Vertical compressor lifting and moving dolly

[OccupantRJ]

After restoring a vertical air compressor that I had, I needed to move it through a walk doorway into the back room of the shop. It is a rather top heavy unit, so I developed a special lifting/moving dolly to allow me to safely move it through the doorway, turn a hard right, then roll it down a narrow aisle into final position.

The pictures tell the basic story of construction. After the dolly was in place around the compressor, the jack bolts were used to raise the unit equally all around until it was clear of the floor by 1/2 inch. There are secondary locking nuts under each wood member.

The legs were difficult to get a nut on the lifting studs, so I drilled and tapped the end of some flat bar to be inserted inside each leg to screw the studs into more easily.

After the unit was off the floor it was a simple matter of rolling it up the ramp I built to accommodate the one inch difference in floor elevation in the doorway. The unit was rolled into the corner where it will be permanently installed and piped. The unit will be lowered exactly into position by loosening the jack stud nuts to set it into position.

 

[OccupantRJ]

More details. I am fabricating a guard for the compressor to be finished in the next few days.

 

[LXCam]

That's a darn good idea OC, excellent job and quite crafty I might add.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Thanks. The dolly could be left in position after lowering the compressor, or it can be taken apart to remove it from the area. I stole the wheels off of one of my HF dollies.

 

[matt_i]

Great job using your mind and your shop to come up with a nice solution

Those things are quite top heavy!

 

[bradpac]

A good solution to such a problem. I'm fixing to move my 60 gallon to my new house, but it has to go through some dirt to get to where I can put it on a trailer, I wonder if I can make one of these with some larger wheels. I got it in there with a two wheel dolly, but I almost lost it a couple of times.

 

[OccupantRJ]

A good solution to such a problem. I'm fixing to move my 60 gallon to my new house, but it has to go through some dirt to get to where I can put it on a trailer, I wonder if I can make one of these with some larger wheels. I got it in there with a two wheel dolly, but I almost lost it a couple of times.

Lay a path of osb to run on, and get a helper just to give a hand and provide stability. I use a 3 foot long hook to place all the pulling at the dolly level.

 

[Bretny]

An appliance dolly is what i usualy use. Leaving the dolly atrapped on also gives you places to strap in down in the back of the truck.

 

[OccupantRJ]

An appliance dolly is what i usualy use. Leaving the dolly atrapped on also gives you places to strap in down in the back of the truck.

Yes, if Lunacy has a relative average vertical compressor this should work fine. Mine is custom built with around 300 lbs top weight, and being 66 and with two bad knees, I don’t think I would want any of that.

 

[gofastwclass]

Nice idea, looks like it worked well.

 

[dkmc]

Very interesting design and solution to the problem

 

[kazlx]

My 80 gal is permanently bolted on top of a furniture dolly. Bought it that way and just left it. Always stays put and makes it super convenient if I need to move it around.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I had parked the compressor for a while due to other things, but recently moved it into position in the corner it was going in. It was rolled in, rubber placed under the feet, then by loosening the jack nuts it lowered it precisely into position. I made up tank drains while I was working in the corner to save hassles later.

 

[dkmc]

Looks good, how far did it travel on the dolly? Those vertical rigs are incredibly top heavy.

 

[fiftyv8]

Yes, I have one of those style compressors and made a similar dolly using shopping cart wheels, my terrain was a little too rough for such small diameter wheels.
With all the weight at the top the stability issue was a real concern.
My unit only was made with 3 bolt down legs/feet which made it all the more interesting.

Sorry no pic's...

 

[OccupantRJ]

Looks good, how far did it travel on the dolly? Those vertical rigs are incredibly top heavy.

It moved about 18 feet total. I have a 3’ long pull hook for pulling dollies at the floor level, so I had my grown son come over to assist getting through the walk door and slight ramp since there was 1-1/2” clearance. Once through the door, it would easily roll into position, easier than I had invisioned.

 

[cbacres]

Neat set up RJ, they can be kinda dicey to move.


Reminds me of when we moved my stuff from the garage into the detached shop, about 150’ over grass and slight slope.

I have a 80 gallon Quincey. Here’s what I call my air compressor lowboy.



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[The Cobbler]

ingenious . nice for sharing your idea

 

[fiftyv8]

Neat set up RJ, they can be kinda dicey to move.


Reminds me of when we moved my stuff from the garage into the detached shop, about 150’ over grass and slight slope.

I have a 80 gallon Quincey. Here’s what I call my air compressor lowboy.



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Now that is a decent compressor mover...
However could be a little squeezy once you get inside.
I like it.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Nice outdoor dolly, CB!

 

[quincyqt]

Just move my quincy 80 gallons 660 lbs with a cherry picker.

 

[bad_idea]

OccupantJ,

Why do your drain lines have the 180 degree bend on the end? Ease of catching the water in a jug? Seems to me the bend would trap water in the line/bottom of the tank. I've seen plenty of your work on the forum and know you know what you are doing. Do not mean to question your competency.

Awesome compressor moving idea. I will tuck that idea away for use later. I am a young man but I do not like to labor hard. If I can take a little longer to move something easy, I will.

 

[OccupantRJ]

OccupantJ,

Why do your drain lines have the 180 degree bend on the end? Ease of catching the water in a jug? Seems to me the bend would trap water in the line/bottom of the tank. I've seen plenty of your work on the forum and know you know what you are doing. Do not mean to question your competency.

Awesome compressor moving idea. I will tuck that idea away for use later. I am a young man but I do not like to labor hard. If I can take a little longer to move something easy, I will.

Easy to catch the water in a small bucket is correct. I drain with a few psi of pressure in the tank, and that purges the lines quite well. There is a small amount that will accumulate between the valve and tank between drainings, but any water will gather in the lower end anyway. The design has presented no issues that I can detect, and have had similar drains for years.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I recently went back and revisited my compressor drains and decided to combine them to join and exit out the stem wall. Much mo better than dealing with a bucket and getting splattered occasionally.

 

[larry4406]

I recently went back and revisited my compressor drains and decided to combine them to join and exit out the stem wall. Much mo better than dealing with a bucket and getting splattered occasionally.

I like the tubing out to a secured anchor point on the leg then the valve.

Mine has a street elbow on the bottom of the tank, an extension pipe, then a valve. So, the assembly is cantilevered via the street elbow connection.

Cleaver jacking method to engage the dollies.

I need to finish piping at the barn and house, then move my 80 gallon 3 cylinder compressor to the barn that is 200' or so away. Will be interesting. I think I will take the compressor head and 7.5 HP motor off the tank for the move.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I like the tubing out to a secured anchor point on the leg then the valve.

Mine has a street elbow on the bottom of the tank, an extension pipe, then a valve. So, the assembly is cantilevered via the street elbow connection.

Cleaver jacking method to engage the dollies.

I need to finish piping at the barn and house, then move my 80 gallon 3 cylinder compressor to the barn that is 200' or so away. Will be interesting. I think I will take the compressor head and 7.5 HP motor off the tank for the move.

I think removal of the motor and pump is a wise move unless you have a grab and go capability. It is easier to move three moderate weight items than one that could hurt you. A plus is that you will likely clean the unit thoroughly in the process. You know, project creep.
In my case if I ever need to remove the motor or pump I can attach a lifting eye to the drywalled ceiling structure, or either move the compressor back out by using the dolly. Or better yet, make use of my two middle age sons.