Gunsmithing Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

[SSC]

I am thinking about getting a G4003G or a PM1340. I am trying to think ahead and figure out how I am going to get it into my garage. I live in the country and have a gravel road up to the house and a gravel drive. I know others have used auto dolly or cranes but not sure what to do. my driveway is also on a slight slope if that matters.

I was thinking about using an engine hoist once I got it on the concrete.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Specify the freight company to deliver using a hoist gate - the hydraulic lift on the back of the truck. Rent or borrow a pallet jack, that will allow you to roll the pallet on concrete. It's very low, allows you to position it most anywhere, we have a 5000 pound model that is easy to roll.

Or, rent a forklift. Should cost about $200 plus a delivery fee for a days use.

 

[CopperCreekAmmo]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

you could roll it along 10 sections of 3 foot pipe. Then keep moving pipe from the end to the beginning like an endless track.

 

[SSC]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

very ancient Egyptian.....

 

[trigger time]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Rent a forklift or borrow/rent a small skidsteer with forks. Then call a couple friends to help keep it all nice and stable.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Veeerrrryyyyy effffeenn carefully.

Good luck.

PS. I always use my back when lifting.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rb85cj7</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am thinking about getting a G4003G or a PM1340. I am trying to think ahead and figure out how I am going to get it into my garage. I live in the country and have a gravel road up to the house and a gravel drive. I know others have used auto dolly or cranes but not sure what to do. my driveway is also on a slight slope if that matters.

I was thinking about using an engine hoist once I got it on the concrete. </div></div>

The problem with the engine hoist, is the legs don't allow you to position it where it needs to be. A pallet jack will be useful until you get it off the pallet.

A 5' pinch/pry bar and some 3' pieces of 1" pipe will get it anywhere you want to put it. Go slow and be careful.

 

[colchester]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Anything with a hard wheel like a cart pallet jack or engine hoist will not roll on the gravel driveway, so for any of these to be useful you need to get the machine to the concrete pad or put plywood on the gravel. If you try to use an engine hoist to remove it from the skid the skid will be in the way of the base on the engine hoist so you will need to work around this. I think you could put the skid on some cribbing so the base of the engine hoist can get oriented under the skid and you can pick the machine off the skid. If the machine was in the back of a pick up or on a trailer you could un-crate it and pick it from the trailer or the pick up bed. If you decide on a forklift overhead clearance should be considered many will not pass under a residential garage door, and hard tired forklifts don't mix well with gravel driveways and you may get stuck. Another consideration with a lift truck will be the fork carriage hitting the ceiling in your garage when you try to position the slinged lathe on the stand. I think your best might be to try to do it with the engine hoist but you'll need to avoid the gravel and deal with the legs of the hoist being in your way good go slow and work it out

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

RAD <span style="font-size: 14pt">recently</span> moved several. Listen to him.

 

[hero's machine]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

do you have rafters you can span with a 4x4? if so a cheap chain hoist will do to pick it up once you get the pallet into position. I can tell yo this, if you choke a pm 14x40 on the first casting that spans the space between the ways, and run the tailstock and carriage back, you can hit the cg by rolling the knot on your choke. mine hung dead level with a bit of moving the carriage.

 

[RWSGunsmithing]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Opt for the lift gate on the truck that'll save some expense. Atleast it'll get it to the ground.

I would buy 4 heavy duty casters, atleast 700 lb ea load rateing, 2 pieces of 3' 4x4 posts and 3 pieces of 1/2 plywood, buy, borrow, or rent a engine hoist.

Fasten 2 of the casters to each of the 4x4 posts with some good lags or heavy duty screws. Uload the lathe off the truck directly onto a piece or two of plywood. Use the engine hoist or even a floor jack to jack one side of the pallet up at a time and fasten the 4x4's with the casters to the bottom of the pallet. Place the remaining pieces of plywood end to end, then simply roll the lathe to your shop, moveing the back piece of ply wood to the front and keep doing that till you reach your shop.

I'm actually going to use the 4x4 block idea but only after the lathe is assembled as I have to go through a narrow doorway to get my lathe in place.

Robert

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

BTW, of the two lathes you mentioned, I would go with the PM1340. It has more features and while I have not run that particular lathe, the SuperMax that it copied is a very nice machine. Just my opinion.

