rigger wrote:
On Oct 11, 9:54 am, Bill Schwab wrote:
Hello all,
Is is just me, or does the metalworking industry seem deaf to hobbyists
and other home-shop customers? Put another way, what is the correct
approach to getting a machine off a truck in one piece. I am by no
means fixed on the Enco lathe, but I asked them about shipping, and have
gotten mixed signals about a lift gate. I can understand "it's too
heavy for that" but it seems strange to me that companies that sell
heavy items do such a poor job of giving consistent answers to customers.
I have an engine hoist and an F-150 that would be able to cope with
safely getting a 1000 lb lathe down my sloping driveway, but going from
flat bed to the ground is another story. Control over shipping was a
big factor in choosing Rutland for my mill-drill, though I will admit
the process was not free of surprises. It worked out well, but proved I
was right to have respect for the weight of what was arriving.
How do YOU handle a ton or so slathered on cosmoline sitting on a truck
outside your home? Do I need to buy a fork lift to be one of the guys?
There are manual stackers that have suitable capacity, but they
appear to be a lot more expensive than the 500-700 lb variety I have
been considering for general use.
Bill
It may be their trucking company of choice doesn't offer
much in the way of high-cap lift gates. Check with other
trucking companies in your area to see if they offer heavy
lift gates and what they would charge to re-deliver to you
if you have the lathe delivered to them; it might be the
cheapest choice.
If this works you may also avoid some fork lift anxiety.
dennis
in nca
This is what I was going to recommend -- once you're shipping stuff
that's bigger than what UPS is willing to carry you have to deal with
trucking companies, and their coverage is regional, not national.
I'm lucky in that I have relatives who own a shop that regularly ships
by truck, so I can just have stuff shipped there. They put it in my
pickup, then I take it here, scratch my head, and ask "how in heck am I
going to get this out without breaking it???"
--
Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com
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