8x12x30 piece of Douglas fir.
My point is that you don't necessarily need an over head crane. If you have a good smooth concrete or wooden floor you can do the moving around with a cart.
And by tipping the timber back and forth move it up and down to raise and lower it.
Good luck with your project.
Jim Rogers
