Replies

1. 
   ownersrep | Apr 14, 2003 07:00pm | #1

   Take it out of the shipping crate.  I didn't and about lost 3 friends taking it down the stairs.  The table is obviously the largest thing in the crate and two of you can carry that, if that's all your carrying.  It takes more trips if you uncrate it.  but you won't have to do any more assembly then you will if you leave it crated.  (It's not assembled in the crate anyhow).

   Had to learn it the hard way (again),

   Jim

1. 
   Quickstep | Apr 14, 2003 11:27pm | #6

   I really hadn't considered un-crating it since it looks like the only removable part is the fence and I figured that would only lighten it by 50 pounds or so. Any thoughts o that? It looks like removing the beds (tables) might be ill advised.  PS, the stand is seperate. As for WorkshopJohn's question, I'm not in the kind of shape I need to be for carrying my half of 350 pounds.

1. 
   ownersrep | Apr 15, 2003 12:08am | #7

   Chuck,

   The beds are assembled together, but 2 people can carry the beds w/o the fence and misc that are in the crate (plus the weight of the crate).  I thought the same thing you did but at 350# and 80+ inches long it's hard to get enough people on a hand truck to handle it.  I did it in the crate and it took 4 of us to get it down the stairs.  When I finally opened the crate, 2 of us easily set the bed on the stand.

   It really goes together pretty quickly once you get it downstairs and it is a beautiful machine.  You made a good choice.

   Jim

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 15, 2003 12:41am | #8

   Chuck,

   Un-crating will make for a much smaller and easier item to maneuver. The reinforcing ribs on the castings of the beds are very easy to grip once the joiner is out of the crate. As for the fence, doesn't it take about 30 seconds to detach if it is shipped already attached?  So why not take it off? 50 lbs is 50lbs. Clearly you are going to need help moving this, so why not just double up on your help? (if you're not in good enough shape) The the financial pain of buying twice as much beer is a lot less than nearly any incurred physical pain.

   Jon

   Edited 4/14/2003 5:47:20 PM ET by WorkshopJon

3. 
   SCFrankland | Apr 15, 2003 12:45am | #9

   I just moved and had to get my 8" jointer, 15" planner, table saw, and workbench done into my basement workshop.  I had four buddies drop by and told them that a few beer would be dispensed after (I stress after) we had everything in the basement.  We talked about how we were going to do it and everyone knew where they had to be at each part of the trip.  Nylon straps can also make the lifting easier.Scott C. Frankland

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 15, 2003 12:50am | #10

   Scott,

   Not even half a beer before while you're  discussing how it's going to be moved? That's cruel. OK. maybe not if you bought warm beer, and told everyone to take their time, cause it would take awhile for it to get cold. Come to think of it, that's cruel too.

   Jon

   Edited 4/14/2003 5:51:30 PM ET by WorkshopJon

   Edited 4/14/2003 5:55:55 PM ET by WorkshopJon

1. 
   SCFrankland | Apr 15, 2003 01:57am | #11

   Jon if they were your tools or anyone elses then by all means a beer before we start.  But when the tools are mine, it is beer after we move them.  One less thing for me to blame any damage on. ;o)Scott C. Frankland

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 15, 2003 03:08am | #12

   Scott,

   I also place a great deal of value on my tools, just as I do my friends. It is probably a regional thing, but in these parts, if you ask somebody to come over and do a favor for you along these lines, half a beer before you start is practically expected. Kind of like a hello and a good bye and thanks. I've been to other parts of the world where it's just the opposite. When in Rome...

   Jon

3. 
   SCFrankland | Apr 15, 2003 03:33am | #13

   Jon in my neighborhood a 1/2 a beer equals about a half a dozen.Scott C. Frankland

4. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 15, 2003 04:00am | #15

   "Jon in my neighborhood a 1/2 a beer equals about a half a dozen."

   Scott,

   I've heard lots of what sounded just like rumors about what life was like up there [in Canada] bad exchange rate, high taxes, cold, etc. Now they serve beer in shot glasses?

   Just kidding, Actually I've also heard that your [Molsen] beer is more like malt liquor.

   Jon

   Edited 4/14/2003 9:02:53 PM ET by WorkshopJon

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 14, 2003 07:13pm | #2

   How good a shape are you in? 350lbs. doesn't sound all that heavy (with a little help).

