How to lift a surface plate to stand...without cherry picker or crane etc?

expressline99

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OK Guys I'm a few days away from being able to mount my surface plate. Figure there isn't any help or another able bodied person around. I don't have a cherry picker or any kind of overhead system. Lucky me I can get it into my van using the forklift at my warehouse. But at home where it's going to live I've got to get it onto the stand I'm building. The stand is going to have a working height of 36" at the top of the plate. I've basically followed "most" of the instruction of the graphic included with the Standridge plate.
I will be able to get the van within a few feet of where the plate will rest on the stand. The stand is stationary and will be resting on bolts to level it...plus the 3 point mount for the plate at the top. It's 2" square tubing as discussed in the other thread.

So how do I get it out of the truck and on to the stand alone? I've only got one idea so far and that utilizes a 1/2 ton chain block and tackle I've never used before. But I'd have to build a 4x4 wood rolling frame high enough to use the block. If I had an engine lift it would be a piece of cake. ...and building the rolling frame will be a super pain in the rear. But I will also be able to use it to remove the table from my mill next...and remove the lathe from it's base when I transfer it to the new one.

The garage is 10' high with a normal 7' garage door. Roof is cut and stack. :) So connecting to those framing members doesn't exactly = safety...likely to come loose and pull the ceiling down with it.

The only other idea is to make the stand and put the plate on the stand at the warehouse...put the whole thing in my trailer and bring it home... But then I have to get the whole thing out of the trailer. I'm stumped.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Paul
 
What about a couple of rails (any heavy tubing or channel) to a sawhorse, then use some conduit (or round stock) and roll it down the rails to the stand?
 
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How about hiring a couple body guards from the local gambling casino to pick it up and place where you want it?

Down here in oilfield country, roughnecks are in abundance. One can handle a 18" x 24" 300 lb surface plate easily.:big grin:
 
When I bought my lathe I had all sorts of ideas on how to get it off the delivery company's truck up few steps into the house and set in place. Not a one was 100% safe so I hired 5 guys; BIG guys, no problems. They were very carefull and had the move complete in about 45 minutes. What ever you do think what could go wrong with that idea before acting on it.
 
Well, the Egyptians were adept at raising massive stone blocks to great heights.

You didn't say what size or wt. surface plate but a sheet of plywood comes to mind. Cut the plywood larger than the plate but small enough to go through doorways drill some holes for tie ropes to secure the slab. Use 4 x 4's or 6 x 6's stacked to build the height enough to slide the slab from the van to the plywood. secure the slab and remove the 4 x4's, one side at a time until you can lower the plywood to a dolly or cart for rolling to your site. At the site, build the stack up again to the stand height , unsecure the plate and slide it onto the stand.

Or.... Buy a couple of six packs and go talk with some friends/neighbors (I would still use the plywood. A couple of hand holes would be nice).
 
Wedge it up...

When placed in van via fork lift first stack pallets or other materials in first to have it already at correct height or close to it.

Make a bridge of sorts between there and where it needs to go then slide it across.

Ww brought home a hf mill drill and slid it out of the van onto a box then with very large screwdrivers we wedged up one side to place a piece of plywood then the other.

We elevated it well over a foot then slid it onto the bench where it would go...solo but that was in our young and risky days...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk
 
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