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Shipping a Lathe ?

cuslog

cuslog

Super User
Premium Member
Looking online at a lathe in Ontario - I'm in Calgary.
Who would you use for the shipping ?
I'm thinking I would have it drop shipped to someone like Canada Cartage in Calgary. I think of them because they've done a couple of "Home Depot" deliveries for me and they have one of those "piggyback" forklifts on their truck. The driver was good, easy to deal with etc.
Who would you use for shipping cross-country ?
 
I'm guessing it doesn't matter much, I think most trucking companies are hooked up with others that link up areas that they don't cover. I'd just phone for quotes.
 
I've used a few companies but I normally prefer to truck things myself, but I'm retired, so I don't have to take time off. When I got a 3500 lb mill from Richmond, I took the head off (the only delicate part) and have them ship the rest. It was the best 700$ I've ever spent.

Lathes are a little more delicate, and have a lot of parts that have to shipped with it. The seller will have to make a wide pallet, because it will need to be forklifted onto the truck. The accessories have to be boxed securely as well.
 
Dabbler said:
I've used a few companies but I normally prefer to truck things myself, but I'm retired, so I don't have to take time off. When I got a 3500 lb mill from Richmond, I took the head off (the only delicate part) and have them ship the rest. It was the best 700$ I've ever spent.

Lathes are a little more delicate, and have a lot of parts that have to shipped with it. The seller will have to make a wide pallet, because it will need to be forklifted onto the truck. The accessories have to be boxed securely as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks,
Yes, I'm retired too, lots of time and I have hauled my own equipment before but with Covid and considering what it would cost me in fuel, meals, Motel rooms etc., having it shipped is looking more attractive all the time.
Small lathe, 64" OAL, 1500 lbs.
 
Last time I brought stuff from Ontario, it cost me 200$ gas each way, but I don't take motel breaks. In those days, I used a trailer and hauled a lot of stuff to Calgary from London...

If it is a private seller, it is less likely they will build a suitable pallet and secure it properly. @RobinHood had a lathe shipped from Ontario, but I don't know how it got paletized.
 
So far ive had 3 machines shipped from ontario. 2 lathes and 1 mill. Havent had any damage on any of them yet, but im thinking ive just been lucky. The one thing I always make sure of is that they get sent via rail instead of on a truck. First time I did it was because of cost(rail being cheaper) but now I make sure to go that way. So far ives used Kindersley Trans and Canadian Freightways.
Had a few friends over the years have issues with broken handles and stuff tipping over and they have all been shipped truck.
thats all ive got for a suggestion - good luck eh
 
Perhaps a call to Modern tool? I bought my lathe there, they delivered it no problem -- their next stop was to my home town in Saskatchewan, then on to Ontario to drop off another machine. Why is this relevant? well, they likely came back empty. Modern knows how to delivery machinery, they are rigged for it.... If they have a truck out east, perhaps its worth the trip west if they can ship back east-loaded etc.

The back-haul is everything in transporation.

We just had a sun-room delivered from Lowes, came from Quebec. They used Day and Ross. Awesome service and great communication.
 
I’ve had three machines shipped from ON: two lathes and a pantograph. Each time the seller had built a custom pallet to suit the machine. I used Atlas Van Lines (AMJ Campbell) twice and Day & Ross once. Each time I had the item picked-up at the seller and shipped as far as their terminal here in Calgary. Then they called me and I went to get it there - worked better with my work-schedule that way.

Just picked-up my car lift at the Canadian Freightways Terminal this morning. Same deal: TST-CF Express picked-up at the seller’s place (this time in BC), transports it to YYC and I go get it when it is convenient for me. It left the seller’s warehouse on Tuesday and I got the call this am that it was here. Can’t beat that.

That way I don’t have to worry about how long it takes me to off load an awkward item. Much safer that way if one only has “marginal” equipment for the job; nobody gets hurt and you don’t p..s off the waiting driver and get a bad rep in case you want to use the company again in the future...
 
Brent H said:
Where is it located in Ontario?
Click to expand...
Kitchener
I haven't even contacted the seller yet, appears to be an equipment "flipper" - has several other ads besides this one.
Not even sure this one would work for me, I was thinking 14 x 40, this one is 13 x 30, not sure if I could live with a smaller one or not.
This one does check a couple other boxes though, hmmm.
 
Buying a lathe without looking at it is far more risky then a milling machine. Unless it is dirt cheap - which it probably is not if the guy is flipping it.

You would need to contact seller in order to check he or she is willing to go with such a sale. When I sold a mill to BC I asked the seller to have his sister look at it so I have some proof the buyer was aware of what he is getting & making a claim against me would be more difficult.
 
uship.com, or go direct to Manitoulin Transport. Sold my shaper from On to Regina ($120 shipping), friend bought something in Regina, shipped it to St Catharines (328lb) for $90. Plus hst I think. I never realized how affordable LTL shipping can be.
The bigger issue is getting the source to crate properly.....

Gerrit
 
gerritv said:
The bigger issue is getting the source to crate properly.....
Click to expand...

Hence why ask seller first - crating it is extra work. Taking off all handles etc. and placing them in a box. They may not be as flexible on price as well if you ask them to do all that extra work.
 
cuslog said:
Kitchener
I haven't even contacted the seller yet, appears to be an equipment "flipper" - has several other ads besides this one.
Not even sure this one would work for me, I was thinking 14 x 40, this one is 13 x 30, not sure if I could live with a smaller one or not.
This one does check a couple other boxes though, hmmm.
Click to expand...

If it is the guy I'm thinking of, he is just outside Kitchener in West Monrose. (Beautiful little place.) He photographs the stuff in front of his garage doors. I'm guessing that he would not be able to show 3 phase equipment under power but I've never actually been there.

I was up that way on Monday but I don't have a reason to go back in the near future.

Craig
 
LTL shipping is a PITA for me.

Why?

Because everyone lies about dimensions. Or, they don’t include extras like chip conveyors or boxes of manuals or skids of random crap, they just expect you to have extra room

In my opinion, LTL shipping is usually a way to ship stuff cheaper than what it should cost. But I’m prejudiced :D
 
trlvn said:
If it is the guy I'm thinking of, he is just outside Kitchener in West Monrose. (Beautiful little place.) He photographs the stuff in front of his garage doors. I'm guessing that he would not be able to show 3 phase equipment under power but I've never actually been there.

I was up that way on Monday but I don't have a reason to go back in the near future.

Craig
Click to expand...
Yep, sounds right, lathe I was looking at was photographed in front of (white) garage doors. 13" X 30 Standard Modern, series 2000, looks like a nice little lathe, maybe a bit too small. My last lathe was a 2 hp 14 x 40, this is 1 hp.
 
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