There are several unknowns that would influence my approach to the task. Does your garage have a concrete apron that extends outside of the door? How much slope? How much clearance do you have overhead? Are there any steps or lips at the door to contend with? Do you know anyone with a tractor and front end loader?

Each situation is unique and requires some creativity to overcome. The more strong people you can get to help, the better off you will be.

I still maintain that a pinch bar and pipe are the most versatile tools to overcome the most obstacles.

 

[SDLAW]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

You could probably borrow a small utility trailer (golf cart or 4-wheeler) and meet the truck at the local lumberyard. They could use their forklift to put it on the trailer which would easily back into your garage. The engine hoist could take it from there.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RADcustom</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I still maintain that a pinch bar and pipe are the most versatile tools to overcome the most obstacles.

</div></div>

RAD, you are correct - I have used this method to move a 10,000 pound crankshaft grinder into a shop, thru a set of french doors. 3" pipe, or 1" bar stock works well, on hard surfaces.

Most machines are delivered by common carrier truck ( Yellow Freight etc) you can specify lift gate service. That solves the getting off the truck, which with any luck he can get to back up on his concrete.

Besides, pry bar and pipe is an inexpensive, elegant solution, your friends will be impressed!

 

[GasLight]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I moved my lathe 3x so far. The first time was out of a garage up onto a trailer, for that move we used two dolly jacks strapped to each end of the lathe and then we winched it up on the trailer. I rented a forklift to take it off the trailer, this was a waste of time and money because I couldn't get it in the garage with the forklift because the forklift wouldn't clear my garage door. We ended up using a pallet jack to move it into the garage. The 2nd move we used a combination of 2 pallet jacks and it was like butter, we had a drop trailer and it was nothing short of amazing the ease in which we moved and positioned it.

If you don't have a concrete apron to set the lathe on right off the truck, I would buy some flooring sheets and lay those on the gravel out to where the truck can set it down. Then I would rent a pallet jack and roll it into place.

Sounds to me like RAD has the most experience so I would heed everything he is saying also.

Good luck, and share some pictures when you get it done!

Dave

 

[Some Day]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

You mite be able to rent what they call trucks they go under the corners and then you cam move it around on the concrete any were you want.I do this all the time at work we move a lot of are machines real big ones and little ones like yours.GOOD LUCK

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?


If you have occasion to get it onto a flat, hard surface such as 4'x8' plate steel, roll it on billiard balls. Caveat: do not let this thing get on your feet. Imagine the hurt if it pins you to the wall. A hard upper surface, hard balls, hard floor.....the lathe will roll out of control if you aren't careful.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

My dad built something for his so when he slides it off the trailer it is on wheels and he can handle it - he sold it to a fellow SH member and did the same thing.

 

[patriotoutlaw]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Me and my 70+ yr old gunsmithin buddy have unloaded and set into place several gunsafes, a milling machine and a lathe using this very method. Works like a charm.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

The engine hoist will work on the G4003G for sure, not sure about the PM1340 but, it probably will. That being said, get the machine on concrete and you'll be set. Order a roll back wrecker on the day your machine gets there, they can off load to the wrecker and then off load into your garage on the floor.

Have RAD come help, he can just pick it up for you..........he picked up mine, twice.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The engine hoist will work on the G4003G for sure, not sure about the PM1340 but, it probably will. That being said, get the machine on concrete and you'll be set. Order a roll back wrecker on the day your machine gets there, they can off load to the wrecker and then off load into your garage on the floor.

Have RAD come help, he can just pick it up for you..........he picked up mine, twice. </div></div>

I don't put out like that for just anybody.

 

[SSC]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

So i have a buddy with a fork lift at his work. and can get a small trailer to put the lathe on to to back it into the garage. then I guess i need to find something get it off the trailer and on some pipes to roll around or a pallet jack. How did everyone get it off the pallet?

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rb85cj7</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How did everyone get it off the pallet? </div></div>

2# trim hammer and a pry bar but, the engine hoist may lift it for you.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rb85cj7</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How did everyone get it off the pallet? </div></div>

2# trim hammer and a pry bar but, the engine hoist may lift it for you. </div></div>

In case this isn't clear, use the pry bar to lift the end of the lathe while someone uses the hammer to bust up the pallet. Ease it down and do the other end.

 

[acloco]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

We have used a couple of floor jacks - one on each end of the pallet. Only need to jack up the lathe 1/2" to move it - you need help though...they are usually top heavy with the pallet they are delivered on.

