Moving a mid-size lathe

[DpSyChO]

I'm picking up a lathe locally, well two actually, a two for one deal that I cant pass up. They are a 13x40 and a 14x40 similar in size and appearance as this 14x40 currently on ebay:

I've checked both out, not sure which one I will keep, plan on selling which ever one I like least after using but have to take both of them in the deal. They are in a storage warehouse with dock height only doors, no back in bay doors. My shop is ground level 10x10 garage doors. Looking at similar lathes online I'm thinking they are around the 1600-2K lb range for the 13" and maybe 2200-2400 for the 14".

I went by local rigger this evening that I used a couple times when I had to get big machines moved where I used to work, the guy that overseas the rigging/crane side of the business was not there,the guy I spoke with said it sounded like no problem them moving it, they could put it on a straight truck and unload at my place with crane or maybe Lull since they were "light weight" but I'd have to check with the other guy for pricing, I plan on trying to go back by tomorrow or Thursday to see if I can catch him there.
I went by a towing/recovery place that does a lot of towing of road tractors on the interstate. The guy I spoke with was leery of moving lathes, said they were easy tip over when unloading and highly suggested a means of getting it off the rollback at my place rather than winch it off the rollback (rent a lull?).
I've moved my mill and another lathe with a car hauler type trailer but those were floor level and I was able to get off my trailer with gantry crane. I do not have option to put on trailer this time unless I meet rigger there and have them just put on my trailer and me take home which I doubt would be much cheaper then them doing it all.. Location of lathe to my house is 20 min by car, the rigger is less than 5 min from the warehouse the lathes are located. I'm afraid the riggers will be pricey but know that that will be the safest route.
I understand the point the rollback guy said about tipping over and thought about building a pallet out of couple 4x4 for runners and 2x6 for the cross pcs and just using the rollback guy.
Im I overthinking this and there is a simpler route?

 

[matt_i]

There are "kneeling trailers" which basically allow the bed to go flat to the ground and then a pallet jack can be used. More or less designed for hauling scissor lifts as a primary purpose, but perfect for your application.

Rigging from overhead (thru the bed ribs) is preferred as its stable, and then use the forklift as a prime mover. Sometimes the manufacturer will have slinging and rigging recommendations. But its key not to bend the clutch shaft or leadscrew or feed rod while slinging.

Cutting a 4x4 in half and thru-bolting it to the machine is also an excellent way to prevent transit mishaps.

 

[ptschram]

Hire the riggers.

They are insured for this work, it's what they do, and you hope to sell one of the lathes.

Buy once, don't cry.


"Back in the day" I used a chain and dragged a LOT of vehicles home, some more successfully than others. I now pay a towing company.

Also, I lost a nice surface grinder because I hired a towing company and because I had a day job at the time, had my wife call a towing company to move it off my trailer. Due to size and construction of trailer, I made it clear to my wife I needed it lifted vertically, they told her they knew what they were doing and sent a roll-back! And then tried to charge me a fee for their having shown up. I ended up scrapping it because the scrap yard could lift it vertically. I don't recall the specifics but I'd gotten down to the wire and needed the trailer more than a surface grinder. Still bums me out as now I have room and a need

Yeah, I don't mess around, if I can't handle it myself, I hire pros.

 

[RWorth]

I'd check the weight on those, maybe check the manufacturers site, I have an old Hendy 13x30 was too heavy for a 2500 lb forklift when I bought it. We pulled the tail unit, the chuck and the motor off it so the lift would pick it up without tipping. And we picked it up against the flatbed in case it tipped.

 

[gunguy]

Hire the riggers.

They are insured for this work, it's what they do, and you hope to sell one of the lathes.

Buy once, don't cry.

Yeah, I don't mess around, if I can't handle it myself, I hire pros.

This. Once saw a lathe topple and crush a guy's leg because these "pros" thought they knew what they were doing. Glad I wasn't the responsible party for hiring these guys.

Jim

 

[Doug Arthurs]

Depends on the weight but I moved my 13" Modern with an engine crane. Put a piece of tubing under the ways on the casting. Wrap a strap around it. Find the balance point and lift. You can move the carriage around to fine tune the balance. You can also set the lathe down on the legs of the lift when you move it around. To unload the trailer just lift it up and drive the trailer out from underneath.

 

[DpSyChO]

There are "kneeling trailers" which basically allow the bed to go flat to the ground and then a pallet jack can be used. More or less designed for hauling scissor lifts as a primary purpose, but perfect for your application.

Rigging from overhead (thru the bed ribs) is preferred as its stable, and then use the forklift as a prime mover. Sometimes the manufacturer will have slinging and rigging recommendations. But its key not to bend the clutch shaft or leadscrew or feed rod while slinging.

