Moving big equipment out of a basement...

[lkldpl]

got them. so the BP mill is already stripped down, except for the knee. So that does make it easier to get out. Gantry??? I don't think so. I might rather do ramps and a winch. If the stairs lead right out side, a winch on a vehichle could pull it up the ramps

The gantry was more to move the lathe. I believe they were planning a ramp for the mill. The stairway leads up to an enclosed porch and there are good-sized windows in the porch. Their original plan for the lathe was to not disassemble it any further than shown in the picture and to anchor the feet of the lathe on skis (2 x 6's) and then use a winch-pulley system to slide it up the stairs. The cable for the winch would be passed through the porch window and attached to a pulley anchored into the concrete floor of the porch with 4 lag bolts. This method concerned me because the lathe is so top heavy. I thought it would be safer to remove the bed form the legs. That's when a friend suggested using a gantry I-beam and trolley system for the lathe. Also, as I said in a previous post. The wooden stairs are old and likely not structurally sound to bear the weight of this heavy machinery. I've attached a picture of the stairs.

 

[lkldpl]

Agree to all three points; late at this stage but whenever I’ve sold large items (personal or business) the terms are where-is/as-is, with the buyer responsible for moving and assuming all liability. While this does scare some buyers away in the end it is better for everyone.

One of the houses my Daughter looked at when she moved 6-ish years ago had a full weight system in the finished basement that the Seller said was included in the sale; Daughter took that one off the list.

 

[lkldpl]

Thanks John and ChazzC for that advice. I will be calling the insurance company Monday. The buyer did verbally agree to being responsible to move the mill and lathe. However, I thought their method of not disassembling the lathe any further than shown in the picture I posted and sliding the whole thing up the rickety wooden stairs on skis made of 2x6's does not seem safe. I don't want them harming themselves or doing damage to the house. I don't believe the buyer has experience moving such machinery.

 

[C-Bag]

Thanks John and ChazzC for that advice. I will be calling the insurance company Monday. The buyer did verbally agree to being responsible to move the mill and lathe. However, I thought their method of not disassembling the lathe any further than shown in the picture I posted and sliding the whole thing up the rickety wooden stairs on skis made of 2x6's does not seem safe. I don't want them harming themselves or doing damage to the house. I don't believe the buyer has experience moving such machinery.

I agree. Not removing the legs seems very lazy and not at all safe. Lower is better and it would have the bonus of taking maybe a couple hundred lbs off. There are so many other variables that would dictate how I would approach something like this like what the porch it like that the stairs lead up to and where is the door leading out. I have a 10’ super HD aluminum ramp that I’ve used it to load 1500lbs into the back of my trailer. If all was good with the landing and the door out of the porch with a good place to attach a winch along with getting rid of all the stuff along the wall below the steps that is the route I’d go. Have the buyers showed up with an engine hoist? If not I’d be very leery of their experience. YMMV.

 

[matthewsx]

Thanks John and ChazzC for that advice. I will be calling the insurance company Monday. The buyer did verbally agree to being responsible to move the mill and lathe. However, I thought their method of not disassembling the lathe any further than shown in the picture I posted and sliding the whole thing up the rickety wooden stairs on skis made of 2x6's does not seem safe. I don't want them harming themselves or doing damage to the house. I don't believe the buyer has experience moving such machinery.

I think it’s fine to tell them you don’t like the method they propose for moving equipment through what is still your house.

It’s when you start telling someone
HOW to do it where I’d be careful. You can always point them to this thread if you like, that might be a good compromise.

John

 

[Dabbler]

@lkldpl Sorry for the late reply I have been unavailable.

I made my own gantry crane, and also designed and fabricated the joist crane. I m trained in structures, and had the gantry checked out by another Engineer using FEA. I have also moved 9 or 10 mills and even more lathes (mostly for other people) I have over 35 years rigging experience, and my father was a professional rigger in steel mills, and gave be a bunch of pointers before he passed.

Don't underestimate the complexity of such a move. I spent 3 months planning the move, one month installing the necessary equipment and lining up labour. The move took one day, as the winching firm was charging 80$ per hour. I had 9 volunteers helping, with specific instructions for each person... One individual was there solely to be a safety officer, ready to call STOP if anything at all looked of, or someone was not where they were supposed to be. There were 3 stops that day, all for minor things.

We cut a hole in the side of his house for the winch cable, and reinforced the stairway, as the biggest piece - the Bridgeport base - weighed 995lbs. All the machines were broken down into manageable pieces and placed on custom built moving dollies. (every piece was weighed on a crane scale before being strapped to its dolly)

The stairs got 2X8 on flat on either side, so there was only about 10" of walking space in the middle. Once a piece got to the top of the stairs, they had to be turned 90 degrees, and then out the door - on to a temporary landing outside the door. (The doorway was 8" above the concrete patio).

