Moving milling machine

I know this, or similar questions come up regularly, but I have not found an answer to my question that works for me in the relevant area.

I will shortly be moving from Oxfordshire to Suffolk and need to move my Bridgeport mill. I don't think I will find a domestic removal firm that can move the mill on the day of moving, so I am probably going to have to get it moved to storage and out again. Does anyone know of a firm in the Oxford-Ipswich area than they have used and can recommend? Looking at Google I suspect most of the firms would be OK with a full workshop but probably cost the earth to do the job, ideally I would like someone like Landylift in the area.

As a last resort I am thinking of taking the head/ram off using a 2-ton engine hoist, hiring a van, using the hoist to get the parts in the van and leaving it in the van for a couple of days, has anyone done this? Are there any pitfalls?

I also have a Boxford lathe, previously that has been moved by a removal firm, I don't think that will be an issue, it is probably easier to move than some pianos or American style fridges.

Baldric.

If you can dismantle it into smaller parts and strap them to pallets it will be safer. That is what we did when the museum inherited the Tom Senior mill and the Atlas lathe. Then a pallet truck and a vehicle with a tail lift can be used. Watch the weight, though, the van which was lent to us had to make two runs because it was only a four wheeler.

#2 on tail lift van with parts strapped to pallets if you can't find a firm to do the uplift & temporary store thing.

If you go the own or hire van way pull the head first then ligt the ram and turret off. They tarvel much easier separately than as one lump unless you build up a suppoty on the pallet for the ram. Even then the balance of the assembled pair is pants on a hoist. I'd make a bolt to the table post unit that can be grabbed by your biggest collet or, as I'm in the process of doing, use a blank end R8 arbor. Life is far easier if you can get the head supported by the table so you can use the table and knee feeds to draw the head off cleanly and align on re-assembly. Swing the drive through 90° so you cna add packing for the off centre load. Run the knee right down to hoist off. Much nicer to rig form ground level rather than standing on a stool.

Put in the van column first with table lying side to side. Primary straps aligned against front to rear movements. Make some wooden frames to sit under the ends of the table with the knee bought down to trap them in palce. Ensures it doesn't rock.

Don't underestimate the amout of time its going to take to load the mill and workshop stuff. Needs to be all done before tackling the house. Ideally you want to have most of the smaller house stuff boxed before the moving guys arrive.

Helped a mate do similar move from Boston to Eastbourne. He had access to the double garage at the new place early. Train ride up on Saturday. Filled transit van and trailer with workshop stuff Sunday, early Monday. Drove down Monday afternoon. Camped out at my place, unloaded Tuesday and drove back. Fill van and part trailer with rest of workshop Wednesday and finished boxing small house stuff. Moving guys arrived Thursday filled (big) estate car and trailer with small stuff and with space for last knocking essentials like kettle, cups and teabags. Left Boston mid-day. Mate and I in the Transit with trailer, his wife following behind with no 1 daughter and full to the gunnels Omega estate. Beat the moving lorry by about two hours. No 2 daughter had the place opened up and parking arranged so we could clear the van, trailer and car into the garage and move out of the way. With a couple of friends providing extra assistance we had the movers lorry unloaded, things sort of in palce and beds assembled by 9 pm. Went back Friday to help more or less kick the house into shape and start on the garage full. Probably a fortnight before things were anything like finished tho'.

Clive

I moved a Victoria HO with a twin axle flat bed trailer that I hired for the day. A 2-ton engine crane lifted it on and off the trailer - which is useful because there are less problems with overhead clearance than there might be with a smaller van. I still use steel rollers to shove it around inside the Shed and a large wrecking bar comes in handy to get things moving if they get stuck. A Bridgeport is a bit top heavy - so taking the head off might help to keep things balanced...

My 2 litre Peugeot didn't like the climb up past Winchester on the way home though....

IanT.

Thanks for the replies, I will be looking at all the options for a few weeks I think.

Baldric.

Search Hiab transport Oxfordshire in google and you will get several companies around Witney, Bicester , Oxford etc

see if you can be a part load on another trip to save some money.

steve

I was hoping to find recommendations from people who have used a company. I think all of the companies I found doing that type of search seemed to have rather large lorries, so I assume will charge more to cover their investment in the lorry, these may be a last resort though.

Baldric.

Hi Baldric,

I used a guy (Australian) based in the midlands (south of Birmingham) to collect my Bridgeport from darkest Kent (Ashford) and deliver to Suffolk. He used a smallish lorry with a hiab. He drove from the midlands starting quite early, did the pick up and delivered to me near Bury St Edmunds by 15:30. He unloaded it into the entrance of my garage without fuss or drama. He is a one man operation so if you need a specific day it might be worth early contact. He regularly advertises on eBay (just looked and could not find the original ad) so might be worth a look.

Bill,

Thanks for reminding me to look on eBay, there is someone in Chelmsford who looks like they may do exactly what I need, they have a smaller vehicle and have short term storage, they are now on my shortlist. I also have a removal firm coming to look, they hire in vehicle trailers for some jobs, so this may be suitable as well. There is still the last resort of DIY I already have had 2 offers of help from friends.

Baldric.

Many people have used Landylift with good results as far as I can see. No affiliation or direct knowledge personally.

He advertises here

regards

Oldiron,

From another post last year

"I can bring this thread up to date concerning Landylift operations, having had a Churchill Cub lathe delivered by Steve Cox today, and a very professional job I might add too

He is now handling machine movement requests on a case by case basis and only on Saturdays. His present full time job is installing bar feed equipment to CNC machinery which is keeping him pretty busy..

He is retaining his truck with all the tackle he uses for the time being to keep his options open, but knowing I would be updating the Forum accordingly, he did ask me to point out this change in his business affairs."

As this is way outside his locality at both ends and I may need storage, I have ruled him out. One of my mates has used him and has no hesitation in recommending him.

Baldric.

Just an update, a bit later than expected due to the move delays for obvious reasons. In the end I used this firm **LINK**, the lorry may have been overkill, but it made lightwork of the job, I would use them again if I needed to do another machine move like that.

Baldric.