Lathe Moving Dolly

[Brian Rupnow]

This is going to be a new, short term project. Thursday my lathe broke down--something electrical. It is a heavy lathe, weighing about 400 pounds. I managed to move the lathe and the cabinets it is mounted on from my machine shop, thru my office, out into my main garage, where I unbolted the lathe from the cabinets and used my cherry picker engine hoist to lift it into the bed of my truck. I moved it using a tow rope, my truck, and a terrified wife who stood in the office and screamed STOP whenever the lathe was about to crash into anything---the tow rope went thru a few doorways and around a few corners. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the Darwin Award or not. I survived. Wife survived. Lathe survived. Sometime this week the lathe will be repaired and I will have to pick it up and repeat all of the above, only in reverse. I have just inventoried all of the scrap bits of angle bedframe, wheel casters, and heavy lumber in my various storage spots. I am going to build a heavy duty Dolly to mount the lathe on and roll the damned thing from my truck back into my machine shop. The Dolly will be about 1/4" higher than the cabinets that the lathe sets on so it can be slid from the dolly onto the cabinets---no lifting required. If I live as long as my mother, who is 100 years old, probably sooner or later I may have to move the lathe again.---Stay tuned!!!

[crueby]

And do NOT watch any old Three Stooges shows with them moving pianos or anything....!  Any old mines in your area, borrow a mine car and some track to weave it through the house?


For now, I'll stick with my little Sherline lathe, can tuck it under my arm for moving it when needed...

[Brian Rupnow]

There is a back story to this. Five or six years ago when I bought this lathe new, I brought it home from the store in my truck, off-loaded it, tried it out. It performed very well. I was a lot fatter and wimpier five or six years ago, so I hired "professional machinery movers" to move it from my main garage into my machine shop. Two huge men arrived, picked up the lathe, carried it into my machine shop.--and charged me $500. It took them all of 10 minutes to move the lathe. I'm a lot trimmer and in better overall health now, and I wasn't going to pay anybody to move the lathe. I don't want wheels on my lathe cabinets. the cabinets do not have leveling feet. It costs me nothing to make the dolly, and I will keep I around until I die or get sent to "the home".

[Hugh Currin]

Brian:

Not sure where to start this rambling reply, so I'll just start rambling. I just finished moving my mill and lathe from Oregon to Arizona. Required a forklift on both ends, but the forklift wouldn't fit into the garage on either end. Inside they were moved around via ply bars and steel pipes used as rollers. They are settled in, but I find myself needing to move a bench top sized mill and lathe. I may want to move these seasonally so have been putting thought into how.

In some circles a 400lb lathe is pretty light. I'm sure the Riggers thought it was. However, heavy enough to hurt you big time if not kill you. So be careful and safe.

I would first suggest moving the lathe at ground level (+/- 6"), particularly if it is off its stand already. Those stands are narrow and top heavy with the lathe installed. I fear a dolly the same height will also be top heavy. How about a dolly some 4-5" high with casters. For 400lb you shouldn't need true machine skates. Move the machine into the shop then use the engine hoist to mount in on its stand.

I think I'll make some outriggers with large casters for my small lathe and mill. That should allow them to be moved safely while on their stands. Make them such that the machine is lifted a few inches so the outriggers can be attached. Then lower onto the casters for moving. I've come across what's called a "toe jack". They can be purchased but can also be made using a bottle jack. This looks like a much easier way to lift one end of a machine a few inches than a pry bar. Lift one end 2", block solidly with wood, lift the other end and block, repeat. This would get the machine high enough to install outriggers, skates, or put a furniture moving dollies under each end. I plan to do this for the last foot or two to get up against the wall (the outriggers would be in the way).

A toe jack would be a big help moving a machine onto its stand also. Lift and block the cabinets up until one leg of the engine hoist will pass underneath. I had some trouble moving my bench top mill onto a stand because I couldn't get close enough with the hoist. Its permanent stand is wider so will be more trouble. So, lift the cabinet until the hoist passes one leg under to get the machine squarely over the table. Lower the machine and bolt into place. You can likely lift the cabinet by hand, but lowering it back down with the machine attached is harder. Toe jack would be very handy. Lower one end 2" and re-block, lower the other end 4" and block, repeat until on the ground. Then, Bob's you Uncle.

