The Move is on - Stairs and 3 tons

[Dabbler]

I'm starting the big move from Bert's shop to my garage. I'll be starting on the 3400 (3700?) pound lathe -I'll know the weight soon! Then the Mill will be disassembled, and all the small bits will be moved.

This has been months in preparation, as the stairs and the turns created some serious obstacles, and the professionals wanted ten thousand dollars just to move the lathe.

The first project was to build a traveling 'joist hoist' along with carriage. heavy parts will be hoisted and placed on the wooden cradle, prior to being hauled out the window. I used the JH to help assemble the gantry crane, then disaster happened! I missed taking one dimension: the lowest point in the basement is the beam that separates the machines to the way out: my crane was 5" too tall!

So a week of modifying the crane, and the crane is in operation. I've now got about a third of the tear down of the lathe done.

Here are pictures of the joist hoist and modified gantry crane. the video of part 1 of the disassembly will take about a week to edit and process...

 

[Johnwa]

If you need some help or someone to supervise[emoji848] give me a call.

 

[John Conroy]

Looks like a massive project John. I hope it goes well. That lathe looks like a monster.

 

[PeterT]

That's going to be one for the resume, John. Good luck. Be safe.

 

[CalgaryPT]

You're amazing @Dabbler. You've got the tenacity of a badger on these lifts. Keep us all posted. I'm tired just imagining the work going into this.

 

[Perry]

To add to Johnwa's offer, if you need help I'm also available.

 

[Hruul]

Wow. Looks like great work so far. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

 

[Chicken lights]

Same here

 

[Bofobo]

Looks just like My basement ceiling.... at least my lathe move is straight up the hole and out the door (kinda) .... my guess is that lathe went in vertical, like moving 3seat a couch around a small corner

 

[Dabbler]

The movie footage isn't edited yet, my bad, but I'm just learning these tools.

What is left is the headstock and the lathe bed on the stands. The rest is off the lathe,but I encountered a problem, well I knew it on the last post, but now I have a way to fix it.... When I measured the old 4X8 beam for the new 4X4 beam, I forgot that changing the triangle's height would change the hypotenuse length. In sort, the legs no longer stand at 90 degrees, and essential thing for the crane to be strong.

So I will be drilling new holes in the diagonal members before taking the headstock off the lathe.

For a teaser, here are a few shots of the progress:

 

[Tom Kitta]

Bridge crane is the way to go to move these machines. It is so much easier then any other method except maybe forklift if tool is on a pallet. Let me know if you need some help.

 

[David]

Amazing work!
How did all of this machinery get down there?

 

[YYCHM]

How did all of this machinery get down there?

That was discussed in this thread.

https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/sale-of-tool-and-die-shop.1664/

 

[David]

Thanks @YYCHobbyMachinist.
What an ordeal.

 

[Dabbler]

@Tom Kitta I have a gantry crane and that seems just perfect for disassembly... Solving how to lift each piece out of the basement needed some creative thinking, however. That phase is coming soon!

The lathe is now disassembled. @RobinHood was available, and we spent 7 hours getting the headstock off the ways, and the lathe bed off the stands. One oopsie - a missed bolt during the bed lift, but no harm done. No big surprises, but a nice thing was that each piece was a lot lighter than we expected. Headstock 475 lbs, Lathe bed 690 lbs, Headstock end lathe stand 500 lbs. A good news story is that the 400 lb small moving dolly from Princess Auto holds the 475 lb heasdstock very well, and we managed to even roll it around overloaded!

Pretty soon there will be a Window Lift Party, where the lathe bed, the mill ram and the mill ring will all be extricated from Bert's basement and put on a borrowed trailer... I think in about a week.
the Go Pro malfunctioned and there are no shots of the final disassembly (except all black ones)! arrg!

sorry about the no photos thing.

 

[CalgaryPT]

@Tom Kitta I have a gantry crane and that seems just perfect for disassembly... Solving how to lift each piece out of the basement needed some creative thinking, however. That phase is coming soon!

The lathe is now disassembled. @RobinHood was available, and we spent 7 hours getting the headstock off the ways, and the lathe bed off the stands. One oopsie - a missed bolt during the bed lift, but no harm done. No big surprises, but a nice thing was that each piece was a lot lighter than we expected. Headstock 475 lbs, Lathe bed 690 lbs, Headstock end lathe stand 500 lbs. A good news story is that the 400 lb small moving dolly from Princess Auto holds the 475 lb heasdstock very well, and we managed to even roll it around overloaded!

Pretty soon there will be a Window Lift Party, where the lathe bed, the mill ram and the mill ring will all be extricated from Bert's basement and put on a borrowed trailer... I think in about a week.
the Go Pro malfunctioned and there are no shots of the final disassembly (except all black ones)! arrg!

sorry about the no photos thing.

What @Dabbler's not saying is that he built the crane. I've seen it and it's a BEAUTY. Until of course you have to move it, I expect.

 

[Dabbler]

Until of course you have to move it,

I MAY have overbuilt it a little!

 

[Dabbler]

News update... The Mill is now disassembled. 1/2 day of prep and 1/2 day of disassembly has it down to all its bits. (Thanks again @RobinHood) Here is a few teasers about the result. (I forgot to bring my camera in until it was more than half done)

This Saturday the 22nd, there will be a lathe bed move out the window and a few of the essentials going with as well. A bunch of people have offered to help, and I'd appreciate 3 people to come and help that day. Let's PM about it for those interested. Soon thereafter will be a winching event where all the really heavy stuff is being winched up the stairs.

FYI the mill base weighs 900 lbs, the ram is 220 lbs, the knee is 220lbs. The table, Y axis and yoke were not weighed as they are too light to worry about.

 

[David]

One word, three letters: Wow!

 

[YYCHM]

What are you using to weigh this stuff?