I need to move my Oliver 30″ jointer out of storage. Must move it to another warehouse. Any suggestions?
DJK
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Replies
4 guys and a truck
I've seen an Oliver 20", I don't think 4 guys are going to do a 30". That's one big piece of iron.------------------------------------
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer (1891)
four guys, a truck and a chiropracter.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
How did you get it to where it is now?
Although I'm sure this isn't the answer you're looking for, I'll offer it anyway:
Hire a rigger. A 30" jointer has to weigh over 2000lbs. It's not worth the risk to life and limb to try to move this yourself unless you have the heavy equipment that allow the job to be done easily. I figure that if you had this equipment, you wouldn't have been asking here.
Just my thoughts (currently discounted to 1 cent)
Jim
Thanks to all. My chiropractor wants me to move it alone, job security. I'll hire it out.
DJK
tow truck -- the type that can pull it up onto a flat bed. you'll get funny looks -- but it'll save your back.
tf
I second the suggestion that you should use a rigger. Hire a full time professional, they'll have the right tools and knowledge, and they should have insurance to cover your loss if they do make a mistake.
I've seen some ugly mistakes made by amateurs moving machinery much smaller than your Oliver. Cast iron is no respecter of the human body, it is real easy to crush a hand or foot, or worse.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
John,
You are right.
Mr McFeely, of McFeely's fasteners, was crushed and killed by a piece of heavy machinery that got away while being moved.
That stuff doesn't care, it'll mash you twice.
Ray Pine
D,
Four guys, a truck, a chiropractor , a small crane with driver and police assisted street clearance.
On the other hand just get Hal.Philip Marcou
Edited 11/17/2006 2:58 pm by philip
Thanks Philip!
I'll pick it up on my way from the shop tomorrow, on my way to the gym for my workout.
Are there stairs involved? I don't mind down, but up will require me to tighten my shoelaces a bit.
Hal
Thanks to all who gave advice. It will be tough getting it into the basement shop. I was hoping to generate more postings than "How to move a Unisaw."DJK
Edited 11/20/2006 1:04 pm ET by DJK
What is a "rigger?" There were a lot of suggestions for this, but where I live a rigger is someone that "rigs" boats. They make, install, and adjust rigging for sailboats or fishing boats.
Out west, we call "movers" to move things. If a crane is needed, we call the crane guy. If a forklift is best, call and have one delivered. You can even get your gutters cleaned or your christmas lights put up with a phone call and a check.
Hal
http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com
Hal,The term "Rigger" is typically used in the heavy construction/industrial context to denote a specialist in moving large and heavy objects. About a year ago, I saw a "rigger" move a 10' oliver lathe (biggest WW lathe I've ever seen) from inside a cabinet shop to a flat-bed trailer in less than 20 minutes. It's amazing what experience and having the right equipment can do.Jim
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other is that heat comes from the furnace." - Aldo Leopold
Edited 11/20/2006 4:31 pm ET by JimV
I have a friend with an 18 foot Eagan Lathe. It's awsome. He uses all of it!
I bet he and some friends moved it in pieces. Someone gave it to him so he quit his job as a machinist and became a professional turner.
Hal
Hal,
As Jim has explained, "Rigger" is the standard term used for experts in heavy equipment moving. Allways has been. Even the largest woodworking equipment is lightweight compared to the kind of things riggers move. Think industrial cranes and the largest astronomical telescope mounts. Tens or hundreds of tons.
If you need equipment moved, never call a mover. they will assure you they can do it, and they will break it. Riggers make an impossible job look easy.
Rich
I would never say never. I use some really great movers for my tools and the large, heavy furniture/cabinets I build. They are great.
They have never bumped a corner or damaged a thing, often with little room to work.
Hal
Boy, I must be way out here on the left coast!
We have heavy equipment movers here too, but I have always called them heavy equipment movers. They usually are the guys with big lowboy trailers and wide load signs that are moving the giant track-hoes, cranes, and dozers.
My father owned a logging road construction company years ago so a D-9 Cat is something I am familiar with and have ridden on.
When I was in home construction, there were also all of the ex-NFL guys (or the ones that got injured in pro football camp) around that could move some pretty large things too. It was kind of scary sometimes. I once watched one guy carry a full sized Steinway grand piano up 7 steps to get it into a house I built. I thought this guy's legs were going to explode! If I hadn't seen it, I would never believe it.
