Handling 300kg drums

[Chris B]

My neighbour helps out with a forklift now and again but I need to be able to manage independently going forward.
So has anyone got any recommendation for something to enable me to stack and unstack 300kg drums? Even better if it's not producing an exhaust so then I can use it in the honey room.

 

[smithhive]

I use a rather old gas (propane) powered forklift. It produces an exhaust but I believe propane exhaust is less likely to taint or produce smut and soot than a diesel engine. I do stand to be corrected on this and obviously an electric forklift would be better. To lift the drums I have a "parrot beak drum lifter" which the forks slide into.

In an unusual bit of good luck, I found the double legged lifter on fleabay and secured it for the opening and only bid of £50. They are about £1700 new and the seller didn't know what this contraption was supposed to be used for. He guessed that it could be used in a nursery for uprooting and moving trees.

I also have a drum barrow, handy for moving full barrels but not for stacking them and I don't know of any hand operated equipment that is capable of stacking.

 

[DanBee]

Chris - a search for "drum handling" will reveal a broad range of devices available. If you can get hold of an electric forklift then there are many drum-handling fork attachments available that will allow you to both lift (stack?) and rotate drums.