I'm finalizing design for my new shop, which will be the 2nd floor of a garage. Def not ideal compared to what many of you enjoy, but I live in an urban area and that's the only way to get a decent space to work in (and we need the garage for cars as our area gets overrun with parking for all the local restaurants, etc).
Anyway, there are a few benefits - wood floor is a little nicer to stand on all day. Dust collection piping will be under floor and still able to be moved around. Dust collector and its noise will live in garage. Etc.
Big downside is obviously moving equipment and materials up and down. I plan on a tracksaw setup in the garage to break down sheet goods to rough size as necessary before taking them up the oversized stairs with 4x8 doors to make things reasonable to get up there. For equipment, my plan is to run a steel beam across the ceiling of the shop, with a hatch door in the floor of the shop. I can put a beam trolley up there, and a chain hoist with about a 20' lift, and pick up equipment right out of the bed of my truck and up into the shop, roll the trolley over, and set it on the floor/mobile base/etc.
I was wondering if anyone here has any expertise in sizing this beam, as well as recommendations for the trolley and chain hoist. I figure that the heaviest stuff I'd ever put up there is likely 1000-1500 pounds, most things 1000 or under. I thought it would be smart to size things for at least 1 Ton just for wiggle room. Does this seem reasonable?
Any suggestions on beam size required, or specific trolleys/hoists to use for this? I don't want junk, but also don't need super industrial quality, as likely they'll get used a couple dozen times and that's about it.