Pipes work great though. You will be completely surprised how easy heavy objects are to move.

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I installed both my mill and lathe using a reach lift.

Kinda like a 4WD off road fork lift that can extend the forks a long way.

I have a really steep driveway, no way a conventional fork lift would have made those hills.

 

[ebwillis]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Just went through this.

I had access to a fork lift to get my machine off the truck. Moved it in position with machinery skates which made it unbelievablely easy. Un-bolted one end of machine from pallet and lifted it with a toe jack. Cut pallet with reciprocating saw and moved piece out of the way. Lowerd jack and repeated on the other side.

I ponied-up for skates and a jack becuase I will have to move my stuff frequently and my shop needs to be kind of expeditionary. This stuff can be found for cheap if you look around. If I didn't have the jack or skates I would have used a pry bar and pipes as rollers.

S/F

 

[AJ_Goddard]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Lathes are top heavy they can roll over very easily. And when they start to go get out of the way. I have seen many lathes destroyed. The safest way is to use a sling with a fork lift and pick it from the top. Skid steers may have the power but they are very jerky. If picking from the bottom try to strap the lathe to the lifting machine so it cannot tip over. If the above is not practical or too expensive which may be the case for a small lathe. The skates work great once it is on concrete just be sure you do not let one roll out of position as it is moving across the floor. With uneven floors this can happen very easily and the machine can become unbalanced. I have used just about all the methods above except the pool ball trick which scares me. If possible have several sets of eyes to watch, it helps to see things before they go wrong. But too many Chiefs can be a problem. Just remember slow and easy.

 

[hero's machine]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I choked mine right where you see it. I just set it down with my forklift and took this pic. you can see that I have the carriage and tailstock way back, this hits the center of gravity bang on. I use a forklift, but a board across the rafters will work too if you buy a $50 chain hoist. I loaded my welder that way when I lfet my home in the subs, my welder weighs 1600lbs.

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I have moved both of mine using my tractor w/bucket once I got them to the house. strapped them like you see in Hero's pic, though I used two strap, to the bed only, avoiding all other parts. Drove right into my building and put them where I wanted them.

To get them loaded on the trailer, I used a forklift for one and the other, half the offensive line for the local college football team (wife is professor there so she just asked the football coach if any of the kids (i use that term loosely, of course, as while they may be half my age, they were three times bigger than me!) and they just picked it up and put it on the trailer! Done. Gave them $100 bill to split up when we got back to town and they were happy as clams. Otherwise, I am not sure how I would have loaded it without taking my tractor all the way to the place I bought it as it was just me and another old fart buddy and we sure couldnt have lifted it.

 

[hero's machine]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I would either single point pic it at the center of gravity, or load one end heavy and use a ratchet strap to nail the level. do not use a chain or cable without softeners or it will bust up the paint on your bed. nylons did no damage at all.......but pick it from as high as possible!

 

[KTDLS7]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

+1 on the "flatbed" wrecker. If it's going in your garage and your door is wide enough for the bed, it can be slid right in. Then, it's a matter of final positioning with your choice of method(s).

In about 1975, I was at a friend's shop when his (then) new Mazak M4(?) was delivered on a hydraulic flatbed. If I recall, this lathe had something like an 18-20" swing and probably weighed about 12,000 lbs. Very interesting watching the unload process. They tilted and extended the bed, slid it off, and used the overhead crane/winches in the shop for final positioning.

Kevin

 

[Bryan27]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I used the flatbed wrecker to move my lathe. In my situation I went and picked up my lathe from the equipment dealer and they loaded it on the equipment trailer for me with a huge fork lift. While there I through bolted some 4x6's running the length of the lathe like a pair of skis to the base. When I got it to the house I called dumb and dumbers wrecker service and they came out with the flatbed to remove it from the trailer and place it on the ground in front of my garage on to some pipe so I could roll it in. The hydraulics on the bed and the winch made for very contolable movements and it worked out better than I could have imagined. The had a "wheel lift" under their truck and were able to push it into the garage all the way without me having to break a sweat, no need for rolling it in on pipes. I only took a few pictures of the process because I was busy keeping an eye on things but they pretty much sho the process. Start to finish it only took about 30 minutes and a $100 bill. When I sold it it was the same thing in reverse, but with a much more professional wrecker service.

Taking it off the trailer.....

Sliding it off the flatbed.......

