madison069
Well-known member
Moving now. Took me 6 trips Of a half full 18 ft dove tail trailer to move the garage. Currently moving the house furniture. Hope to be done Friday with the big stuff. Luckily it’s only 2 miles between the houses.
Seems like a nightmare to pack up an entire garage. When is the last time you moved (your entire tools & garage) ?
- Thread starter Jacobson
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My Old Tools
Well-known member
I moved my entire shop about 8 years ago. I used a 16' utility trailer and an engine hoist. Heaviest piece was about 2000 pounds, total weight was about 40,000-50,000 pounds. The move was a little over 100 miles, so I could make multiple round trips. For toolboxes and drawer benches, I just strapped them closed. For tons of miscellaneous stuff, I used the black and yellow totes. It was a huge pain in the *** and I did it alone. No way I could do it now. I have started downsizing equipment. I sold my 16" Northfield jointer, one of my 32" Crescent bandsaw, my moulder, 2 power feeders, several other pieces. I realized I'm just not going to be able to tackle large builds anymore.
ericm
Well-known member
I used a pile of black and yellow totes for stuff that could make messes like shop chemicals, oil, grease guns, chain saws. I moved all those myself.
logical
Well-known member
That plant closed around 2012, but I spent a lot of time down in that area at my employer's plant in the years since.
It does get crazy hot and humid down there, but it's not that difficult to keep a full staff. I mean you'll have to stop drug screening, but it's not even close to being the most challenging area to run a factory.
67King
Well-known member
Bought property in February, 2022. Broke ground in late Summer, 2023. Moved in December 19, 2025 (long story). I'll skip the story, but the move in date kept moving further and further back, until after we had the inspection, we told the builder we were moving in, period. But because of the uncertainty, we didn't know when we'd be moving out, so I wasn't able to start on the garage for a while.
Anyway, we were in the old house for 18 years. After spending most of January dealing with the inside of the house, I've been spending most of this month in the garage. I ran a sub panel to the garage for all my 240V stuff, so I removed all of that (our agent made it clear that the garage needed to be completely overhauled - plus I didn't bother with the permit). 2 stage 80 gallon air compressor installed at opposite end of house, so more wiring and plumbing to it. Air lines all over the place. And I saved all of that wiring and plumbing. WOrst part was the lift, largely because the ceilings are 8', so I had to cut holes in the ceiling and build a box for the columns. I got the GTO and Bronco out by using a friend's open trailer (I have a larger enclosed.....where one of my project cars is kept). This weekend, I'll be moving the toolbox (big one, Epiq 60) and lift on that trailer. I'll use the winch to pull up the toolbox to the front of the trailer. I have taken a lot of the power tools out of teh box, will likely take out most of the sockets (I mounted rails to a piece of wood to keep them from moving around too much, so they'll come out together) and wrenches, which are all held in place by organizers. I'll likley leave some of the rest of the stuff. But I'll just lay those on the seats and floor in my truck when I move them.
I emptied the cabinets into a mixture of boxes and plastic totes. I threw out a LOT of stuff that I figured I hadn't used by now, so they aren't worth keeping. Fortunately, I've been able to do this over the course of a few weeks, so it isn't like I had to have everything out of one place before I had a place to take it to.
The air compressor is going to be a challenge. I'm not sure how I'm going to move it. I have a pallet jack that I can use to pull it out. But, after I installed it, I put a patio in the back by the porch, so I no longer have a sloped sidewalk, I now have about 5 steps I have to get it up. Maybe that engine hoist can help. Also doesn't help that I'm in my early 50's, rather than mid 30's. I am hoping I can get 16 year old 67Prince to help, but he does not seem to understand that I can't just schedule when I need him, and 67Queen is taking his side when I tell him he needs to tell his friends "maybe" on their plans for this weekend, rather than "yes." Grrr.......
By the way, I freaking hate drywall, and I REALLY freaking hate textured ceilings.
