Hi guys,

What is the largest size sheet that can be reasonably handled by a single person installing a ceiling using a panel lifter? I have been caught in all sorts of acrobatics using props and ladders in the past to lift them manually and thought I'd hire a panel lifter this time as it might save on Chiropractor costs. Will probably be 1200 wide sheets. Thanks, Ron

Rather than hire one, why not buy one?

You can get them for $400 - probably cheaper if you shopped around. Then resell it when your finished.

With my panel lifter it has easily lifted 6m sheets of 1.2, long cement sheets and even corrugated iron. The problem is getting the sheets onto the lifter itself - still a two man job

Cheers

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Ronaldo, you should be able to handle a 4.2m sheet on your own.

Anything bigger you would need help.

We have also lifted 6 m sheets with a sheet lifter but we had to extend the support bars of the lifter by using some long timber, to take out the over hang.


Cheers Rod

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Thanks guys. I've seen them on Ebay for $299, main problem is storage and I will probably only use this once anyway. $35.00 per day from Bunnings to hire would probably be less than what it would cost to advertise and sell later.

Ronaldo, when we bought our plasterboard we negotiated the loan of a panel lifter with the supplier, so it didn't cost us anything. His plasterboard prices were competitive as well.
We had several rooms with 6m panels, the lifter needed some assistance from and bloke on each end with home made props, which were then used to keep the sheet in place while fastening.

Hadn't thought about putting the squeeze on the supplier - great idea!! Thanks, Ron