I found this YouTube video very interesting for moving machines.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJeoaW2Zbhg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJeoaW2Zbhg</a>
He also has a video on building a toe jack but no plans. Still looking for plans.

Keep the lathe as low as possible when moving. It'll keep the lathe safer and you healthier. Never lift a machine higher than necessary, and never put any body part under a lifted machine. And for sure let us know what you end up doing, with pictures.

Here's hoping for an easy and clean move.

[Hugh Currin]

I hope the YouTube link above came through. I haven't been able to see YouTube links on MEM for some time. Tried both Firefox and Chromium, no joy. Anyone had similar trouble? Anyone know how to get these links back? Pictures are visible but no YouTube.

Thanks.

[crueby]

I hope the YouTube link above came through. I haven't been able to see YouTube links on MEM for some time. Tried both Firefox and Chromium, no joy. Anyone had similar trouble? Anyone know how to get these links back? Pictures are visible but no YouTube.

Thanks.

Your link shows and plays fine for me.

I seem to recall that if I use the https address for this forum rather than just http, with no s on the end, it wont show the vids. Not talking about the youtube link, but for getting to the forum itself.

[Hugh Currin]

I seem to recall that if I use the https address for this forum rather than just http, with no s on the end, it wont show the vids. Not talking about the youtube link, but for getting to the forum itself.

I remember some problems earlier with http vs https. I switched all my links to https then and that's what shows up in the address line. Excellent idea but not my current problem. But thank you.

[crueby]

I seem to recall that if I use the https address for this forum rather than just http, with no s on the end, it wont show the vids. Not talking about the youtube link, but for getting to the forum itself.

I remember some problems earlier with http vs https. I switched all my links to https then and that's what shows up in the address line. Excellent idea but not my current problem. But thank you.

I meant the other way. Having the s makes mine break.

[Art K]

Brian,
I have an Enco 12 X 36 gear head lathe. According to the internet with the cabinet it weighs 1288 lbs, and we all know the internet doesn't lie. I went to the local Harbor Freight your home for cheap stuff. I bought 4 of these 500 lbs castors. I have 4 of these bolted to the 2x6's with lag bolts. I  used a crowbar to lift it and get it high enough to place this underneath. Not easy by yourself I might add. I used lag bolts to mount the 2x6's to the cabinet then rolled it into place. Then used the crowbar to reverse the jacking process.

 Hey you have a cherry picker to lift it that's the hard part. This is the Lathe I moved.

I imagine you have the lumber around, maybe not a harbor freight. Something along these may simplify your job replacing it in the shop. I did get the new power supply for my computer and it does appear to have fried the motherboard when it blew as well. So more working with my nephew to solve this computer problem.
Art

[Hugh Currin]

I meant the other way. Having the s makes mine break.

By golly. When I take the s off (just http) I do see the YouTube links. Must be some kind of black magic.

Thank you.

[Jo]

To move machines I just do so per the video but use long 1" diameter steel bars as rollers. If the bottom of the machine isn't solid then slide a thick piece of plywood under it to give the rollers something to roll against. Four of my machines are over the ton and I have no problem moving them around on my own in this way 

I know its tempting with the small stuff like a 400lb lathe to move it around high but there is always that risk of it slipping and doing some real damage 

Don't forget to wear your safety boots when moving machines around and keep your fingers out from underneath unless there is something thicker and more solid than your hand under it first

Jo

[Jasonb]

Brian just a Jo says when I moved mine which is similar to yours all I did was lay a few lengths of 3/4" ID steel pipe on the floor, piece of ply ontop of that and walked the lathe and stand onto that. could be pushed easily with a couple of fingers

[pgp001]

Sometimes you need more than a couple of fingers to move it, "Size Matters"

Excuse the quality of the old scanned slides. This is how we moved our 20 foot long lathe many years ago, using a 1946 chain drive Scammell and winch rope.

