Machinery skate question

[bullnerd]

Are the poly wheels harder to roll than steel wheels?

Well, what I mean is can a lathe or mill be rolled by hand on poly wheels?

I've moved a bunch of **** over 30 yrs in machine shops....but always had the shops equipment.

I want to buy a set, and was thinking poly to protect the floor.

I know someone is going to say make them, which I would love to do, but I'm not set up to make **** right now. Lost all fab tools in a fire.

Getting a free BP, want to be able to move it around.

Thinking about 3 of these. Seem nicer than the northern tool ones.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B2BZ7DB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PugetDude]

Poly wheels are much harder to move with a heavy load than steel. The deflection under load adds a lifting component to the force vector. Either way, make sure your path is clear, it doesn't take much to stop a machinery skate wheel under a heavy load.

 

[matt_i]

3 is a good choice. Using the 4th can get in trouble.

I would rather move a Bridgeport with a pallet jack on any day of the week.

My opinion is that machine skates are for problem solving in tight locations, or handling something that's way too long for your forklift forks.

 

[astroracer]

Pallet jack all day long...

 

[bullnerd]

Poly wheels are much harder to move with a heavy load than steel. The deflection under load adds a lifting component to the force vector. Either way, make sure your path is clear, it doesn't take much to stop a machinery skate wheel under a heavy load.

Yeah, I was afraid of that. Probably cold flow too if I let it sit for a bit.

I like the pallet jack too. But the skates are so easy to slip under with a Johnson bar. Wont just be a BP, lathe and maybe some big stuff eventually.

I'll see if anyone around me has a pallet jack.

 

[Millwrong]

A ordinary knee mill and an average size engine lathe will move around on poly skates no problem. Neither would be enough weight to spall the surface of your floor with steel rollers anyway.



Im in agreement with the others, a pump truck (that's what we call it up here! ) Is your best bet in the meantime, as it'll come in handy for other stuff around the shop as well!

 

[rsanter]

What are you trying to do?
Do you want a mobile base under the machines?
I have had my Bport mill on a mobile base for years. Moves no problem on poly covered wheels.

If you just want to move a machine, I use three floor jacks as machine skates

 

[bullnerd]

Thanks Millwrong.( I like that name!)

I don't want a mobile base, just some way to keep the mill mobile until its in its final spot.

I'm inheriting a pretty clean BP but I have to get it out of where it is.

My shop is not done and I want to be able to move it out of the way of the slow process of working on the shop.

Pallet jack and some blocks might just be the ticket.

 

[ez-duzit]

...Getting a free BP, want to be able to move it around...

That's neither practical nor generally desirable. Pick a good spot for it, level it and leave it alone.

 

[bullnerd]

That's neither practical nor generally desirable. Pick a good spot for it, level it and leave it alone.

Read the post before yours.

 

[astroracer]

Read the post before yours.

And #7.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I move a few Bridgeports. Best way for me so far is step block it up to height using 6x6 blocks of 1/2” plywood and a bar. The short lifts keep it stable. Install two pieces of 4x4x48” crossways with long GRK or lag screws. Lift with a pallet jack and off you go. I have 4 mills in my shop and are constantly moving them around for various restore processes. You can move one in less than a minute this way, once it is on the skids.

 

[Maui]

I did exactly what Occupant described. Works beautifully. In fact, I parked the pallet jack underneath the mill.

Maui

 

[bullnerd]

Just to update this , I was just about to buy a used pallet jack when I saw these skates. I bought two skates and the wanna-be Johnson bar below. They work great! Actually put the two skates under the middle edges of the BP and can move it around by hand no problem. Two skates and the J-bar on my little lathe is also no problem.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200673818_200673818

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200674385_200674385

 

[PT Doc]

Just to update this , I was just about to buy a used pallet jack when I saw these skates. I bought two skates and the wanna-be Johnson bar below. They work great! Actually put the two skates under the middle edges of the BP and can move it around by hand no problem. Two skates and the J-bar on my little lathe is also no problem.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200673818_200673818

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200674385_200674385

I was just going to post this. I looked at them last week online. This is what guys fab up and say they work out well. This design puts the c channel the opposite way that most guys have shown. Will you put some wood in the c channel.

Do you buy 3?

 

[bullnerd]

I did throw a block of wood in the channel for the lathe, because its basically sheetmetal where it meets the ground. But for the BP, i just set it right in the channel. One on each side and it actually stayed balanced while i pushed it around.

I only bought two, planning to use the johnson bar as the "third" wheel, to steer it around.

I would have made them, but I lost all my tools in a fire and am starting over, I have a BP and lathe, but neither are wired. Tig welder is at a friends house luckily, it missed the fire, but I dont have a spot to plug it in yet.

 

[PT Doc]

I did throw a block of wood in the channel for the lathe, because its basically sheetmetal where it meets the ground. But for the BP, i just set it right in the channel. One on each side and it actually stayed balanced while i pushed it around.

I only bought two, planning to use the johnson bar as the "third" wheel, to steer it around.

I would have made them, but I lost all my tools in a fire and am starting over, I have a BP and lathe, but neither are wired. Tig welder is at a friends house luckily, it missed the fire, but I dont have a spot to plug it in yet.

Good to hear that it worked out. I think there is a strong market for these since they are reasonably affordable and many people don’t have a welder.