The nice thing about those flatbeds is that they can extend it back several feet, drop the end to the ground and then retract the bed from under the lathe. It takes a couple of times, but you pull the bed out from under it, lift it slightly off the ground, extend the bed back out, drop it to the ground, retract bed from under the lathe, rinse and repeat... After a couple cycles of this the lathe is on the ground and the can back right up to it and butt the wheel lift against the "skis" and use their hydraulics to push the lathe about 6' at a time, very controlled movements.

BTW, 1 that isn't me in the picture, 2 you are looking at about 6000+/- pounds of iron in that picture. 1500 or so lbs should be a cake walk.

 

[dmg308]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

What the hell were you making in your garge

? That things a monster what is it?

 

[ugsly]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

Ive moved 2 of them, not hard just don't be in a hurry and have a couple extra hands. a PM12x36 used a fork life to get it on our flatbed trailer. and when I got home used a pallet jack and pushed it in the garage. To lift that one and move it around the garage I used an engine hoist like Hero did and moved and lifted it on the stands.

Moved a grizzly 4003G lathe same way but used the engine hoist to get it apart and on the trailer then back the trailer up to the garage at home and used the engine hoist to take if off and set it up.

 

[jbmillard]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

I had a G4003G delivered about a year ago.

1) make sure the Grizzly knows what is required -- since they were delivering to my house, I asked for lift gate service and a pallet truck.

2) The driver got the lathe off the truck and into my garage with the pallet truck.

3) I used a engine hoist to lift the lathe off the pallet. Then with the lathe in the air, I moved the pallet and put two furniture dollies under the lathe.

4) I moved the lathe to where I wanted it on the furniture dollies and lifted again with the engine hoist.

5) With the lathe in the air, I put the stands underneath and lowered the lathe.

Couple of warnings:

1) run the bolts into the threaded holes in the stands before you put them under the lathe. This cleans them and makes sure you can get them in without having to worry about the 1000 pound lathe in the air.

2) DO NOT use the engine hoist to move the lathe. Whenever I moved my lathe it was 3" off the ground and on two furniture dollies I made.

3) Check the electrical connections before putting the lathe in position. Mine is against a wall and would be tough to fix after the lathe is in position.

It's not hard to do, it took me a couple of hours to get it set up and level. Just go slowly.

Brad

 

[Bryan27]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What the hell were you making in your garge

? That things a monster what is it?</div></div>

I had taken a machinist night class and they had the exact same lathe, I liked it so much I bought one. I got it in my garage and realized how fricking big it was relative to the space I had to work......... Mostly I spent time cleaning it up and fixing a few small things and realized that it wasn't the lathe I needed for gunsmithing. The hole through the spindle was plenty big for barrel work, problem is it was also something like 30"s through the spindle. It is a Monarch 16CY.

 

[wadebrown]

Re: Getting a lathe delivered/ how to unload?

We just moved a TOS SU32/500 lathe into the shop today. The TOS is a Czech lathe 14x36 with a 1.75 spindle bore that weighs in at just shy of 3,000 pounds. The guy we bought it from had a forklift that was almost large enough to load it clean as it was it could not lift quite high enough to lift over the sides of the trailer so we loaded it on the backend of the trailer and shoved it forward with the forks. The lathe ended up centered on the back axle of a two axle trailer.

The lathe was lifted by passed solid 1.5: diameter bars through the lifting holes and then lifting straps to the forks, this worked very well and never the panic that can happen lifting from the bottom with forks.

Luckily we only had to move it about 30 miles as the trailering went slow as there was about zero tongue weight since we could not get the lathe far enough forward. Loading the lathe did not go bad as it only took about 45 minutes from start to last strap tightened.

At the shop we used a skidloader to lift the lathe off the trailer and move it into the shop, we had about 1 inch to spare to get the loader with the lathe under the garage door. The lathe is sitting on the concrete floor away from the wall.

Now all that remains is to get the 3 phase convertor wired up to the 10 hp idler I picked up a while back as the lathe has a huge in size 8.8 hp 3 phase motor. In general the TOS lathe is a very heavily made lathe, the holes through the base for lifting was through cast iron that was over 1 inch thick. I guess cast iron and fuel for transport cost a lot less in 1962.

The 13x40 Jet that was sold off to make room for the TOS was moved out by wrapping a nylon lifting strap around the bed and lifting with the skidloader yesterday and that went very well. The jet was a lightweight compared to the TOS.

wade