Edit - totally forgot my benchtop mill. Have a Rong-Fu RF30 that is missing some parts (got lost when my business moved, think a guy we used to share shop space with may have them, but I"ve lost touch with him). Going to list it on Marketplace. Anyone in East Tennessee interested?
Anyway, we were in the old house for 18 years. After spending most of January dealing with the inside of the house, I've been spending most of this month in the garage. I ran a sub panel to the garage for all my 240V stuff, so I removed all of that (our agent made it clear that the garage needed to be completely overhauled - plus I didn't bother with the permit). 2 stage 80 gallon air compressor installed at opposite end of house, so more wiring and plumbing to it. Air lines all over the place. And I saved all of that wiring and plumbing. WOrst part was the lift, largely because the ceilings are 8', so I had to cut holes in the ceiling and build a box for the columns. I got the GTO and Bronco out by using a friend's open trailer (I have a larger enclosed.....where one of my project cars is kept). This weekend, I'll be moving the toolbox (big one, Epiq 60) and lift on that trailer. I'll use the winch to pull up the toolbox to the front of the trailer. I have taken a lot of the power tools out of teh box, will likely take out most of the sockets (I mounted rails to a piece of wood to keep them from moving around too much, so they'll come out together) and wrenches, which are all held in place by organizers. I'll likley leave some of the rest of the stuff. But I'll just lay those on the seats and floor in my truck when I move them.
I emptied the cabinets into a mixture of boxes and plastic totes. I threw out a LOT of stuff that I figured I hadn't used by now, so they aren't worth keeping. Fortunately, I've been able to do this over the course of a few weeks, so it isn't like I had to have everything out of one place before I had a place to take it to.
The air compressor is going to be a challenge. I'm not sure how I'm going to move it. I have a pallet jack that I can use to pull it out. But, after I installed it, I put a patio in the back by the porch, so I no longer have a sloped sidewalk, I now have about 5 steps I have to get it up. Maybe that engine hoist can help. Also doesn't help that I'm in my early 50's, rather than mid 30's. I am hoping I can get 16 year old 67Prince to help, but he does not seem to understand that I can't just schedule when I need him, and 67Queen is taking his side when I tell him he needs to tell his friends "maybe" on their plans for this weekend, rather than "yes." Grrr.......
By the way, I freaking hate drywall, and I REALLY freaking hate textured ceilings.
Edit - totally forgot my benchtop mill. Have a Rong-Fu RF30 that is missing some parts (got lost when my business moved, think a guy we used to share shop space with may have them, but I"ve lost touch with him). Going to list it on Marketplace. Anyone in East Tennessee interested?
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When I moved my 5HP 80 gallon, I enlisted the help of a friend and we stripped the motor and pump from the tank, and loaded it up. Then at it's new home reassembled it. It really wasn't that bad, maybe and hour extra for the disassembly and reassembly. No fork lift at either end so all done by hand.
67King
Well-known member
Thank you, I had actually wondered about taking it apart. It is right at 400 pounds, guessing the pump is going to be the heaviest part. I should probably just plan on that. I've got a mower with a trailer I can use to move the pieces of it, maybe except the tank. But that probably is teh way to go.
whateg01
Well-known member
Not sure if replied before to this thread, but I chose to buy the house I was renting so I didn't have to move all of my stuff.
We backed the trailer right against the compressor and stood on the trailer to grab the motor and pump. Yes. They are heavy!
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67King
Well-known member
I can get my engine hoist back there to move it off the tank.
Again, thanks for the tip. Was one of those brainstorming things I thought I'd not try right away, but sounds like that needs to be plan A.
madison069
Well-known member
I got the big stuff done today. Now just small boxes and random loose stuff in the house. Garage has the yard tools cause I still have to cut and keep the yard tidy till it sells.
brit vet
Well-known member
3 years ago. Bought 6 of the larger size for the millions of small items and started filling them 6 months before removal day when they just wheeled them into the truck. Sold them for a small profit once we'd finished with them.
