Moving Stuff

[1dave]

We were always moving huge things on the job, seldom with much in the way of tools.
Pry a corner of 2-ton switch gear up enough to shove a pipe under it, roll it a few feet, stick another pipe under it, kick the pipe on a 45 to go around corners, always moving the last pipe (had to find at least three pieces) to the front. If it tips over someone is going to die.

In my limited space shop things have to move!
So when I built my router table, self locking castors went under it.



Not the best solution. I managed to put castors on my table saw. It worked . . . barely.

Then Norm Abrams showed how to lift those wheels when not needed! Zowie!



At Home Depot I saw the Rigid Table Saw with "Herc-U-Lift!
Dazzled, I had to buy it.
It worked so sweet I ordered Just the lift Plate from Home Depot for $18.00 and used a 3"-U bolt and scrap
steel square tube to convert my band saw.





I think you can see how the fulcrums work so you can build your own.

[1dave]

Getting those big rocks from the field to the saw is easy IF you use a hand cart and a ramp. Those used for loading ATV's make it easy. Most hand carts will handle 600-800 lbs.

A Johnson Bar can lift 5,000 pounds! On the job we used trailer dollies for awkward stuff. It would handle that HUGE boulder!

[1dave]

Sometimes you need overhead support. Unistrut might be your answer.



You can make your own out of conduit and 1/4" fender washers.

[1dave]

Jul 2, 2014 12:18:05 GMT -7 @rockpickerforever said:

Resurrecting a thread from a few months back.  Got some pics of machinery moving ventures I thought I'd share with you.  Just a few of the machines we've brought in. 

Borrowed my brother's car trailer to bring this Bridgeport mill home, then used pipes as rollers to get it into the garage.  Don't have pics of that part of the job, but we had to loosen and turn the headstock to get it to clear the garage door.

This old A-frame has proved invaluable over the years (yellow thing behind the truck).  That and a chain hoist.

Moved this Turnmaster lathe here, after purchasing it up in Poway.  Rented a U-Haul trailer, the company we bought the lathe from from forklifted it into the trailer for us.

Our job was to get it out

Doesn't everybody have one of these in their yard?

Bob's new (used) toy in 2008.

In place.

Cidan shear, March 2009.

Same procedure.  Except, we used the A-frame (has its own metal casters) to roll it around the side of the house into the back.  We also did this with a 10 ton Chicago press brake.  Didn't take any pics of that move, too busy working!

This is a Chevalier, Anilam CNC mill.  Bought this from our employer at the time, had a tow company drag it onto the back of a truck, then set it on the driveway for us.  November 2002.

We built this little dolly out of steel, and used HD metal bearings (from the surplus store!) as wheels.  Scrapes in concrete from long metal bar used to turn the cart into position.

Had a little clearance issue with this one, too. 

Rather than disassemble the machine, we were able to remove one cross brace from the garage door temporarily.

Just a little clearance on the left, the lathe is to the right of it.

In position in back corner of garage.  We were going to lift it and pull the dolly out, but decided to just leave it on there.  It can be pulled out away from the wall to facilitate clean up.  The dolly is very stable.

All of these machines are 220V, three phase.  We use a Baldor 5 HP motor as an idler motor, with a phase converter. 

Are you yet?  Let me see what other photos I can come up with...  Big boys toys, lol.