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Tools for Carrying Sheet Goods: The Gorilla Gripper and the Handle On Demand

By Rain Noe - January 3, 2014

in Hand Tools

Moving sheet goods is a huge pain in the neck, particularly for shorter guys like me with a wingspan that leaves something to be desired. But even for you bigger folk, there's nothing ergonomic about toting a 4x8 sheet around your shop or the jobsite.

The Gorilla Gripper is a cleverly-designed handle that allows you to lift and carry sheet goods using your back and legs, while preserving your fingers and toes. There are tons of YouTube videos showing the thing, but I like the following low-res one the best because it shows the actual applications in the field:

I don't think I'd have the balls to try hoisting it up a ladder, like the guy did in the video, but I'd try everything else they showed.Another set of tools designed to move sheet goods or heavy cabinets is FastCap's HOD, or Handle On Demand. The catch with the HOD, however, is that the surface of whatever you're lifting must be finished/sealed; while the Gorilla Gripper works on a clamping lever principle, the HOD operates via suction.

The delicate nature of the rubber suction pad makes me worry it would eventually get scratched and compromised by neighboring tools, and even if I had a nearby glass door to test it on, I doubt I'd have the discipline to do it consistently; but if you're careful with the thing, and you deal with prefinished plywood a lot, this thing seems like a good bet.

What I'm still searching for but haven't found: Something that enables you to safely carry a 4x8 sheet up a flight of stairs, as my building is elevator-free. If any of you have tips, please sound off in the comments.

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James P

10 years ago

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Both of those suction cups have been available from Harbor Freight for years.
http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-cup-suction-lifter-46134.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-diameter-suction-cup-40993.html
They're just being rebranded as HOD. They're just generic Chinese imports. I've used both and they work well when pulling directly away from the surface(e.g. lifting floor tiles), but if they get dust on them, they won't work as shown in the video. They also won't work on flexible materials.
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john

10 years ago

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ok the thing that makes me cringe is when the the guy on the ladder pushes the board up for the guy with the gripper thing on the roof imagine if it slipped out of the clever grip thing, it would get the guy on the ladder square in the head and knock him off the ladder. still that would make a great you tube clip, (sarcasm off)
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Matthew

10 years ago

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emanster provolone beat me to my comment...

That's what I think of every single time I see those suction cups.
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Paul

10 years ago

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I've used the Stanley panel carrier for years to haul sheet goods. Cheap and cheerful.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-Panel-Carry-Orange-93-300K/202262083#.Usbr7OBTSvI
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emanster provolone

10 years ago

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I always thought those HODs were for going Mission Impossible up the side of a building. I suppose you could use them to carry panels if you had to.
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