   I actually have a lot of experience moving heavy machinery (very heavy) in and out of basements.  Every job is a little different. Generally, (I don't think that this applies in your case) remove/take apart, anything that is relatively easy to remove and reinstall that will make the item lighter, more stable, and lower its center of gravity.

   Then in general, when going up or down [stairs], and even horizontally, use planks, rollers (sections of steel pipe often work well) , ropes, chains and winches. A Johnson Bar also comes in real handy too, to make small shifts. Always keep the load secure enough so that if something (someone?) lets go, it doesn't turn into a disaster. If you get jagged up or the moving gets difficult, take baby steps (still keeping everything secure). Don't put yourself in a position where you can't back up and try a different route. If there are exposed and secure rafters take advantage of them if you are absolutely confident that they can hold the load and then some. I can't emphasize "confident" enough. Beyond that, use common sense, and don't take unnecessary chances if they can be avoided without a lot of effort.

   Jon

    After posting I see Jim in CO said take it out of the crate, definitely. I wasn't going to say anything as I have caught flak in other threads for stating the obvious.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/14/2003 12:20:23 PM ET by WorkshopJon

3. 
   BarryO | Apr 14, 2003 08:02pm | #3

   How many steps?  If not too many, this sounds like a job for a refrigerator dolly and 2 friends.

4. 
   BG | Apr 14, 2003 08:49pm | #4

   Chuck,

   Buy an extention cord and some sun tan lotion....lol

1. 
   Robbie | Apr 14, 2003 10:21pm | #5

   Chuck:

   This is something I suspect many of us have had to deal with at one time or another.  Disassembly / uncreating sounds optimal.

   2 requests: 

   1)  Please let us know how you ended up getting it down in the basement.

   2)  Please let us know how it arrived and what steps / time investment was required to get the DJ-20 operating perfectly.  Lots of luck.  We will be looking forward to a good report.

5. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 15, 2003 03:56am | #14

   take the carriage off a rough terrain telescopic fork lift wrap nylon straps around the offending piece, climb into the cab, fire up that big diesel.  using just your fingertips pull back on the joystick and gently lift the object. 

     moving the joystick to the right will extend the boom enough and then you can push the joystick forward to lower it.  Unhook the offending object and reverse your procedure.

      take you thumb and forefinger and pull back on the pull tab on the beer..

     Caution,  do not strain yourself, that beer wieghs 12 oz. 

6. 
   DougG | Apr 15, 2003 05:43am | #16

   FIW

   I bought new a DJ-20 and a bunch of other stuff about 4 years ago. Specified delivery to basement with the stipulation I would help. The delivery man was an employee of the supplier, so he knew what he was doing. Everything else, including a 15" planer, he took down the steps on a refrigerator dolly. The DJ-20 he said we had to uncrate and carry in pieces. As I recall, the only really substantial piece is the table. The fence, base, etc. were packed separately. Two of us carried the table down 9 steep steps, but he said if you put it on a dolly, you run the risk of knocking out of alignment or worse twisting it.

   Once in the basement, it was my job to assemble. If you have a steel beam in your basement, be thankful and rent/buy as chain hoist. 500lb may be enough, but I got a 1/2 ton -- smallest I could find and only $25 more than it would cost to rent. Using that, I was able to assemble everything alone, including the planer which weighs aroud 450 lbs as I recall.

   All the best. Be safe!

   Doug

1. 
   RoyinMD | Apr 15, 2003 06:06am | #17

   One word! GRAVITY!

   A friend and I busted our @sses to get his contractor table saw down the stairs in the box without smashing ourselves. Slow slowwww slide and hope, not the best plan.

   I unpacked my first planer in the back of my van to get that sucker out of there and set up.

   Enjoy, Roy

7. 
   MHargrove | Apr 15, 2003 10:54pm | #18

   I hired movers to get my new 430+ lb cabinet saw into the basement.  Two of them used a refrigerator dolly on the (uncrated!) saw and had it down the stairs in about 60 seconds.  It took them more time to move it from the garage to the head of the basement stairs than (maneuvering to avoid walls) than it did to get it down the stairs.  The only things we removed from the box were the two wings.  I offered to unbox a lot more of the parts, but the two guys said it was easier for them to maneuver a single, rectangular unit than a bunch of odd-shaped parts. 

   Then, because I was paying for a one-hour minimum, the two of them help me build the mobile stand and then lifted the saw onto it!

   I asked them, and they said the heaviest and most awkward thing they'd moved down into a basement was a piano -- about 800 lbs.

   -M.