Hal
Yup,http://www.phoenixmachinerymovers.com/?gclid=CI7mxa2X2IgCFS5nGAodqTfYhQhttp://www.careerprospects.org/briefs/P-S/Riggers.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RiggerRich
That's okay Rich, I believed you.
Hal
I don't see the big deal. Now that the Intrepid won't move for a while, let them move the Oliver. It's just another cast iron aircraft carrier, isn't it?
.....only slighlty larger
A 30" inch jointer? I can't even imagine what that looks like. How about posting a pic.
Ron
Ron, I second that. So we can be sure that he is referring to the width of the thing and not the length of the beds as 30 inches (;)Philip Marcou
As requested
Holy Smoke that is an ugly beast! It looks as though it also has a square block?
I suppose the easy but expensive way to to re-locate it would be to hire professional help.
If it were mine I would break it down into manageable parts-looks easier to do as it is not with dovetail ways construction. But then I would want to work it not stick it in a warehouse....Philip Marcou
Thanks for the kind words. Round head, 3 knife, 1954, #166, 5hp single phase belt drive, 30" WIDE x 96" long bed. No room in the shop for it unless it's used as a workbench/outfeed table/jounter. Been in storage for more than 20 years since I downsized. A few years ago I tried to sell it for $3000, no takers.DJK
DJK
I have an old cast iron 12" jointer, and it weighs about 1600 lbs. That 30" Oliver is in the range of 2500 lbs. I use a set of forks on my bobcat to move it. Assuming you don't have one, you can rent a forklift at your local rental house for a reasonable amount of $$$. I put 4 x 4 pieces of wood between the forks and the bottom of my jointer, so I don't scratch the paint.
Jeff
I would disassemble as much of it as you can, then use leverage to get it up onto a cart or timbers that you put rollers under to move it along: Think building a pyramid.Also if you are not opposed to buying from Harbor-freight, they have a 2 ton shop crane for around $150. It folds up and stores in a small space, but it can lift a tool like this, then if you slip a couple of beams under it on top of the feet, which have swivel wheels, it becomes its own cart, somewhat. If you have a good heavy-duty cart that will handle the load, this is a good way to get it up onto it.Oh, By the way, are you the same little red-headed kid that grew in RI. with relatives in LR AR? Kathleen yo mama?
I would also recommend the rigger. We moved my school shop this summer, you would not believe how easy they made it look. My students and I moved in a CNC router last spring (1000 lbs) - probably the dumbest idea I ever had, thankfully no problems. It took all that we could muster to muscle that thing in(about 15 kids and 4 adults). Get a rigger.
Donkey
Edited 11/17/2006 8:12 pm ET by wood_donkey
I suggest you get one of those Sikorsky heavy lift helicopters if you can manage to get it outside. But seriously get a professional rigger to move for you. Those guys move everything from homes to lighthouses.
Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
Dave
Hi Dave: Easy, just calculate how to move a 6" jointer and multiply by 5.
The jointer does look as if it may be bolted down to a heavy duty skid pallet. If that is true the job should be easy for a fork lift and flatbed truck. Might be worth asking your local lumberyard for a move. They have the trucks that can carry a forklift . Couldn't hurt to ask.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Just took a closer look at your jointer and couldn't help but notice the bandsaw and radial arm , Gems in the rough ? What other toys do you have that can make us tool nuts drool ? Please put the guard on the radial arm before it gets lost ! ;>)
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
That's it in storage. Sold the Powermatic 221 and the straight line rip saw. Left with four Unisaws, a PM 66, PM26, Rockwell 13x6 planer, Crescent 20" band saw, Delta Unidrill, Rockwell overhead router, Clayton tilt spindle sander, Master disk sander, Sidney 16" jointer, Blum minipress, Makita 15" planer, WoodMaster drum sander and some other stuff I can't think of.DJK
I have a board in my shop that is too wide for your little 30" jointer!
Hal
Is that why Stanley made 24" jointers?
Machinery like that can be picked up easily using a forklift. That is not much weight for a forklift.
It is hard for a forklift to take something like this down stairs though.
Hal
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