bleedinblue Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 I am almost certainly pulling the trigger on a Hammer jointer/planer combo machine soon. If this happens, I need to figure out a way to move the machine from my driveway to my basement after delivery. My basement is a walkout, so it means moving the machine around my yard. I've got an idea but I want to air it out. The machine has a shipping weight of just over 700 pounds. I have a backyard fence that has a 48" gate. The yard is not completely level. My line of thought is to build a platform with 8" rubber swiveling casters. When the machine is delivered, have the delivery guy drop it onto the platform. Ratchet strap the machine/crate onto the casters and roll it through the yard and into the basement. I'd use a shop crane (cherry picker, engine hoist, etc) to lift the machine off the platform (and to dissemble the crate) and drop the machine onto a mobile base. Does this sound feasible? Am I missing an easier solution, or a reason as to why this won't work? I do have a rental company near by that rents heavy and semi-heavy machinery, but I'm afraid my back yard fence will limit me there. Here's a video of a guy taking delivery of the same machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 I would do a pallet jack. I would need to see the slope of your yard to get an idea of what you are dealing with, but the jack will let you control that machine pretty well. The problem with dollies is they can slip out from under the machine and result in a nightmare scenario pretty quickly. As for the yard, i imagine laying down a bed of plywood/OSB will be enough to keep you from sinking or getting stuck. Ive moved a few 1500-1700lb machines with just a pallet jack and it was pretty smooth. I also like the pallet jack has the panic Oh S* feature of dropping the load down if it gets away from you on a slope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 Are you talking pneumatic casters or hard rubber? I think pneumatic would work because they would be wider and softer so it wouldn't get away from you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 2 minutes ago, Pwk5017 said: I would do a pallet jack. I would need to see the slope of your yard to get an idea of what you are dealing with, but the jack will let you control that machine pretty well. The problem with dollies is they can slip out from under the machine and result in a nightmare scenario pretty quickly. As for the yard, i imagine laying down a bed of plywood/OSB will be enough to keep you from sinking or getting stuck. Ive moved a few 1500-1700lb machines with just a pallet jack and it was pretty smooth. I also like the pallet jack has the panic Oh S* feature of dropping the load down if it gets away from you on a slope. The yard isn't sloped too badly. Photos wouldn't do any good, so that's about the best I can say, it's not "too bad." I was able to easily use a dolly with rubber pneumatic wheels to carry my bandsaw around (300 pounds I think?). The table saw was way too much of an adventure (400+ pounds) My concern with a pallet jack would be the small wheels. I could potentially do the leap frog thing with plywood sheets, but that scares me. I might send a message to the rental place and see what equipment they have...they may have something I don't know about. Just now, Chet said: Are you talking pneumatic casters or hard rubber? I think pneumatic would work because they would be wider and softer so it wouldn't get away from you. Definitely pneumatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 Would something like this be overkill? It seems like I could practically drive it into the basement, then use the lift with straps to lift the machine off the pallet and onto the mobile base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 Im of the belief moving machines can never be over engineered. Assuming that little front loader can handle 700lbs, it looks like the ideal method of moving it through your yard. Renting a pallet jack is going to cost you $50, and renting that thing for half a day is probably $150. For the extra $100 its probably worth the peace of mind. Last thing you want to do is dump the new toy in the yard. I leave you with this to haunt your dreams. Skip to like 1:45 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesota Steve Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 20 minutes ago, bleedinblue said: Would something like this be overkill? It seems like I could practically drive it into the basement, then use the lift with straps to lift the machine off the pallet and onto the mobile base. I think those small walkbehind units have a capacity of about 500 lbs. I rented a Toro dingo before and used it to move rock... the bucket capacity was about 4 cu ft. You'd need something bigger... like a full sized bobcat with a fork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 Call a moving company and see if you can get a quote before you rent something. If you have some ply put that on your yard lap frogging to your shop. Might take a bit longer but it will make wheels work easier. Find at least 1 friend no matter what way you go just for your safety. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 According to bobcat's specs, it can lift 850lbs, so you are getting close with the hammer. Also, im rarely on this forum anymore, but i think its pretty funny that a week ago you were talking about getting a 6" jointer with a byrd head. i just moved a 20" griggio into my basement a couple months ago, and I finally feel content with the size of my jointer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 11 minutes ago, Pwk5017 said: According to bobcat's specs, it can lift 850lbs, so you are getting close with the hammer. Also, im rarely on this forum anymore, but i think its pretty funny that a week ago you were talking about getting a 6" jointer with a byrd head. i just moved a 20" griggio into my basement a couple months ago, and I finally feel content with the size of my jointer. Compensating for something? Not going to lie i hardly ever max out my 8" but i routinely am frustrated with the 13" capacity of the planer. I don't get the 20" jointers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 24 minutes ago, Pwk5017 said: but i think its pretty funny that a week ago you were talking about getting a 6" jointer with a byrd head. i just moved a 20" griggio into my basement a couple months ago, and I finally feel content with the size of my jointer. I blame Mel when these things happen. I honestly had no idea the Hammer was as "cheap" as it is. I thought the 12" model was in the $5k range. A moving company is a decent idea. I'll send out a few messages to get an idea of how much they'll charge. