Getting a compressor in...

[azchrisf]

I've decided to get a 60 Gallon compressor to run air tools I use.
The only problem - it weighs 430 pounds.

Does anyone have any suggestions for moving this honker into place, that have actually done this? Obviously manpower can only do so much, so...

 

[vhol5]

Engine hoist...

 

[Richard Cranium]

if it is an upright, maybe an appliance dolly, or as already said Engine hoist.

 

[ezover]

depends on where it is at and where it needs to go. when you say into place I assume it is in the garage already. I have dollys and stuff but I just rocked /walked mine across the floor and into place.

if you try that do not get much top tilt, very top heavy.

 

[Citation]

Take the motor and pump off the tank. Depending on the pump each can be moved by hand (along with the belt guard). The tank is still big and heavy but probably down to under 200lb.

My brother and I moved an 80 gallon compressor recently. It was light for an 80 gallon unit but still heavy. Once off the pump and motor were easy to move with just one person. The tank could be slid by one or carried on it's side by two.

 

[azchrisf]

Engine hoist I thought about as well, but I don't know where you would attach it, or rent one...
It needs to be delivered, so it will probably be outside the garage, then figure out how to get it inside the garage - up a slightly inclined driveway... our homes in AZ look (like mine) have driveways like this:

http://allphoenixrealestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/photo-1860053-Front-View.jpg

 

[DGersic]

Probably come on a pallet. Pallet jack to move it in to position. Then you have to get it off of the pallet.


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[Citation]

Engine hoist I thought about as well, but I don't know where you would attach it, or rent one...
It needs to be delivered, so it will probably be outside the garage, then figure out how to get it inside the garage - up a slightly inclined driveway... our homes in AZ look (like mine) have driveways like this:

http://allphoenixrealestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/photo-1860053-Front-View.jpg

The top plate on the tank will typically have tie down holes for shipping. Use those or just run a rope under the top plate and pick the whole thing up that way.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

I forgot what they're called, but they're a type of moving straps, you'll need a friend, and basically you slide them under the compressor pallet, kneel down a little bit then tighten the straps up tight to your body, then when you and your friend stand up the compressor goes up with you.
We moved a residential stand up freezer from a house across the yard to his garage that way and it was about as easy as walking.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I forgot what they're called, but they're a type of moving straps, you'll need a friend, and basically you slide them under the compressor pallet, kneel down a little bit then tighten the straps up tight to your body, then when you and your friend stand up the compressor goes up with you.

We used to call those "hump strap". You CAN move big awkward appliance with those with easy, but 500 lbs between 2 people ??????

 

[Bretny]

I just tipped mine down. Drug it off the truck. Then balanced it on one edge of the pallet and walked it into place.

 

[VonMoldy]

I think you can rent a pallet jack from home depot. Either that or a couple skateboards.

 

[JohnnyK8]

My buddy and I moved it off the trailer using a ramp then rocked it in into place. Not that tough

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[matt_i]

Appliance truck with the mid-belt. And 2 friends. Its *very* top-heavy.

I don't know if you have liftgate service, but unless its an 18 wheeler, I'd try to see if they can at least get the gate over the steep part of the curb and set it on the sidewalk. I think you may be able to pallet jack it from there but again use friends as pulling hard on the looped handle sets up forces that want to assist tipping the thing over.

 

[RustyJunk]

Uprights are very top heavy so be careful if you're sliding it.

 

[The Cobbler]

and 400 lbs isn't that heavy to walk into place, with 2 or 3 people

 

[Samh]

Make sure it isn't full of air, that makes it heavier

If it is a horizontal, lifting one end at a time to put on furniture dollies works. And if an upright, if it doesn't already have oil in it, put it on it's side on a furniture dolly

 

[CarbideSpork]

I recently moved my new Quincy 60 gallon by myself. It was delivered on a pallet so I had them place it close to the corner I wanted it in. Using the base plate where the pump and motor mounts I bolted a chain to one of the of the slots. The compressor was placed on the center of the pallet so I couldn't get the engine hoist above the compressor. I shimmied the compressor to the edge of the pallet. I would recommend getting help for that part as I almost tipped the thing. But I was able to lift it off the pallet and 5 feet into the corner using just an engine hoist.

