Jerry,
I just moved my entire shop about 200 miles. The biggest item is a
Bridgeport, but I have a few other good-sized machines (10" lathe, surface
grinder, 7x12 horizontal band saw, etc.). I used a 16 ft. flatbed truck, a
gantry crane I built, a HF 2ton shop crane, three furniture dollys and 3
extra people.
Lower the mill table completely and run it all the way back against the base
and then turn the head upside down. The shop crane will lift the mill, but
don't try to move it. You'll wreck the casters and gouge the floor.
I believe you
However, you are saying that 2-ton crane can't really
handle a one-ton load, right? I know mine is good for 700 lb.
Pick
it up and set it on the dollys and then carefully roll the whole mess (keep
the crane attached and just snug so that if the machine starts to go, the
crane will support it...). I then wheeled it out to the truck, picked it up
with the gantry (2 ton chain hoist) and backed the truck under it.
Another concern I have is getting a mill out of the way of storm damage
or repair of same. Call me paranoid, but I just want think ahead. That
should do it, as would the old roller trick. The hoist and dollies
sound more to my liking - not sure why.
The bad news is that the mill would hit the most level part of my
driveway and end up on its side 10-20 ft past the end of the driveway.
After loading the big machines, I disassembled the gantry and loaded it on
the truck and, of course, strapped everything down.
At the new place, I didn't know much of anyone, so I hired a couple local
college students to provide some much-needed extra muscle. They were good
workers who did as they were told and we got the machines off the truck and
into the shop with no damage either to the machines or the people.
My total cost of the move was lunch for the friends who helped load, gas for
the truck and fifteen bucks an hour for three hours each for the two kids...
I could not get out of my current home that way (no plans, but one never
knows), but it might work on future moves. Thanks!
Bill