How to lift 10' 1200 lb lathe bed into door 13' high?

[richard newman]

I need to move a Oliver pattern makers lathe bed into a 8' x 8' door, 13' above a concrete ramp. Bed is 18" x 11" 10' long, estimate 1200 lbs

What is the most economical way to do this? I'm in Rochester NY, pretty industrial town!

It's possible we may be able to just squezze it into the elevator is we lift one end 7' up and go kitty corner, to have to do a scale mockup to see.

Every time I move into a smaller space, the elevator is smaller also!?!

 

[JP Machining]

Two 4x4's under the bed and a telehandler with fork extensions (possibly rent for a 6 pack from the construction project down the road) from the head end, shove er right in the door.. Its only 1200 lbs, don't overthink it, crap the bucket for my telehandler probably weighs more than that on its own.

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

Is that ramp wide enough to turn a forklift 90 degrees? If so, and the forklift has sideshift, it should not be too hard to get most of it in, might need some help to drag the last few feet in. If not wide enough to turn on, then remove everything from bed, including legs, sideshift the end thru door, and drag it off the forks. Now why in hell is there a rollup door on the second floor?

 

[M.B. Naegle]

That ramp coming from the wrong side makes it tricky. I'd take it apart and use a forklift to lift the bed up high enough that it could slide off the side of a pallet. Make the pallet so it can't shift around or tip on the forks. Otherwise, I think you're in over-head crane territory.

 

[Nmbmxer]

I also vote telehandler, it’s what they are designed for. I’d use slings and a searcher hook if the rental yard can furnish it. I used to get 8-10k telehandlers to move machines at home for $350/weekend from Sunbelt.

 

[richard newman]

Have to disassemble the lathe anyway to get it out of current shop, won't fit in elevator with legs and headstock. That's pretty easy. I'm going over there tomorrow, will measure the pad on the ramp. We can certainly drag or winch once it's part way in. I'm semi-retired and cash is tight, so have to keep it affordable. Wife wants me to stay home and clean and cook... NFW!

 

[Garwood]

Easy crane job. Easy telehandler job.

Buy some beer. Then build yourself a stout little wood beam structure 13 feet tall with a small platform on it. place bottom of the structure against the wall of the building below the door. Strap the lathe bed to the platform. Hook your pickup's winch cable to the lathe bed. Run winch cable through snatch block inside the 2nd story door. control the ascent with a pair of rope tag lines. When/if the lathe bed makes it to the doorway, release the straps and continue winching it inside the door.

 

[DDoug]

Provide beer payment only after crew is done completing work

 

[Superbowl]

Do you really need a 10' bed? Cut it down to 6' and stick in in the elevator.

 

[Garwood]

Provide beer payment only after crew is done completing work

But then how are you supposed to say "Hold my beer..."?

 

[m16ty]

I also vote telehandler, it’s what they are designed for. I’d use slings and a searcher hook if the rental yard can furnish it. I used to get 8-10k telehandlers to move machines at home for $350/weekend from Sunbelt.

I agree a telehandler is the way to go and will make easy work of this. It must have been awhile back when you rented one though, they now go for $450-$500 per day, plus delivery and pickup fee.

 

[reggie_obe]

Do you really need a 10' bed? Cut it down to 6' and stick in in the elevator.

Instead of chopping the bed, stand it up inside the building on the headstock end, remove legs and tailstock. Most freight elevator have a hatch for tall load and shaft access, poke the tailstock end up the shaft.

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

Whatever method you choose, make sure to take pics!

 

[richard newman]

The lathe has to be disassembled to get it out of it's present location, the bed just makes it into the elevator diagonally on casters, with 1" to spare.

I made a 1/12 scale model of the lathe bed and the elevator, and it will fit if one end is lifted 7' and we go in diagonally. Not as dramatic (I hope!) as flying it in, but much cheaper, and repeatable if I should sell it in the future.

The elevator is pretty tiny, 72"w x 94"d x 90"h and no hatch, but has 5000# capacity. All my machines will just make it in, but any long boards will need cutting or have to go in the "oh shit" door (the managements name for it). That's no big deal, just need some youngsters to horse them up. I'm looking forward to moving, space has A/C, and will be much cozier, and only 6 min drive from home.

 

[Modelman]

Check with the local heavy wrecker outfit (that tows trucks) to see if they have a "rotator" which is a wrecker with a boom that pivots like a mobile crane. Should be able to park on the pavement and fly it through that door in less than an hour. Wrecker operators haven't been spoiled by things like four hour minimum.

Dennis

 

[Overland]

I rented a 5k telehandler couple of weeks ago.
Sunbelt was over $500 a day.
Found a local renter for $375 a day and I fetched it on my trailer.
Ideal for a job like this.
Check out any nearby construction sites, and local rental outfits.
Be safe !
Bob