Cutting a 4x4 in half and thru-bolting it to the machine is also an excellent way to prevent transit mishaps.

The kneeling trailers I'm seeing online are not dock height or are you referring to renting one and letting the riggers put on one at the warehouse?

 

[matt_i]

The kneeling trailers I'm seeing online are not dock height or are you referring to renting one and letting the riggers put on one at the warehouse?

Sorry, I missed the point about the dock-height-only in haste.

Riggers are the most reliable solution but tend to always be more expensive than you want, cash can sometimes help. Possibly, if you have the flexibility, you could leave it as an open job they could do if they have a few hours between other big jobs, since they are so close. Or, if they have a half-day job somewhere else, catch this on the way back in.

Building a large timber-skid, then thru-bolting it would be a very reliable solution for using the cheaper rollbacks but then there's the pesky problem of how to get the lathe (one at a time using same skid on two trips) up onto the center of the pallet.

Is your gantry able to be disassembled for transporting to the warehouse to load the lathes on skids?

 

[zmotorsports]

When I moved my 13x40 from my last shop to my new home I rented a drop deck trailer to move the big items. Worked very well and sat right on the ground with just a .5" lip once lowered all the way.

That is how I moved my toolbox as well which weighed much, much more than my lathe or milling machine.

 

[rsanter]

Best advice is to remove the chuck, tailstock, and even the compound.
Reduces the weight and removed weight from the top.
Grab by the ribs in the bed and the majority of the weight will below the pick point.

Check thenproce the riggers have but if I wanted to try to move them myself I would check the price of a decent sized fork lift that could grab it from the doc height and then put it on a low trailer. Getting it off the low trailer is easy

 

[Bretny]

Roll off truck wont work? We moved a milling machine and lathe this way. We didnt have a loading dock to deal with though.

 

[D45]

Flat bed tow truck......they will have the rollers, $150

 

[Falcon67]

I have a 12x36 and if I were to move it, I would pull it off the stand with my engine crane and haul each separately on the car hauler. If possible, use the riggers. Don't take short cuts. I moved my square column mill on a trailer and were able to roll it on and off but my trailer is low to the ground with 5' ramps that makes for a gentle slope coming and going. Still a very cautious operation.

 

[kazlx]

I move a lot of stuff myself and if you can get a rigger to do it for a few hundred bucks, it will be worth it. I've accumulated a bunch of rigging stuff over the last couple years and move single pieces all the time. Unless you are semi prepared for it, it's just worth it to have it done. Talk to the guys, make it convenient for them and just get it done for the first time.

 

[Skyking1992]

I had six machines to move from my Dad's shop to mine: a bridgeport mill, 13inch SouthBend lathe, a Doall band saw, Delta drill press, a belt sander, and a pedestal grinder. I lifted the lathe about an inch in the air with an engine hoist. I wasn't feeling good about that at all! I called the riggers and they moved all six in one trip. Money well spent, in my opinion.

 

[nickelmore]

A rollback truck/operator can move that and get to dock height. Depending on the truck they may have to use blocks under the wheel lift to get it to the height of the dock.

I like to go above the dock edge and slide the bed back so that the bed is resting on top of the dock and use thin plates to ease the transition.

The challenge is to move both at the same time. Unloading two is a little more challenging but very doable.

I would much rather move those than some tool boxes.

 

[Nelson58]

Sorry, I missed the point about the dock-height-only in haste.

Riggers are the most reliable solution but tend to always be more expensive than you want, cash can sometimes help. Possibly, if you have the flexibility, you could leave it as an open job they could do if they have a few hours between other big jobs, since they are so close. Or, if they have a half-day job somewhere else, catch this on the way back in.

Building a large timber-skid, then thru-bolting it would be a very reliable solution for using the cheaper rollbacks but then there's the pesky problem of how to get the lathe (one at a time using same skid on two trips) up onto the center of the pallet.

Is your gantry able to be disassembled for transporting to the warehouse to load the lathes on skids?

I move a lot of stuff myself and if you can get a rigger to do it for a few hundred bucks, it will be worth it. I've accumulated a bunch of rigging stuff over the last couple years and move single pieces all the time. Unless you are semi prepared for it, it's just worth it to have it done. Talk to the guys, make it convenient for them and just get it done for the first time.

I have almost messed myself up good doing it myself. I'd definitely hire someone now.

 

[My Old Tools]

It's not that hard...

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think I would either move myself or the guys you used before. If you were happy with their work, then it would probably be worth the extra cash if they charge more.


You never know, maybe one of the riggers might be interested in the other lathe and that could be worked into the deal.