Phil

[GordonL]

RE: Moving machines. If you can get an engine hoist into the shop remove it from the stand and then lower it on to a pallet jack. A pallet jack is very maneuverable and they are inexpensive and frequently available used. You should be able to borrow one from a local store or shop. I have a couple of my my machines mounted on risers so that I can get a pallet jack under them to move them. I have even moved my 13" South Bend lathe by placing blocking on top of the pallet jack.

RE: Youtube videos. I had a problem a couple of weeks ago and it ended up being on of the extensions in Chrome. I disabled them one by one until I found the one causing the problem. Obviously the extension got "updated" when  was sleeping because the extension had been there for a long time.

[steamer]

When I had to move my VanNorman #12 milling machine......I'm guessing 2500 pounds....I had to raise it to get the leveling feet off, about 6 inches....then put it down on 4x4 timbers so I could then roll it out of the garage door and onto a trailer.   I did it alone....slowly, with a pinch bar, some cribbing in the form of metal flat and bar stock of various sizes, and some 4 x 4's  and some 1" x 3 foot long pipe rollers.    It's a little scary with a machine that heavy in a confined space as if anything goes pear shaped....theres not much room to maneuver.    That said you go slow, and plan the job.   In the end , after I had it skidded on the 4x4's , I used my pickup to pull it forward to the garage door opening. 

Took better part of the day to do all this....but a pinch bar does wonders!!!

[Brian Rupnow]

So--As I said, I will build a lathe transporting dolly with materials I have on hand. Small casters are from a moving crane I built about 25 years ago, then cut up and salvaged the material. Main body is 2" x 10" spruce, angles are old bedframe angles, and the two larger wheels and axle are off my handcart (borrowed) for the occasion. The red rectangle is the footprint of the lathe. The top of the dolly will be 3/4" higher than the cabinets that the lathe sets on. Lathe will be bolted to that top plank during transport. Steerable casters are 2 1/2" diameter. Larger wheels are 9 1/2" diameter pneumatic. Headstock end of lathe, which is by far the heaviest will set over these 9 1/2" wheels. I would have made the entire dolly much shorter and closer to the ground for stability, but my cherrypicker hoist will not fit into my machine shop. I have a secret weapon to help me with the move---a 180 pound son who works here in Barrie. After the move has been accomplished I will dismantle this dolly and band everything together and store it in case it is needed again some time. Thank you to everyone who responded to my post.----Brian

[Brian Rupnow]

And now you know how I spent my day. Everything was material which I had on hand. I haven't heard back from the lathe repair people yet, but whenever they get it fixed I will be able to move the lathe back into my machine shop, with the help of my son.  That beats the heck out of the $500 I paid "professional machinery movers" the first time the lathe moved from my garage to my machine shop.

[crueby]

Nicely done. And you also have a portable bar for your next party. And a really tall skateboard...

[Elam Works]

Is it scalable?

-Doug

[Jo]

I like that, no worries about it toppling over if it hits the odd bump

Jo

[Vixen]

Never seen a lathe with a tow hitch before. 

Mike

[tghs]

I think you need to keep that dolly chain up,, I'm somehow seeing shop elves, a local dog harnessed up and a late night beer run,, most likely with very bad results 

[Mcgyver]

He also has a video on building a toe jack but no plans. Still looking for plans.

I've been working on a web site  (far from complete) but its live and I added the toe jack I made as hopefully a few stills will be useful (as the rest of world wants to gravitate to 20 min videos ).  I didn't have drawings, just copied a friends....needs to be done to suit the jack anyway.  I hope it helps

http://www.metallum.shop/projects-2/ click or scroll to madman Mikes toejack

[Brian Rupnow]

The lathe is repaired and today I fetched it home (more later). This picture shows the lathe freshly unloaded from my truck and bolted to the dolly.  It is still hooked to my cherrypicker hoist in this picture. The cart worked perfectly, and the lathe is back in it's home in the machine shop. I never did get my son to help. He works two jobs and couldn't come by until Thursday and I couldn't wait. Yes, it was top heavy, but I knew it would be. The dolly was very stable and when I pulled/pushed it from my main garage, thru my office and into my machine shop, it was a fairly simple move to slide it off the dolly onto the cabinets it mounts on.

[steamer]

Nicely done Brian.   you look really healthy too.  Congrats!

