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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    589

    Default Horizontal Mill Transport Damage

    I recently purchase a large mill at a great price (I will not give too many details at this time due to ongoing discussions - see below). Great condition. Happy camper. Unfortunately the transport company allowed it to fall off the forklift with much damage . Not happy camper!

    The machine weighs over 3T and fell from about 1.6m onto the front of the knee then it also hit the table (that was extended all the way to one side) and the front of the vertical head. One of the dials was imbedded into the road by 6"!!

    I am now trying to investigate the likely damage and the possibility of fixing it up. I am yet to come to any settlement with the transport company but would like to arm myself with some knowledge before doing so.

    • Every handle got smashed but they are easy enough to replace.
    • It would appear that the knee and cross-slide screws are damaged - not sure whether these will be an off the shelf item or whether I need to factor in the cost of a machinist to make from scratch - either way not cheap.
    • I do not know whether the DRO scales will have survived such a shock (??) and am yet to look at the display (although it was well packaged)
    • I cannot tell yet if the table got tweaked in any way


    My main question to ask you would be your thoughts on the likely impact on the ways. The knee would have been slammed into the column ways and at a guess any chips or grit would now be imbedded into the ways? I have no idea on the possible impact on the X & Y ways. Obviously this is all very hard to answer with out pictures etc but as I said above I do not want to give much info until after I have reached a settlement. Just want your thoughts, guestimates or experiences if something similar has happened to your machine.

    Scrap or possibly saveable?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    Scrap. No way I would bother, just get your purchase price from the transport company. There will be thousands of dollars and countless hours of work. Subtle problems will arise for years and even if you get it working you'll never really trust it.

    I'm sorry it happened but you'll have enough trouble with machines that haven't been dropped.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    69
    Posts
    452

    Default Damaged mill

    Hello from BC.
    It's a shame to lose an old piece of iron they are hard to come by. Just be glad nobody was hurt. From my experience trying to get an odd worm wheel, the repair bill would far exceed the value of the machine.
    Back to the search and best of luck with it.
    Regards
    BC

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    Without knowing what mill, where and in what condition it's in makes it a little tricky.

    What are the chances of finding a replacement?

    If it was in my shed and I had the room and I didn't already have far to many projects to work on I might be tempted to ask for a full refund and offer to get rid of it for them, save them from coming back to get it and all. After a lot of work you might end up with a "free mill", equally you might be doing less work to find out you'll be paying someone to cart it away.

    If it was in their yard I think I would let them keep it.

    This assumes we are talking about a fairly old machine in the low $000's or less price range and that you weren't planning on trying to make a $ with it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    589

    Default

    It's a Dufour and cost me a well bargained $4k. They have it in their yard at the moment.

    I am expecting a full refund of my cost but then wouldn't mind getting it back at scrap metal cost to see if I could resurect it. I have nothing to lose then. Will see what they say. Seemed to be a high quality mill and such a shame of nice old iron to go to the smelter.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    At a minimum the table is probably worth more than scrap value. It could be worth buying back to part out. But I'm always wary of having big, broken machines clogging my workshop.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    jilliby nsw
    Age
    71
    Posts
    111

    Default

    Brings a tear to the eye hearing a machine has hit the deck and suffered damage. Full refund of purchase and keep the wreck is the way to go. A lot of damage will be evident until a close inspection and measure up is carried out. The old machines are fairly tough with their heavy construction so you may be lucky if the drop height was not excessive. As someone said if its beyond repair part it out of sell real cheap, there will possibly be someone interested in taking on the challenge. Good luck with it

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    589

    Default

    Thanks all. I am so upset with this. We will see what happens....

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,945

    Default

    Without pics it's a hard call. The dovetails could be broken or cracked, bolts really stressed to the point of trying to undo them, they'll shear. Far too many variables to give any real help.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    1,075

    Default

    Man that suuuuuuuucks

    I'm with caskwarrior on this one, there's just too many things that will need attention.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Yea it is scrap only. I am surprised the transport company is coming to the party. Usually there is a clause saying they are not responsible for any damage.

    Of course such an incident would probably be a WHS incident requiring notification to the state government authority. I am sure if they decide to play hardball they would love some government inspectors coming by.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    If thats is what you know its scrap metal. Ask for full value of what its worth ...minimum of what you paid.

    The problem of hoping you can resurect to working status is...what if you cant...your stuck with dump fees and all the work looking for solutions and or parts becomes a complete waste of time and money

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    1,075

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    Yea it is scrap only. I am surprised the transport company is coming to the party. Usually there is a clause saying they are not responsible for any damage.
    I would have thought those clauses would only be good for incidental damage like scratches and dents, not total loss of the item due to their negligence. They'd be insured for stuff like that anyway.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
    Age
    53
    Posts
    1,010

    Default

    Sorry to hear about the damage to your Mill. I know exactly how you feel as I bought a new Hafco AL-340A from Machinery House just over 10 years ago and the transport company dropped it and wrecked it when transferring from from truck to truck (driving to fast with the load up high I'd say) I've got the pictures on a hard drive somewhere. Without going into to much detail after about a month the Transport Company Paid Machinery House in full for the Lathe and I put some extra money in at the time and bought a AL-960B with a DRO as they were on Sale.
    It sounds like the Transport Company that you used is going to come to the party so that's good. Without seeing pictures or the actual machine I would say that most likely it's stuffed. The main castings themselves could be cracked somewhere or even deformed. The whole machine would have to be completely dismantled to be checked and I don't think it's worth it. The Transport Company has to be covered for damage to goods and total loss.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    589

    Default

    Not many Dufour 624 machines around to replace it but that's life!

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