Bigger is not always better...

[macardoso]

I've been guilty of trying to upsize people on what machine to buy, just like the rest of us. Most of that is grounded in reality (better performance, more features, more rigidity, etc. ), however, moving my 12x36 lathe (~900lbs) out of my basement in preparation for an out of state move was not fun at all! 0/10 would not recommend!!

 

[rabler]

Nothing about moving is fun. 900lbs, or packing up the knives and forks at some fraction of a pound. Personally, the worst part is getting settled in again, remembering where everything is. "I know where it was at the old place" doesn't help much.

Hopefully said move gives you bigger, better shop space. Bigger is better.

 

[projectnut]

I have somewhat solved the weight problem by disassembling machines to move them either in or out of the shop. With todays phones it's easy to take hundreds of pictures in various stages of disassembly to be sure they can properly be reassembled when in their new locations. I also use a variety of dollies and come-alongs to assist in the process.

On 2 occasions I had to hire a local moving company because my equipment wasn't big enough to handle the job. In both cases they use a 1,700 lb. capable battery powered stair climber dolly. I looked into purchasing one, but it would have cost more than 5 times what the company charged to move the machine parts.

 

[macardoso]

Huh, the stair climbing dolly is pretty sweet! Never knew about those. We used a ramp and some ratchet straps to haul the lathe up. Worked well, but really tough. 2.5 Hours to go up 6 steps. Did disassemble the lathe. Headstock and tailstock came off. Carriage and gearbox remained in place.

New house is still a basement shop . That being said, we actually own this place, so I can build a room in the basement with electrical and pneumatics just how I want them. Also it can be a bit bigger than before.

How did you find the company to do the moving?

 

[Janderso]

I always thought having a basement would be super sweet.
Having a basement shop would also be awesome. Getting my 15x50 lathe and 3 HP knee mill down the stairs would be very challenging indeed. The Micromaster, forget about it.
Mr. Pete said, "my Bridgeport goes with the house".

 

[macardoso]

I mean, once the machines are in there, it is pretty nice. Air conditioned, no rust, bathroom attached, etc. But moving in and out sucks. It certainly keeps me honest about what I buy.

 

[projectnut]

If you have the right equipment and experienced people moving heavy equipment isn't that big a deal. It only took the movers 20 minutes to setup, move the mill column from the garage, through the kitchen, dinette, and family room to the basement (12 stairs), remove the plywood protecting the flooring and be on their way. The hardest part was the wall at the bottom of the stairs 6' from the end of staircase. The first move cost $100.00. The second piece 8 years later cost $300.00.

I agree with the niceties of temperature and humidity control. I have pieces of angle iron on one of the presses that were cut 25 years ago and never painted. They're still bright and shiny.

 

[Nutfarmer]

The stair climbing dolly is a life saver. Used a similar machine to move a four hundred pound person up a set of stairs on a boat dock. It was the ambulances equipment and fire just helped. It made an impossible job doable.

 

[T Bredehoft]

I'm somewhat blessed in that my house is built into the side of a hill. Upstairs opens on the hill behind the house, the garage and shop opens on the lower level, in front. Walk the lathe and mill in on a hand cart. (shop's in the furnace room, no rust there, either.)

 

[pdentrem]

I placed my lathe in the garage as I was not going to put it in the basement. The stairs are iffy and there was a support column only 2 feet from the bottom step. Who in their (right) mind, puts a column at the bottom of the stairs!
Pierre