big heavy thing .. advice needed.High drama!

[an0nymous]

Ok internet friends, here is my issue.
I own a Lucas 30 ton press from the 20's, it looks like this:
https://vbay-production-v2.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/images/1697/1697-1-large.jpg
I bought it, accidentally on purpose, on a make an offer on ebay and won it for 200 bucks.
I rented a drop deck traier and moved it to my driveway. Oops too big to fit in the garage! so I tarped it and there it's sat.
Today I got a letter from the county. 7 days to remove it! The tone of the letter was .. not warm.
I had a friend that was going to take it for 100 bucks and a six pack. His wife NOPEd it.
I don't want it to go to the scrapper. I love it irrationally.
Side note, my wife kinda hates it in the driveway.
Here are my options:
1. Scrap it. Wounds my soul.
2. somehow get it into the garage... I would have to tilt it somehow and it's 300o lbs, top heavy and sitting oon an incline.
(Edit: 3300 lbs. Typo.)
3. Somehow get it into the side yard. theres no good place to winch it, but I think if I got it out of sight things might go better.
Ok there it is .. al true. Ask me questions.

 

[bhonshell37]

Do you have access to a piece of heavy equipment like a bucket loader?

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[txvwnut]

The one in the pic looks like you could unbolt some of it and move it in pieces. Might give that a try.



For the record the only thing a wife wants to see in the driveway is her car and chalk art from the grandkids.

 

[ybnormal70]

Your location would help I'm sure.

Kevin

 

[Sjfab]

call the local tow company and have them lay it down to get it into garage and stand it back up using a gantry. Or have them lift and carry around back.

 

[an0nymous]

I do not have access to a bucket loader.. but there is a sunbelt rentals nearby.
I could actually untbolt it but the heaviest bit its 8 fit off the ground and looks to weigh a thousand pounds.
I am in a county near Richmond ,VA in a quiet suburban neighborhood that undoubtedly quietly disapproves.

 

[bwringer]

Approximately where are you? Gotta be a few components of the GJ Hive Mind nearby that know how to deal with such things.

 

[an0nymous]

Think one of the old school tow trucks could do it? That was on my list of possibilities.
I am in Henrico 23233.

 

[an0nymous]

Here's an old ad:

Mine is much taller.
Heres another pick of a similar but not the same press:

 

[Sjfab]

Any tow truck with a boom on the back is good for a few thousand pounds. We set compressors all the time with standard tow trucks and they run around 2000#

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Build a new, larger garage around it.

 

[tjdux]

300 pounds... call in your buddy favors and get a good high quality cart. I have a homemade garden cart made from 2x4s and has 6 pnumatic tires and i have moved many heavy things with it. My biggest was a concrete pad 3x3 ft that according to google research weighed around 500+ pounds.

4 guys and a cart and you may be in business for the price of a 12 pack. Its gonna **** but worth it.

Second plan would be find/borrow/rent a loader tractor or fork lift and move it with a machine. Still may want a buddy to help. Good luck man.

Note you typed 300o pounds. Is that actualky 3000 pounds? In which case my suggestion of manpower is no good.

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[an0nymous]

..that was a typo it's 3300 lbs. 1.5 tons.
I'll correct the original post.
I actually have a cart rated to a thousand pounds, but this is way bigger.

 

[an0nymous]

oh hey here's a link with the weight. I should mention the driveway is on an angle.

Says the weight is 2800lbs

 

[an0nymous]

Alright I will try with a tow company.. start making calls on monday.
Feel free to throw up other suggestions guys.. a plan b would be welcome.

Thanks fellas, this is weighing heavy on me. I try to avoid trouble.

 

[Strouty]

If I were closer, I would give you $300 and a case of beer for it.

Tilting it will be the hardest part. Do you have any sort of lifting equipment? Sounds like taking it apart is the best solution, but then you have to put it back together, inside the garage.

