So far my Gorilla Gripper and shop made 2 wheeled dolly for picking up and moving full sheets has been working well for me. Even the 5 X 5 sheets move easily on edge with them.
I made the dolly using 3/4 birch ply using the wheels and axle stubs from the front of a junk rotary mower. I also saved the larger rear wheels and axle stubs and I'm considering making another dolly from them because the route into and out of my shop is not smooth or level, and I think the larger wheels might work better for me.
In use, I pick up the sheet, standing it on edge if it isn't already, and then set the bottom edge in the dolly, then let the dolly handle the weight while I maneuver the sheet to where I need it. The dolly can be placed under the middle of the sheet and roughly balanced, or near the trailing end, while I lift and carry the leading end of the sheet using the Gorilla Gripper to hold the leading end up while I move it around. This works almost as good as having a helper on the other end when moving the 4 X 8' sheets.
I'm also 75 and needing to find ways of handling large and heavy things that I can no longer do alone. My DeWalt 735 planer is on a folding miter saw/planer stand, so I can move it around like a hand truck and then lift the stand and planer into operating position without help. It also stores easily on end with the planer still attached, consuming only about a 3 sq ft of floor space when stored in my shop. It's always used in the parking area outside the shop, since my shop space is limited. I have the discontinued hose and fabric drum cover, plus a 55 gal plastic barrel that I use to collect the chips ( to keep them out of the neighbors pool) It works great, if the fabric cover stays on the barrel.
The one thing that I failed to add when building the small wheeled dolly is handle holes to make it easy to pick it up and carry it when moving it to the location of the sheet stock. I'll be adding handle holes in the tall sides of the large wheeled version when I build it, maybe later today. Adding them to the small wheeled dolly will be difficult, because I glued and narrow crown stapled it together. If I cut them now it will be difficult to round the inside edges of the holes for comfortable carrying. I could, and might, just add small hardware handles to both sides above the wheels instead.
I guess pictures are needed. I'll try to take some today.
The first (and last) time that I had a sheet cut to size for me they splintered the cut edges so badly that I lost 2" of material from both sides of each cut. They also cut it wrong, making it useless for the intended purpose. No thanks, I'll do my own cutting and I'll manage the full sheets until I cut them, somehow. I know of one woodworker who has a battery operated track saw, who breaks down his sheet stock in their parking lot. It might be worth getting one for this.
Charley