3 professional rigging firms refused to bid on the job, citing safety concerns. one wanted 10,000$ for just the Bridgeport mill taken to the back yard.

In the 9 hour move, all things went exactly to plan. not one inch of movement was unexpected or out of the planned envelope.

--- I should add that I helped move most of the equipment down the stairs - 45 years ago. Down is much easier than up.

Reach out to me on DM and we can talk by phone, and I'll try to answer any questions you have.

 

[ChazzC]

@lkldpl Sorry for the late reply I have been unavailable.

I made my own gantry crane, and also designed and fabricated the joist crane. I m trained in structures, and had the gantry checked out by another Engineer using FEA. I have also moved 9 or 10 mills and even more lathes (mostly for other people) I have over 35 years rigging experience, and my father was a professional rigger in steel mills, and gave be a bunch of pointers before he passed.

Don't underestimate the complexity of such a move. I spent 3 months planning the move, one month installing the necessary equipment and lining up labour. The move took one day, as the winching firm was charging 80$ per hour. I had 9 volunteers helping, with specific instructions for each person... One individual was there solely to be a safety officer, ready to call STOP if anything at all looked of, or someone was not where they were supposed to be. There were 3 stops that day, all for minor things.

We cut a hole in the side of his house for the winch cable, and reinforced the stairway, as the biggest piece - the Bridgeport base - weighed 995lbs. All the machines were broken down into manageable pieces and placed on custom built moving dollies. (every piece was weighed on a crane scale before being strapped to its dolly)

The stairs got 2X8 on flat on either side, so there was only about 10" of walking space in the middle. Once a piece got to the top of the stairs, they had to be turned 90 degrees, and then out the door - on to a temporary landing outside the door. (The doorway was 8" above the concrete patio).

3 professional rigging firms refused to bid on the job, citing safety concerns. one wanted 10,000$ for just the Bridgeport mill taken to the back yard.

In the 9 hour move, all things went exactly to plan. not one inch of movement was unexpected or out of the planned envelope.

--- I should add that I helped move most of the equipment down the stairs - 45 years ago. Down is much easier than up.

Reach out to me on DM and we can talk by phone, and I'll try to answer any questions you have.

Great detailed description and very refreshing to see sensible approach to equipment moving.

 

[woodchucker]

Great detailed description and very refreshing to see sensible approach to equipment moving.

Jeez Dabbler, you just scared everyone with the talk of $10000 for one BP.... I'm shaking in my boots , what have I done to my family.

 

[WobblyHand]

Thank you John. It is a lot of work and we have been able to find buyers for many things who find the machines and machinist tools useful. We have already sold 2 drill presses and a screw press to one person who had the expertise and necessary equipment to move them. The lathe and mill are sold to another person. However, I'm not comfortable with the method he and his helper wanted to use to remove the lathe. I think they are trying to take shortcuts, such as not removing the bed but mounting the legs on skis and sliding the assembled lathe up the stairs. I have attached pictures of the lathe and. The person who bought them had begun dismantling them, which is evident in the pictures. You can see the stairs in the background of 2 of the pictures. They are old wooden stairs not structurally sound to support these machines which I estimate the weights may range from 0.5 to 1 ton. I agree with you that assistance from experienced people is most important to move such heavy machinery.

I don't have much to offer, but my 1851 house had some pretty rickety stairs into the basement. I rebuilt my stairs before moving my lathe into the basement. Replaced the treads with 2x10's. Underpinning didn't need much work. Used a sled with guides attached to the stairs and used a come along to lower the complete lathe into the basement. There was an auxiliary safety chain in case of come along failure or issues. The safety chain was needed. I expect that I'll do the same thing in reverse when we move some day.

Make sure the buyer doesn't do anything sketchy getting the equipment out of your house. You may be held responsible if they get hurt, even if it's all their fault. Moving equipment requires more brains than brawn. If they don't have brains you need to step in and insist on safe procedures. Dummies can hurt themselves, the equipment and your house.

 

[tq60]

STOP!

This can be risky, and serious damage and injury is possible!

Your wallet is at risk.

For hire rigger that has PROPER INSURANCE is best bet.

Some person with little experience and ideas highly risky!

Check with your insurance company about a waver for these folks, or, if there is something they should have from their own coverage.

Things go bad fast, better to loose the sale than life.

Yes, they got down, but up is more difficult.

The lathe needs to be taken apart, otherwise it may topple and capture someone.

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