I don't have any pics of the move as it was only me moving it but I have the two pics of how far I moved it by myself.

 

[cvairwerks]

If it comes on a pallet like Carbide's, then trim the outer sections off as well as the front or rear of the center. Then lift with a hoist and set down. If it has a bottom drain, while you have the hoist available, take the time to remote the drain valve. Much easier than laying on the floor and trying to work in a tight space.

 

[David-L]

I used 4 to 5 sections of pipe to roll mine into place. Had 2 helpers help hold it steady while rolling it and I handled the pipes.

 

[Zrexxer]

Engine hoist I thought about as well, but I don't know where you would attach it, or rent one...

Two holes drilled in the top plate of a Champion 80 gallon model, bolted on a ring and used an engine hoist. Wants to twirl a little bit so you have to make sure you don't foul the pump or its connections on the hoist boom, but that's just paying attention and being careful.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Make sure it isn't full of air, that makes it heavier

While it's a joke, at a higher psi, it does have more weight than you think. The air that is our carbon fiber wrapped aluminum 45 minute 4500 PSI SCBA bottles weighs more than the bottle does with out the valve.

Two holes drilled in the top plate of a Champion 80 gallon model, bolted on a ring and used an engine hoist. Wants to twirl a little bit so you have to make sure you don't foul the pump or its connections on the hoist boom, but that's just paying attention and being careful.

Umm, that is quite slick.




OP, if you have it delivered, will it come by truck with a liftgate ? If you have a few HF movers dollies, you could put the pallet on them until you get ready to mount it in place.

 

[619DioFan]

We used to call those "hump strap". You CAN move big awkward appliance with those with easy, but 500 lbs between 2 people ??????

I have been in the moving industry since ' 81 and have carried many an item on my back with a hump strap. would never even consider trying a compressor. I have moved hundreds and always just use a fridge dolly. a kick back one is easiest but I am 6'4'' and 270 so no prob with a standard appliance dolly.

 

[finn]

Engine hoist, possibly with an adjustable spreader bar to control the cg.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I bought one of these about ten years ago. Hauled it home in a 1/2 ton. Took the tailgate off. Two guys in the truck, me on the shop floor, they tipped it back and took the weight and I picked up the bottom and eased it over the edge of the truck. Carefully slid it down to the floor, stood it upright and walked it into position. Piece of cake with strong buddies.

It's been used everyday pretty much since then with no issues, I'd never heard of this brand before but it came highly recommended by people I know who worked in a local mine that used a lot of them.

 

[azchrisf]

Well the engine hoist seems like the best bet, can you rent one?
Seems stupid to buy one just to move a compressor in...

 

[Zrexxer]

Well the engine hoist seems like the best bet, can you rent one?
Seems stupid to buy one just to move a compressor in...

Sure you can. When I worked for an equipment rental yard years ago, engine hoists were one of our biggest movers.

If you have a hitch on your vehicle, see if you can rent a model called a Bluebird "Tip-Tow." They have a hitch coupler and road wheels, and you can tip it over, hitch it to your vehicle, and tow it down the road without disassembling it, loading it, and then reassembling it.

 

[Marctrees]

and 400 lbs isn't that heavy to walk into place, with 2 or 3 people

This, but definitely THREE people.

I say BS on the engine hoist.

I have done this more than once.

All you need is 3 thinking guys.. and you slowly methodically walk it up the drive and into garage.

10 minutes of Baby steps.

Marc

 

[chinboys]

I have an engine hoist but my 80-gallon unit was too top heavy to even try to use it.
and I was scared of it dropping so I used my method.

