Update! It was moving day last Saturday, and I lucked out with the best possible weather, short of it being 75°. It was February in Michigan after all.
Anyway, my Dad and a couple friends came by and we made short work of moving the machine tools. I had been moving the other stuff as time permitted, so all that remained was the forklift stuff. I had access to a few forklifts at the old shop, but I needed to rent on the unloading side. Note to self, keep eyes peeled for a good deal on a used lift.
Here's what I rented for the move. A very nice Mitsubishi FG30N. It was damn near new, only 130 hrs on the clock. It was rated for 5500 lbs at 24" from the mast, but I think that was pretty conservative, as it picked my 4500 lb. lathe at the end of the 5' forks.
One of the first loads of the day was the bridgeport, the surface plate and the drill press. We'd already moved the welding equipment and the welding table, but I forgot to snap a photo. Here's my Dad, buddy Terry and his helper Phillip starting to get some straps on things.
Bridgeports love corners. I positioned it so the ram can swing 360° and the table can move all of it's travel plus a few inches. I rarely have work bigger than the table, but it does happen on occasion.
Ready for the lathe.
The welding table fits pretty well in the back corner. I have room to walk all around the 4' x 10' table, and the welders will be by the door if I need to work in the parking lot, which happens more than I'd like. I gotta get some foam on the frame rails of the Ford, I've already ripped my jeans on them walking by the table.
Getting the 12' long lathe through the 10' overhead door required picking the lathe on an angle, and reversing through the door on a diagonal. Much like moving a couch through a narrow doorway. Here's pops and Phillip getting it rigged for me.
Last load of the day consisted of my 1964 Do-All saw. I took the chip pan out so it wouldn't vibrate out on the road. She was one of my first machines along with my welders, and I don't intend to ever get rid of it. It could use a splash of paint and some new tires though. Problem is I use the dang thing so much I can't afford to take it out of service to redo the cosmetics!
We moved a ton of tools, I was too busy to really do a good job of photographing, but here is how it sits now. I am sitting next to the air compressor in the mezzanine above the office.
There's really more room than there appears to be. The big wood table rolls around so I can fit a vehicle in to change the oil or whatever. I had to be selective and only bring the machines I really need to do my work. I could fit one or two more if I booted the Ford, but I really need to get that thing running so it stays for now. The Cincinnati mill is going to stay at the brewery for now, I need it there. I think my buddy Steve is gonna buy my Tennsmith brake, so that's going to his shop. I got a line on a better one anyway.
So that's where we're at right now. Hope it works out, I am excited. Gotta get the air lines run, unpack a bunch of boxes, and clear off the tables. I have maybe a week before customers want work done again. This " I'm moving" **** is getting weak.
