WorkShop Tools

DIY Workshop Tool Plans – Engineered Designs You Can Build

Build your own really cool Shop Tools - better than you can buy in the store.  This is the Mechanical Elements engineering plans catalog for professionally designed, DIY shop tools.  All the tool plans include full engineering, and full detail drawings, so you can build your new tools with confidence.

This page is a catalog of engineered DIY shop tool plans which also include design options so you can choose the capacity you need in a size that fits your shop.  That is why we say these are some of the best plans available for building high-quality DIY workshop tools.

These tools are proven.  They were created out of necessity - because we had a need for something better than we can buy.  Yes, there are working versions of all of them in our shop, and we use them frequently.

Gantry Crane Plans And Accessories

We offer engineered gantry crane plans for DIY builders in various sizes.  There is the mobile gantry crane, which is ideal when you need a portable gantry crane.  Then there are the upsized crane plans with many size and capacity options.  Finally, there is the gantry crane designed to fit perfectly in a standard USA garage, meaning it will roll under a typical overhead garage door with telescopic legs that expand after positioning.

Do not forget the many crane accessories.  These are specialized tools to make your crane even better, and are not found in stores.  The Winch Pole is a great example of a crane tool that is unique for lifting - with minimal overhead obstruction, and you are able to stand to the side.  There is nothing in the way while you work.

We also have plans to customize your gantry crane with a winch action top beam lifter.  Use it to easily raise and lower the top beam to the height you need.  Makes lifting the top beam a simple one person job.

Check out the I-Beam connector clamp.  It is a simple design, yet extremely helpful when using a gantry crane in a small workshop.  It allows you to shorten the effective length of the gantry crane top beam so it will fit easily around things in your workshop.

Finally, we have plans for 2 excellent I-Beam trolleys - one for a true 3-Ton lift (yes, 6000 lbs), and one for a true 2-Ton lift (4000 lbs).  Both are designed to build DIY, and they have some nice advantages over trolleys you can buy.

Shop Presses & Carts

Our shop tool plans also include heavy-duty hydraulic press designs.  These presses are infinitely adjustable and can be configured for 30 tons or up to 50 tons.  When you need something truly tough, or something you can precisely adjust for leveling, our 4-Post hydraulic press is an excellent solution.

Then there is the shop cart.  Do you need to move heavy items?  I use the shop utility cart regularly because it can handle 3000 lbs and makes moving machines and heavy things much easier.  It works especially well with the gantry crane since both are mobile and they complement each other to get big jobs done quickly.

Why Do We Have These Shop Tool Plans?

All of these tools started as solutions in our own workshop.  Things that work well for us, and get positive comments from visitors need to be available for others to also build.  That is why we offer these DIY shop tool plans - so you can have the benefit of engineered solutions that are workshop proven.

The plans focus on strength, functionality, and practical use.  Each tool is unique, to solve workshop needs in various ways that are not available in store-bought equipment.  When you build them yourself, you can include the features and options you need, in your workshop, for the things you like to do.  That is the beauty of DIY, so use these plans to improve the capability in your workshop.

Plans are available for immediate delivery - via download - so you can have them in a few minutes.  We call it INSTANT, FREE Shipping so you can start building your own professionally designed shop tools today.

Enjoy Your New Tools!