 

[Kaizen]

quick and cheapest would be a tow truck. not sure though if your door is wide enough. call them and be prepared with measurements.
no go on that and you're only 200 bucks into it i'd try to lay it down on car dolleys or a pallet jack using 2 engine hoists. 2 should cover the weight. course i'd be standing way back when that gets airborn. if it is top heavy you might be able to lift and pull the bottom out on rollers then just lower the hoists. make sure you video it.
If you had longer i'd tell you to find the center of gravity on it and build a rounded wooden crib so you can roll it on its side and pull it in. I saw a guy make one for a bandsaw about that big.

 

[an0nymous]

If I were closer, I would give you $300 and a case of beer for it.

Tilting it will be the hardest part. Do you have any sort of lifting equipment? Sounds like taking it apart is the best solution, but then you have to put it back together, inside the garage.

Not even a pallet truck, sadly, but there is a nearby sunbelt rentals.
If I had a gantry i could do it in pieces

 

[an0nymous]

quick and cheapest would be a tow truck. not sure though if your door is wide enough. call them and be prepared with measurements.
no go on that and you're only 200 bucks into it i'd try to lay it down on car dolleys or a pallet jack using 2 engine hoists. 2 should cover the weight. course i'd be standing way back when that gets airborn. if it is top heavy you might be able to lift and pull the bottom out on rollers then just lower the hoists. make sure you video it.
If you had longer i'd tell you to find the center of gravity on it and build a rounded wooden crib so you can roll it on its side and pull it in. I saw a guy make one for a bandsaw about that big.

I appreciate the thoughts. How high is a towtruck? The thing is like 8 foot 9 inches tall and the garage door is like 7 foot 4. But with the door up it till need to in enough to clear the door before going upright.
I do have some machinery skates but with the angle of the driveway, I fear it would disappear from sight as it rolled away.

 

[Strouty]

What did the letter say about the item? They may not be able to do what they think they can, it would be wise to look at the rules yourself and not just what they tell you.

 

[bczygan]

Your best option is to give it to me. I'll be right over.

Where are you located? Oh, Henrico? Might be a while!

Bill

 

[hemifalcon]

Go to harbor freight or your local tool outfitter and get a gantry crane... lift and lay this beast down on whatever home made pyramid block mover you can build--roll it out of sight and into the garage.. now I'll sound like a jerk.... why do you need such an awesome piece of machinery if you can't work through this problem.. get motivated--get'r done MAN! [emoji49]


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[Bobf]

Use a winch or come-a-long to tip it side ways catching it with a engine hoist/crane, then put two HF car wheel skates under the part still on the floor and slowly move it. I move my 4-post lift this way.

 

[an0nymous]

quick and cheapest would be a tow truck. not sure though if your door is wide enough. call them and be prepared with measurements.
no go on that and you're only 200 bucks into it i'd try to lay it down on car dolleys or a pallet jack using 2 engine hoists. 2 should cover the weight. course i'd be standing way back when that gets airborn. if it is top heavy you might be able to lift and pull the bottom out on rollers then just lower the hoists. make sure you video it.
If you had longer i'd tell you to find the center of gravity on it and build a rounded wooden crib so you can roll it on its side and pull it in. I saw a guy make one for a bandsaw about that big.

What did the letter say about the item? They may not be able to do what they think they can, it would be wise to look at the rules yourself and not just what they tell you.

I will post a redacted copy of the letter tomorrow, and pics of press and garage.
It was very clear about the date by which I had to be in compliance.

 

[an0nymous]

Your best option is to give it to me. I'll be right over.

Where are you located?

Bill

Long way from detroit, sir.

 

[an0nymous]

Go to harbor freight or your local tool outfitter and get a gantry crane... lift and lay this beast down on whatever home made pyramid block mover you can build--roll it out of sight and into the garage.. now I'll sound like a jerk.... why do you need such an awesome piece of machinery if you can't work through this problem.. get motivated--get'r done MAN! [emoji49]


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It's a fair question. I was going to.. my timelines have just shifted dramatically.
I work a regular job and such.. time is suddenly and unexpectedly very short.