Hopefully the buyers will take the garage stuff with the house. I can get new stuff (or not). I watched a neighbor load up a rolling tool box into his pickup and start rolling. Box shifted aft then he braked and said box countered by rolling forward and taking out his back window. Don’t be that guy. Secure the load 
Could you just build two or three separate outbuildings that are all 1800 sq ft?
I am getting ready to move. Already sold my 60-gal compressor. Going to buy a 20-30gal unit. I just moved 3 years ago and did some purging then. Just started packing and emptying the basement. Can not believe how much stuff we have. I am already tired.
58Yeoman
Well-known member
I moved here in 2008 when we got married. Moved about 40 miles south of where I lived before, enlisted the help of a couple friends. Rented the largest Uhaul straight truck I could and we loaded it twice with everything. Luckily, the new house has a 24x40 shop where everything was stored until we could sort it out. My wife moved from Chicago area, but her apartment had caught fire previously, so she didn't have as much as me. I said that was the last time I was moving all that stuff. Next time it will be sold.
WisJim
Well-known member
We moved from our farmhouse where we lived for over 30 years into town, less than 5 miles, in the last 3 or 4 years--and now my wife is looking at houses in Pueblo, CO, where our grandson and son live.I'm still not done rearranging and unpacking and sorting my tools and stuff, and I told here that when we moved to town, that was my last move.
But we looked at some houses that weren't too bad, and southern Colorado is a lot nicer in winter than western Wisconsin, but I dread the thought of moving everything again. The worst thing is that she thinks we should buy a house out in Pueblo and keep our house in Wisconsin so we can visit our other sons more easily. I really don't want the who headache and pressure of moving again, especially not hundreds of miles.
But we looked at some houses that weren't too bad, and southern Colorado is a lot nicer in winter than western Wisconsin, but I dread the thought of moving everything again. The worst thing is that she thinks we should buy a house out in Pueblo and keep our house in Wisconsin so we can visit our other sons more easily. I really don't want the who headache and pressure of moving again, especially not hundreds of miles.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Or having to maintain two properties.
drokihazan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2018
- Messages
- 271
I moved four weeks ago, and it was way way easier than I expected. I rented a storage unit prepaid for 3 months, and bought a bunch of HD boxes. I spent about 3 weeks and a lot of trips back and forth getting almost my entire shop except large items into the storage unit. Then I moved my box on a rollback to the new house a week before we actually moved in, and had movers handle the bulky/heavy remaining items in my shop. It took me a solid three weeks around my work schedule and unpacking our other possessions to get all my stuff from storage into the new garage.
If I had a Bridgeport or a lathe or an 80 gallon compressor it would have really changed things, but with the setup I have now it was really not very hard to move. The storage unit was a massive gamechanger, I'd strongly recommend it - they even refunded me the third month since I was able to vacate it early.
I definitely plan to only move once more, though, because wherever we live next I'm going to have a substantial detached shop (30x40x14 ideally) and once I have that kind of space I'll never want to pack my stuff again.
If I had a Bridgeport or a lathe or an 80 gallon compressor it would have really changed things, but with the setup I have now it was really not very hard to move. The storage unit was a massive gamechanger, I'd strongly recommend it - they even refunded me the third month since I was able to vacate it early.
I definitely plan to only move once more, though, because wherever we live next I'm going to have a substantial detached shop (30x40x14 ideally) and once I have that kind of space I'll never want to pack my stuff again.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I rent my shop space, so I have had to move every few years as I either needed more space or finding a more suitable shop. It isn't so bad if you have the right tools and equipment.
I have been in my current space since 2019, will probably stick around for the foreseeable future due to the space working well for me and the landlord being very reasonable.
By far the most valuable thing is a forklift at each end. I rent one for the loading end, then move my forklift to the destination as the first thing.
I try to deconstruct the shop in such a way that I minimize handling things twice.
