Well I need to move my milling machine for a flood cooling upgrade(catch tray under mill).My machine is a Harbor freight 800 lb. round column mill drill. The problem is that, (1.) not sure where to attach the chain. (2) not sure, for stress reasons, if machine can be moved with base still connected(one piece). I was thinkin I could remove the x and y tables to lighten things up or remove the base from the column. Didn't want to have to do that though. Can anybody help?

Well I called hf and tech said to go ahead and lift the machine as one peice with a strap wrapped under the head and around the top of the column of the machine. Hope this helps anyone.

My preference would be to raise the base....the only thing holding the head onto the column is a rack and as I recall it's not pinned to the column since it is meant to swivel around the column if you decide to swivel the head.

Thanks for the input. Actually there is also two bolts that assist in clamping the head to the column so that the column will not move while machining. I would think as long as these two bolts are tight the machine would stay put.

Ah, you are correct...forgot about those 2 bolts.

i would do it from the straps and the base :P unless there is a problem that you can't do it. :P

Just bought a mill very similar to yours. Weighs about 760 lbs according to the manual. Simply removed the thin cover around the pulleys (you'll probable have to remove the pulleys first) and lift from the head. I used a chain and an engine hoist (cherry picker type) and had little problem. Just be careful of the motor wiring.

The first time I moved the machine I took the column fr. the machine and moved them separately. I used my cherry picker also, the only thing is halfway through the move I had to bleed the hydraulics. Talk about a time. This next time I'lle be sure and bleed the system before attempting. I also used a chain. But I'lle go with a sling on this round. thanks