Dave

[Brian Rupnow]

So--Here's the "rest of the story". One picture is of the gear cover that sets on the end of my lathe to protect my fingers from the gears. Notice the bent bracket at the lower right corner of it. That bent bracket pushes on a switch which disables the electrics on the lathe if the guard is removed. I haven't had that cover off the lathe in more than a year. Somehow---Perhaps metal fatigue? the bracket bent far enough that it no longer pushed on the button, and consequently the lathe stopped right in the middle of a cut. The switch it presses on is right below the gears and is virtually impossible to see unless you stand on your head to look for it. When I left the lathe in Concord at Busy Bee, I told them that my rpm indicator only worked intermittently and please either fix it or replace it, as well as please fix whatever is wrong that I have no power to the lathe. They replaced the rpm indicator, scratched their heads a bit and then found that bending the bracket by hand fixed things so it pushed the button and restored power to the lathe. I either didn't know, or else forgot that switch was even there.They charged two hours labor and the price of the new readout. My bill came to $129. So, they treated me quite honestly I think. They could have told me it needed a new motor and charged me another couple of hundred dollars but they didn't.

[crueby]

Its those little bits on machinery that can be tricky - glad you have it all sorted out and moved back in safely, and worth it to get the readout replaced. 

[Hugh Currin]

Brian:

Good to see you have the lathe fixed and back in place. Sounds to me like a reasonable price, maybe $50/hr, which is a bargain these days.

Mcgyver:

I couldn't find any plans for a toe jack. And after looking at the stress analysis I can see why. I'll have to clean up my hen scratchings for reference later, but unless I've really gone astray the loads are quite high. I put together a design but won't put them out for general use, the liability to too high. But I picked up the steel today to build one. They do look handy for moving machines. Thanks for the link, it looks like you do have some machines to move around. :-)

I've been working on a web site  (far from complete) but its live and I added the toe jack I made as hopefully a few stills will be useful (as the rest of world wants to gravitate to 20 min videos ).  I didn't have drawings, just copied a friends....needs to be done to suit the jack anyway.

[Brian Rupnow]

Everything was going back together perfectly, until I discovered I had lost my nuts!! Maybe a note of explanation is required--the lathe is held to the splash pan and the cabinets below it by six M12 bolts, and the nuts go on the inside of the cabinets. I distinctly remember putting the nuts and a couple of handles "somewhere", but damned if I could remember where. After searching for 20 minutes, I did what I always do in a situation like this.---I called my wife. Now I realize that this conversation could go off on a tangent here, but when I can't find things, my wife usually can. She searched for 10 minutes, and then as I walked by some engine display shelves in my office I spied a Tetley Tea container she gave me a couple of weeks ago to "keep little parts in". I picked it up, took off the lid, and sure enough---There were my nuts.  Just her being in the same room as I am seems to help find things. Now, with my nuts happily found, I am too tired to do anymore tonight. I have to go tomorrow morning and pick up a grandchild for a visit with us. (We have to visit them in rotation because of this horrible Covid stuff.) After I have visited 9 year old Brennen for a while and made a run to the dump with a cubic yard of swarf, I will finish putting things back together and proceed where I left off on my Stephensons Rocket.

[Mcgyver]

after looking at the stress analysis I can see why.

I didn't model it but it would be interesting to see what the stresses are.  I picked up a bunch off cuts and started welding.  It has no trouble lifting the heavy end of the 5100lb DSG, the heaviest I have.   We make lots of lifting devices at work and I wouldn't dream making one in a commercial setting without adhering to stamped drawings, but I am less worried at home.  No body part ever goes under a lift and its only a few inches (we stand behind our cranes, but never under them ).  It puts a fair sideways load on the cylinder but the seals have held up.

[Art K]

Brian,
I'm glad to the good results from Busy Bee. It's always good to get a machine up and running when it's been down for the count.
Art

[mechman48]

I meant the other way. Having the s makes mine break.

By golly. When I take the s off (just http) I do see the YouTube links. Must be some kind of black magic.

Thank you.

After a long absence have just been looking & have the same problem.. When I took the 's' off all was revealed, pics, video links, 'uncle Tom Cobbly & all'..  It must be magic?