 

[gorilla]

Call a crane and rigging company for a quote 1/2 day job might be about $ 500.00. You could rent a forklift. The gantry hoist or engine hoists might not be a good idea on an incline.

 

[BuffettFan]

And once you get it out of the county's eyes and your wife's driveway, what is the plan for this behemoth?
Is it worth the struggles?

 

[BuffettFan]

Call a crane and rigging company for a quote 1/2 day job might be about $ 500.00.

My experience tells me it'll be closer to $500/hr in my area.

 

[an0nymous]

And once you get it out of the county's eyes and your wife's driveway, what is the plan for this behemoth?
Is it worth the struggles?

I would be content if I merely found it a good home.
My love for it is entirely irrational. But, given the choice between struggling and letting it die, I would rather struggle.
I do fold, spindle, and mutilate things on occasion and my idea was to use it for that purpose.

 

[Kaizen]

I appreciate the thoughts. How high is a towtruck? The thing is like 8 foot 9 inches tall and the garage door is like 7 foot 4. But with the door up it till need to in enough to clear the door before going upright.
I do have some machinery skates but with the angle of the driveway, I fear it would disappear from sight as it rolled away.

Oh I was thinking width. That are pretty wide. Go with laying it down and rolling it in. A tow truck could lay it for 50 bucks I bet


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[BuffettFan]

Good Enough! I too have an irrational love of old, unique items.
I've also found myself a victim of the dog/bumper syndrome- I caught it, now what??
Good luck and I only wish I was close enough to come help you get this into your garage! I would consider that a very well spent weekend.

 

[JBudd2]

Rent a telehandler, chain the press to the carriage and you can then pick it up and tip it over forward and extend into the garage. Even small telehandlers will pick up 6000 lfs with ease. We rent one for $250/ day. Rates may vary. They can also be roaded for s verbal miles if need be.

 

[an0nymous]

Rent a telehandler, chain the press to the carriage and you can then pick it up and tip it over forward and extend into the garage. Even small telehandlers will pick up 6000 lfs with ease. We rent one for $250/ day. Rates may vary. They can also be roaded for s verbal miles if need be.

I have never even heard of these. Thanks, I'll look into it.
350 for four hours? This seems do-able...


What does this mean?
They can also be roaded for s verbal miles if need be.

Means I can drive it from the rental place to my house? It's within 5 miles..
Do I uh need a special license or anything?

 

[nickelmore]

I have never even heard of these. Thanks, I'll look into it.
350 for four hours? This seems do-able...


What does this mean?
They can also be roaded for s verbal miles if need be.

Means I can drive it from the rental place to my house? It's within 5 miles..
Do I uh need a special license or anything?

Sunbelt rents them basically a telescoping forlklift.

My thoughts are to run forks through it, unbolt the base, Move to garage and reattach base. Short mast 4000lb forklift, 2 inch ratchet straps to secure it being so top heavy.

Or take it all apart, paint it and put it back together....

Put it in the front yard and tell the county its "industrial art" and its protected by the art guild act of 1908.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Move it out to the street and mount your mail box to it.

 

[58Yeoman]

Try looking in the phone book for safe movers. Around here, they have some crazy equipment for moving safes. They might have something that can tilt that back and move it.

 

[blair683]

Wait until the deadline. When they come to move it themselves tell them to just put it in the garage.

 

[coljar]

I have a friend close by in the towing business. They do odd stuff like this all the time. If you call one, don't give up if the first one says no. That means they are drones that don't know **** about anything other than moving cars. You want someone that likes a little challenge...............and wants the extra business when things are slow.

 

[PECVD2]

Maybe you can donate it to a local museum, trade school or someone who displays old machine tools in their machine shop etc.