I palletize or crate all the small loads, then those get put out of the way for the time being. Stackable, heavy duty crates help a lot. Then I focus on unloading all the pallet racking, material racks, shelving, cabinets or any sort of storage that will need to move empty. All I need is enough room to move the forklift around and room for the riggers. I don't need space to work, so you can stack it all in pretty tight in the corner or even out in the parking lot if the weather is nice for the day.
The first thing to move is the stuff that needs the most space to rig. I hire riggers for my large machine tools, as they require a forklift bigger than mine and a semi to haul. Those get set into place first.
Next thing is the smaller machines like Bridgeports, drill presses, engine lathes, basically anything that requires me to rig it with the forklift but not requiring the riggers.
Next thing to move is the racking and shelving. I want a space to land all the stuff that is crated at the old shop.
Last thing to move is all the smalls. Because it is palletized or crated, I just need to load it all onto the trailer, drive it to the new shop and unload, then I can put it on the racks or away immediately.
It is much easier to do if you don't have to keep machines running during the move. Being able to shut down for a week or whatever is vital. Having air lines and power ran, ready and waiting at the new shop means you can get rolling quickly.
Tools move in the box, same with hardware.
PALLETIZE EVERYTHING. RENT A FORKLIFT OR PALLET JACK. HIRE RIGGERS TO SAFELY MOVE BIG STUFF YOU CANNOT HANDLE.
I have been in my current space since 2019, will probably stick around for the foreseeable future due to the space working well for me and the landlord being very reasonable.
By far the most valuable thing is a forklift at each end. I rent one for the loading end, then move my forklift to the destination as the first thing.
I try to deconstruct the shop in such a way that I minimize handling things twice.
I palletize or crate all the small loads, then those get put out of the way for the time being. Stackable, heavy duty crates help a lot. Then I focus on unloading all the pallet racking, material racks, shelving, cabinets or any sort of storage that will need to move empty. All I need is enough room to move the forklift around and room for the riggers. I don't need space to work, so you can stack it all in pretty tight in the corner or even out in the parking lot if the weather is nice for the day.
The first thing to move is the stuff that needs the most space to rig. I hire riggers for my large machine tools, as they require a forklift bigger than mine and a semi to haul. Those get set into place first.
Next thing is the smaller machines like Bridgeports, drill presses, engine lathes, basically anything that requires me to rig it with the forklift but not requiring the riggers.
Next thing to move is the racking and shelving. I want a space to land all the stuff that is crated at the old shop.
Last thing to move is all the smalls. Because it is palletized or crated, I just need to load it all onto the trailer, drive it to the new shop and unload, then I can put it on the racks or away immediately.
It is much easier to do if you don't have to keep machines running during the move. Being able to shut down for a week or whatever is vital. Having air lines and power ran, ready and waiting at the new shop means you can get rolling quickly.
Tools move in the box, same with hardware.
PALLETIZE EVERYTHING. RENT A FORKLIFT OR PALLET JACK. HIRE RIGGERS TO SAFELY MOVE BIG STUFF YOU CANNOT HANDLE.
nadogail
Well-known member
Moving my shop with not happen in my lifetime.
The shop I have is the first dedicated space I have had for myself since 1968. I built that space from the ground up, in Spain, one brick at a time. We sold that house and have settled in Coronado.
When I leave, it will because some Pall Bearers have carried me out.
The shop I have is the first dedicated space I have had for myself since 1968. I built that space from the ground up, in Spain, one brick at a time. We sold that house and have settled in Coronado.
When I leave, it will because some Pall Bearers have carried me out.
Didn’t actually move. Just cleared out one bay to put a new floor. Dumpstered a bunch of stuff, moved some to the back bay, still cant use that area, and can’t find some of stuff that went out there, and it’s hard to get to some of the stuff that I can find.
Somebody told me years ago, “ Three moves equals one fire.”
Somebody told me years ago, “ Three moves equals one fire.”