I'm thinking about buying a SmithyCNC 1240 Bed Mill and will be putting it in my garage. I don't have a crane or chainfall in my garage and am not able to put one in there. What's the best method to get this machine out of the crate and onto the stand if I don't have a chainfall?! Especially considering that it's 1200 lbs!

Rent a forklift?

Hi,
I used an engine hoist. I first used it to move the stand where I wanted it, then used it to put the mill on the stand. These hoists can be purchased for around $200-$250 or rented for a day from tool rental places.
Measure carefully when rigging the mill - I needed all the height I could get from the hoist in order to get it up high enough to go on the stand.

Usual cautions: Go slow, be very careful, double check all rigging used and NEVER get below anything suspended off the ground by the hoist.

I've assumed that you will have the crates delivered so that all are on the level floor where the mill will be installed. (the engine hoist would not be good to move things on an off level surface).

If in a garage, forget the forklift approach - costly to rent, tires tends to mark up the floors and the masts rarely are low enough to get in under a typical 7' gargage door height.

Attached is a pic taken when rigging my 1240 to give the idea.

Dave

Like the title says, you may not believe this, until you see it...

I worked at a small mfg. co. making Connecting Rods and they bought a HUGE piece of machinery. The lift truck we had only lifted like 8000 pounds, so the old timer part owner went to the Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store and came back with a sack of 4-12 inch square slabs of Fat Back...don't know what it is called elsewhere. It is a piece of the pigs fat around 25 to 50mm thick and is used for seasoning beans and the like.

Long BlaBla short...they jacked one side of the machine off the floor enough to slide two of the pieces under the two corners, and the same for the other side. Then they pushed the machine with the lift truck and could make it go anywhere they wanted...hooked a chain to pull one corner to square it up.

I figure if you could get your machine on the deck...the fat-back will let you pull or push it where you need to.

I suppose the trick is to get it off the skids, eh?

Another method, tried and true, is to use several lengths of steel pipe and lift one end of the machine until one can be positioned a little past the mid-balance point, and add a couple or three more under the lifted end before lowering it onto them. Then by pushing/pulling the machine, adding a pipe every half meter or so, and moving the ones as it rolls off them to the front...you can move it to the moon...unless a slope is involved. You can also steer by laying the pipes in the front of it at the ever increasing angle toward the direction you need to turn.

If you have any questions about either method...glad to help...

Woody

FWIW, I was able to use some sheets of HDPE (high density polyethylene) to slide my 1100-lb Tormach a few feet on my basement floor. Someone suggested that a little soap on the floor would help, but I didn't that necessary. I'd be leary of animal fat - it may attract vermin or might start to stink quite a bit after a few days.

Mike

I have the same problem to deal with, moving a 800lb lathe into my shop. My plan is to make a skating rink from the back alley to the spot in the garage where the machine will go. Hopefully the weather stays cold for a few more days... (not very often you hear that...)

Paul