If you have a 300 or more pound machine can you tell me how you brought it home?

[slashmaster]

I'm thinking I either want an X2 or X3 of some sort. I think I'd rather have an X3 but I see they weigh 300 or more pounds. So even if I could get the guys at Harbor freight to put it in my trunk for me I'd have the problem of getting it out and taking it down the stairs when I got home. I don't know what these machines have for warranties but I was thinking maybe I could unbolt the bottom and move it in 2 pieces. Will this work? Would it void the warranty?

[jstiltner]

Disassembly is actually a recommended first step in order to do a through cleaning of your new machine. I have never heard of dis assembly being an issue with warranty service, and a good dis assembly usually will let you find problems before they become big issues.

Many people have devised ways of doing what you need to do. However I favor the disassemble into parts method. Specifically I would open the crate in your truck and take it apart into major sections (head, column, base) or at least far enough apart for you to safely carry them into your basement.

Safety first man, you cannot fight gravity, and it doesn't pull any punches!!!

[PhoenixMetal]

I once had a business where we kept the air compressor in the basement to save space on the shop floor and to keep the noise level down. I'm sure that compressor must have weighed 1,000 lbs or so.

We had a forklift to help, but you could get this done with more home-type gear if needed:

First, we disassembled where we could. We built a ramp over the steps by laying down some plywood and 2x4's. This will let you slowly slide items down the stairs. You need a good amount of chain or some strong straps to fasten the item you want to lower. We used the forklift to dangle the machine as far down into the stairwell as possible, and then allowed gravity to do the work to bring it down the ramp (while fastened to the forklift which slowly drove forward).

In place of the forklift, you could use a shop crane (also known as an engine hoist - a collapsable hand-powered hydraulic crane) to get it off your truck and into the stairway, and you could connect the chain or straps to the towing gear of your truck to assist in lowering the item down the ramp in a controlled manner.

Just make sure nobody is standing downstream of the item on the ramp, because this is the sort of thing where accidents do happen and people get hurt in these sort of accidents.

Be careful!

[domonic_cnc_guy]

i got a 350kg Hm-30 monster delivered on the back of a ute, we had to stick the engine crane on the ute to take the top off the mill after 2 cycles of shifting the engine crane on and off the ute we had the long process of moving it to where it had to be, the otherside of the garage, and onto a bench we built, which was about 10mm too high for the engine crane to lift, so eventaully i got a few mates to help lift it manually,

[Boots]

At about 3,000 lbs we had to have it delivered by tractor and trailer taken off with fork truck and moved into the plant.

[H.O]

Here's my "project" being delivered. It's a 3500lbs Abene VHF-3 milling machine that I'm converting to Mach3. Driver put it down on a pallet and I rolled it into the garage.

[Crevice Reamer]

It's fairly easy to disassemble an X3 into 50-75 pound chunks. After it's apart and cleaned, you put the base on the bench and reassemble it there.

Here's a complete teardown guide:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projec...on%20Guide.pdf

You'll have to decide whether or not to do this on the sidewalk outside of HF to fit it into your trunk though.

CR.

[spaceballs_3000]

I got an X2, I used a dolly to get up/down the stairs.

Friend got an X3, used the same dolly but two people were required to move it up/down stairs.

Find a friend with truck and 3 or 4 guys (and cooler with beer) to lift it into truck while at harbor freight. btw don't use truck ramp...

Now seeing my friends X3 in action, now I want one

[Crevice Reamer]

I bought my 420 pound SX3 from Grizzly. My lane is narrow but they assured me that if I paid for lift gate service, it would come on a smaller truck. Mill came loaded on a long 18 wheeler that could not make turn off of main road.

I had to dragoon my neighbor into emergency service with his Kubota tractor. (One of these days I will have to pay back this huge favor.) The crate rode the 1/4 mile down lane in the Kubota bucket, and he was able to set it right into shop door. Had I known, I could have saved lift gate charge.

I tore it down and cleaned it while it was bolted to pallet and then assembled it onto the stand from base up.

CR.

[neilw20]

My SX3 came on a pallet which the delivery guy wheeled into the garage.
Delivery was ordered with a tailgate loader and a pallet truck.
Machine base was in a separate box.
I just used a block and tackle attached to the roof beam, (which frightened my wife again) which I have reinforced, after breaking it with a 400Kg Grinder.
200Kg SX3 was no drama. 4 strong people can carry with some care and coordination, as long as there are no overweight bull in a china shop types in the crew. Move slowly, communicate well with a predefined person in charge and the SX3 can be put anywhere (as long as the wife is not looking).

[impact]

I took my small mill apart to move it. It is safer too.

[neilw20]

impact.
as you say, it is safer, but adding TOO seems to imply you really liked pulling it apart, but I suppose you got your name by experience (LOL).