Pallet jack or drag pallet over to the spot where you want to install.
Unbolt the hold-down hardware.
Rock and shimmy the compressor over to the edge.
Put 2x6 blocks or wood shimmed together to just below the top level of the pallet near one of the feet of the compressor.
Do the same for the second foot.
Now rotate the 3rd foot on to the same blocking while keeping feets 1 and 2 secure to their respective blocking (I used a sheetrock 4-inch screw drilled thru each 2x6 block and held captive by the foot's hole).
Now work the pallet away from the 4th foot and have the same blocking to use as in feet 1, 2, and 3.
Once on the 2x6 blocking, use a car jack to lift the bottom of the tank to remove 1 2x6 block at a time for each foot.
Eventually, you will get all 4 feet onto the ground where you bust your nut shimmying into place.
I used some heavy duty 4-inch polyurethane wheels with 1/2 inch stems to get mine off the pallet and used the wheels to move into final resting place instead of the 2x6 blocking.

Yes, I did all by myself

 

[Stuart in MN]

Engine hoist I thought about as well, but I don't know where you would attach it, or rent one...

You can rent one at any rental store anywhere. You may even be able to borrow one for free from a local auto parts store.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

My Quincys weigh more than that, 660 I think and I've moved them several times by myself. I laid it down into a single axle trailer, moved it, slid it backwards off the trailer and tipped it back vertical. It's easy to "wiggle walk" it into location, no sweat. I'm a big guy but this comp is way bigger than yours. If you lay it down let it sit for a while upright (a day?) to drain and rotate it by hand a few turns before starting it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Two holes drilled in the top plate of a Champion 80 gallon model, bolted on a ring and used an engine hoist. Wants to twirl a little bit so you have to make sure you don't foul the pump or its connections on the hoist boom, but that's just paying attention and being careful.

You have a lot more faith in that little loop fitting than I would have ! The right thing to use is a forged lifting eye !

 

[Zrexxer]

You have a lot more faith in that little loop fitting than I would have ! The right thing to use is a forged lifting eye !

It's a forged steel ring over 1/2" in diameter, under a 7/32" thick steel strap that's 1.5" wide, secured with 3/8" bolts. My faith is based on simple engineering and physics.

 

[exranger06]

Unbolt and remove the pump and motor before moving it. The tank will be pretty light then. You can use a hand truck to move it wherever. Once the tank is in its final installation spot, you can reinstall the pump and motor. That's how I moved mine.

 

[Marctrees]

Unbolt and remove the pump and motor before moving it. The tank will be pretty light then. You can use a hand truck to move it wherever. Once the tank is in its final installation spot, you can reinstall the pump and motor. That's how I moved mine.

The above is definitely a prudent way for many 60 gal + vertical units... But the OP has a lighter head and motor... not worth the removal and reinstall.

3 Guys is all he needs to do it safely.

Marc

 

[bczygan]

I always give my wife the heavy end.

Bill

 

[scullydjwva]

Got one of these cheap , great for all kind of things.

 

[Flail]

I just moved a 60 gallon 100’ over uneven dirt with the tank ratchet strapped to the hand truck. I’m 200 fat pounds and 60. Jeezus! How can I be 60??? When did that happen???

 

[Lotek]

Three guys, be very careful not to let it get away from you, a big buddy and I got my 60 gallon Quincy off the pallet and out of the back of my truck, then walked it 4o' to the back of my warehouse, moving it near it's final position with a pallet jack would have been much easier, but we couldn't get it out of the truck that way. Very top heavy, make sure you bolt it down. Btw, an engine hoist is a very handy thing to have around, and the fold up ones sold at HF, Pep Boys and the like don't take up much room. A couple of nylon slings from HF come in handy as well.

 

[matt_i]

You have a lot more faith in that little loop fitting than I would have ! The right thing to use is a forged lifting eye !

Meh, that thing is good for 4-5000 lbs *working* load. Probably double that in a tensile test...