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 Three sheets of plywood, and slide it. I wouldn't bother with building a special base with casters just for the move. You will have to keep jumping the plywood ahead every eight feet of move. You need three because you have to pick up the other end of the one it's going to be on next, and overlap it onto the next one. Downhill is good. We put a metal roof on a boat house a while back. The metal came crated in specially made crates that weighed over 700 pounds each. There was just (as always these days) two of us working, so I didn't want to make a bunch of trips up, and down the hill to carry each piece. I used a riding lawnmower, and a rope to pull the crate down the hill a couple of hundred feet to as close as we could get it. The big prybar, linked below, was used to steer it when it needed correcting. Not being on wheels, it's not going to get away from you, and will stop when the pulling stops. When direction needs to be changed, stop, re-aim, and go again. Wheels make it easier to move, but also easier to get away from you. We used a Maasdam rope puller https://www.amazon.com/Maasdam-Long-Haul-Puller-4-Ton/dp/B002RL7UGW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541456988&sr=8-4&keywords=masdam+rope+puller to pull the crates off the trailer, onto the plywood slideway. You have to use 1/2" twisted rope with that puller. I use a 150' length of such rope that I have for tree work, but the puller is also available with different lengths of rope-look on Amazon. This rope puller works like a come-along, but you aren't limited by a length of wire. I used it to load an 800 lb. bandsaw onto my pickup by myself. It gets used a fair amount, and once pulled a very heavy gun safe up a flight of stairs, also on plywood laying on the stairs. We use it when we move all our tools in and out of some of the old houses I work on, if we need to build temporary ramps. I moved a 15" planer into a house by myself with it once. Another thing that gets used a lot is a heavy duty prybar https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ludell-60-in-18-lb-Pinch-Point-Heavy-Duty-Bar-50020/204326731?cm_mmc=Shopping|G|Base|D25T|25-1_HAND+TOOLS|NA|PLA|71700000034127224|58700003933021546|92700031755124850&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8f_eBRDcARIsAEKwRGd6An3xG5EooC2DbJFziUQXwuErYYzcEIHv2gXW_9WBo3L-gfdUW6UaAkuYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds with pieces of 2x, and 4x for fulcrums, you can move a house with it. The most important thing is to take your time, and don't use your back. There should be no need to get in a hurry to move it, so don't do it on a day when you are racing an approaching rain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted November 5, 2018 Report Share Posted November 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Pwk5017 said: I leave you with this to haunt your dreams. Skip to like 1:45 I can't imagine that ended well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 I just did a search of our local rental company and they rent electric pallet jacks, a 4k and a 6k. Should work with ply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 If the pallet it comes on is no better than the one in that video, which looks like it's missing a piece, I'd beef that up before I started my sliding method. My helper, Big Mike, could slide that by himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 The pallet on my A3-41 was very well built. Must have been 100 3" Torx screws just in the frame around the machine before you even got to the pallet. Having moved mine, I'd do the plywood shuffle with a pallet jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 The rental place says the mini skid loader in the video above could "easily" handle 700 pounds. The specs on Bobcat's site says it's got an 850 pound capacity though...so...pretty close. The pallet jack makes me nervous though, and to a degree it's the same with the skid loader, because I have to fit it through that 48" fence gate. MAYBE the skid loader can lift the machine over the 4" fence and squeeze through the gate like that, but with a pallet jack I'd have to set it down and push it through length-wise. I sent a message to the local "Two Guys and a Truck" place. If they'll come out and move it for a hundred bucks, it'd be worth it. I bet they'll have equipment to choose from and can get it done in fifteen minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 I"d be afraid the little loader would tear up the yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 I have done several hundred loader and lift transfers on plywood/OSB. It’s the same idea already offered and keeps the yard from being torn up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylder Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 The way its been raining around here. Just put it in a boat and float it in. I'd try the two guy and a truck first or the mini skid. The 3 sheets of plywood sounds like it would work too if you had a couple people to help. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 Checking their website today, the price is listed at $3300, UNTIL I log in, then the price jumps up to the regular price of $4200. Yesterday it showed $3300 whether logged in or not. I would have submitted the order yesterday but the customer service rep didn't answer my emails. At $4200 plus shipping, I'm out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 Try to talk to the customer service rep directly. They may honor the pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 If you do go ahead with this or any other large equipment purchase I suggest you plan your "receiving" in two stages. The first is to the garage (assuming you have one), and then into your shop. I always envision that the delivery truck is going to pull up to my house in the middle of a cats and dogs thunderstorm. I want to be sure that I can get the thing some place dry and safe in case I need to wait for the final move into the work shop. The other thing is be prepared for the shipping crate to be different than you were expecting. This has happened to me with both of the large items I have so far ordered necessitating a new plan on the day of delivery. Which is another good reason to go to the garage first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 Customer service finally responded, hopefully I can get the price thing taken care of. She said she was going to work on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bglenden Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 My A3-41 came on a pallet placed on top of another pallet, so it was higher off the floor than I was expecting. (Certainly too high to "walk" it off). There are probably lots of potential solutions, but since I ordered the mobility kit I just put that on while on the pallet and then just rolled it down a ramp I built. Easy peasy, and reduced the temptation to lift it by the tables. I agree with Mick that the packaging was very thorough with lots of Torx screws needing to be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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