Thread: Moving a Mill

Hi all,
I have just acquired a Bridgeport clone mill and need to move it from Richmond to Kingswood in western Sydney.

I can load it on to a pallet on the back of a flat-top truck at Richmond, but the cost to rent a forklift to take it off the truck at Kingswood is possibly $350.
A crane appears to be about $150 for the 1.5T single hook lift, no slew or positioning, and time at site.

The crane lift looks like the best option, but any other suggestions ?

Happy machining,
John.

a carrier who also carries a forklift on the back of the truck?
(similar to brick carriers)

a tailgate and with carrier to supply a 2 ton pallet truck...must be flat gound tho

I've moved mine twice now, both times I got a truck with a Hiab type crane on it. Last time the move was only about 15 Klm. I think it cost about $150. I moved the mill to just outside the door of the shed. he picked it up and unloaded outside the door at the new location. Took about 10 minutes to load and strap down. about 5 minutes to unload. I reckon its the safest way as well. Shackle through the eye bolt directly on the hook. No slings to slip.
In my opinion, the only way to go, if the access is good enough to get the truck close to the shed. If the shed door way is high enough, you might even be able to get the machine in the through the door a bit.
Otherwise a couple of pipe rollers and a pinch bar.
There should be a tapped hole in the top of the ram for an eyebolt. Its a good idea to roll the head over about 90 degree as well so there is less chance of it being hit as the mill moves around when its hanging. This also lowers the centre of gravity a bit as well.

bollie7

bollie7,
Thanks for the positive suggestions.
I enquired about a HiAb locally, and settled on a 14T Franna to remove the mill from the truck.
The ram already has a large hook engaged that was used to move the mill out of its installed position and onto the shipping pallet.
The lift from pallet on truck to rollers on the driveway is scheduled for 9:30 am tomorrow.
Cost is about 66% more than your experience.
I have pinch bars ready to go, and a Tirfor as back-up if necessary.

Once the mill is in my workshop, nothing will happen for some time as I do not have 3-phase power for it.
Another challenge !

Happy machining,
John.

Hi all,
The Kondia Powermill FV-1 has landed.

The lift was a 21T Franna.
Truck was on the road, single point lift, move Franna to the kerb, then extend the boom the full length of the driveway to deposit the mill on to 32mm OD galvanised pipe rollers just outside of the garage doors.
Three persons rolled the mill inside the garage,
All done in about 30 minutes.

Happy machining,
John.

Hi John,
Glad it went well, any pictures?
Dave

Sorry Dave, no photo.

I guess it never occurred to me because I have seen so many lifts like this one during my working career, and we were sort of busy at the time.
I will post photos of the mill when I get it into action, but this could be a month or so.

Happy machining,
John.

Hi John,
I just thought you may have had a picture of the mill, not the lift.
Dave

Hi' We are looking at a Van Norman #3 mill tomorrow.
Its for my home workshop in Concord and I would be interested in the contact details of the machinery mover with the Hi-ab equipped truck you used.

Thanks H.