PM-1660TL

Ianagos said:
Typically when I’ve needed riggers is $1500 for them to drive out then a couple hundred an hour. Renting a forklift would be more cost efficient but very dangerous aswell. If you are local to Atlanta I can do the rigging for you for a lower cost but I have no clue where you are.

Edit: I’m stupid I just realize you stated you are in California so sorry I’m of no help to you.
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Yes, I am an hour north of San Francisco.

Thank you for giving me some idea of how much they will charge. It sounds very expensive, but I need to minimize the risk of damaging the lathe.
 
I think that I am done buying stuff. I just finished about a 4+ year run of working 6 days a week & I just can’t do it anymore.

I have been buying machines & tools as if it was my last chance to do so. The garage is quite full.

As I was working all that OT, I knew that the day would come when I would switch from “buying mode” to “using what I have” mode.

The cost for the rigging crew for the PM-1660TL delivery will put me in a financial position such that I must now move forward with the machines & tools that I have.

My first Saturday off, I spent most of the day on both the benchtop lathe & mill. I got to use a boring head and boring bars that I bought awhile ago, but was always too busy to use.
 
While in CO working my last job, I realized that I could soon be put out to pasture, so I bought my current machines while I could do so.

After they threw me out the door and subsequent job searches showed me that companies up there weren't interested in 60 year old engineers, I moved the wife and I back to AZ, bought our house and moved the machines (and everything else) down here. I had to take early SS, so now I'm broke, but the house and machines are paid for. It could be worse. :)
 
wrmiller said:
While in CO working my last job, I realized that I could soon be put out to pasture, so I bought my current machines while I could do so.

After they threw me out the door and subsequent job searches showed me that companies up there weren't interested in 60 year old engineers, I moved the wife and I back to AZ, bought our house and moved the machines (and everything else) down here. I had to take early SS, so now I'm broke, but the house and machines are paid for. It could be worse. :)
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I am at the last stage of my career. If I work until age 62, I can afford to add one last tool: a PM-1054TV. I am going to attempt this; I hope my body can hold out.

In my retirement, I will have zero chance of buying anything other than material and consumables (e.g. cutting tools, shielding gas).

I plan on spending my remaining years working on all of this equipment purchased with the hourly wages. Are any of you guys doing this? If so, how is that going?
 
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The rigging crew supervisor (for the PM-1660TL delivery job) called me today, getting the last of the information that he needed.

He still hasn’t quoted me a price, but it sounds like they (Precision Crane in Windsor, CA) are competent and willing to do the work.

The plan is to ship the PM order directly to Precision Crane. I should get something in writing (including a price!) in order to protect my interests.
 
erikmannie said:
The rigging crew supervisor (for the PM-1660TL delivery job) called me today, getting the last of the information that he needed.

He still hasn’t quoted me a price, but it sounds like they (Precision Crane in Windsor, CA) are competent and willing to do the work.

The plan is to ship the PM order directly to Precision Crane. I should get something in writing (including a price!) in order to protect my interests.
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They will definitely give you a firm estimate at least. You are a reasonable customer with a fair understanding of the work required and what it's likely to cost. If the price is more than you expected ask if they can bring it to you when they have another job in the area. It will get done and you will be happy with their services I predict.

I'm also sure that in the long run this will be a purchase that serves you and your family well. People and businesses are always in need of competent craftsmen and women. With who you are it's unlikely you'll just stop when you retire from UPS, your entire working life has been serving others and you're probably going to keep doing it. Have faith in yourself and your commitment to learning and you will probably have a good second career that you love.

John
 
The estimate for the rigging service is “$2,375 max”. For this charge, I will have the pallet(s) shipped directly to Precision Crane (the rigging company), and they will put the lathe in it’s place in my garage.

Also, Precision Matthews emailed me & said that the machine will ship soon, so I am calling them in a few days with my credit card info.
 
258 posts into this thread, and the lathe has shipped! It is headed directly to the rigging company.

I just got some “eBay Bucks”, and I bought Mobil DTE ISO 68 for the gear box (i.e. thread/feed box) and apron.

I will post pictures of the rigging crew delivering the beast. I will also post pictures of the cleaning, break-in, etc.
 
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I could have used way oil in the apron. Here is a screenshot from the PM website:

2DC5EEF8-F99C-4773-991B-88EA0C6D74CA.png
 
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