Best way of moving milling machine

Hi chaps, I purchased an old warco KF milling machine. Looking at the information available it looks like this machine comes in at 500 kg. I am having it delivered by one of the pallet delivery companies who will more than likely drop it off on its pallet at the end of the drive.
I need to get the machine across 20 foot of gravel driveway and into the garage. So far I have purchased two 8x4 sheets of shutter board to form a path. I can move one in front of the other as the machine moves.
at the moment I am thinking that I can use my 3.5 ton hand which which is anchored to the garage floor to pull the machine along on its pallet into the garage. I am thinking of using one strap around the pallet to keep the pull force as low as I can to the ground and prevent any pull on the machine itself to prevent it tilting. Once in the garage I have a hoist that can remove it from the pallet.
I am undertaking this move myself, and think that using scaffolding rollers would just rise the center of gravity and my lead to the machine becoming unstable.

what are your views on this, any ideas that would make it easier and safer. Thanks

Hi Michael, I'd be a bit cautious about pulling on the pallet, as I've seen them break when doing so, it would slide over sheets of steel much better though.

Regards Nick.

My similar sized milling M/C was slid into position on flat steel bars, it moved very easily.

Tony

Most vertical mills are very top heavy, more so modern ones on steel sheet bases ! Your first hope has to be that it arrives still up right. IF not do not unload, return to sender ! Your sheets and a borrowed /hired pallet truck might be easier. You can raise the pallet JUST enough to clear the ground and at the first hint of topple drop the pallet back on the ground. Good luck. Noel.

Noel, I did think of a pallet truck and use that to provide wheels to the pallet. If the machine falls over in the truck that’s the company’s problem not mine, it’s all insurance until it gets to my driveway.
I was thinking of reinforcing the pallet all around before starting to drag it along. I have seen the blocks pull out many times over the years and the resulting damage. But with reinforcement all round pallets can become very strong. Also I have no steel plates, and the cost these days for a one off job would make them too expensive.

Michael

where are you? I would willingly help

dont try to do it by yourself

if you get the boards down and have another to help get the delivery driver to use his truck to get it to teh garage bribe him if ness..pallet co’s i have had deliver had an electric truck which would make short work of 20 foot

Ian, the truck will more than likely be far too large to take the corner to get into the driveway. If the driver can help or good, but I am thinking the worst and hoping for the best

I was meaning the pallet truck

Michael

I have had a milling machine delivered by pallet line ( actually 3 times because the first one had a fault and was replaced).

They used a large vehicle with a tail lift and a motorised pallet truck. They didn’t just leave it at the end of the drive but put it in my garage (about 40 metres from the road). I have a gravel drive and considered using boards on top of the gravel but in the end I scraped the gravel to one side to expose the hardcore base in a 1 metre wide strip.

Maybe you could do something similar?

Stuart

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 03/10/2023 14:32:31

Thanks Stuart, I am using National pallets, after ringing pallet line for information to make sure I had ordered the correct size, I was informed that I would need to order space for 4 pallets, when I told them yet again that the machine fits onto a one full size pallet I was again told that I needed to order 4 spaces, so went with National pallets. I think it’s up to the driver if he will or can help get the machine across the drive, but I am looking at the worst case. Moving some of the gravel to make a path may help. Will take a look. Thanks for input.

Hi Michael, well it maybe one of those that have a small fork lift truck onboard, if you luck is in.

Regards Nick.

In my experience, drivers are very happy to place a pallet in any reasonably convenient spot. The exception was recently when I had a pallet-load of bricks delivered. He didn't have a pallet truck so he just lifted them over the boundary wall with his HIAB.

I'd use my engine hoist - you may be able to hire one locally.

Michael

My delivery was actually by the local transport company. As I understand it, pallets get delivered by a system similar to parcels, where they are picked up by a local company then moved overnight to the destination part of the country for the local delivery company to deliver. I think as long as you make it easy, they will place the pallet where you want.

Stuart

Hello Michael .

I have had a `new ` milling machine delivered - an OPTIMUM BF 46 mill / drill with an all up weight of about 700 kg .

I bought this machine from a company in North Yorkshire who actually split the machine from its fabricated base and mounted both halves on two normal size pallets and well wrapped in black HD clingfilm .

The machine arrived within a couple of days of despatch on a lorry with tail lift and an electric pallet lift truck .

I was amazed at how easily the driver manoeuvred the two pallets from the deck of the lorry on to the tail lift , lowered the lot to the ground and then wheeled each pallet across the road and dropped them where I wanted in my drive way - made it look all so easy.

From now on its down to me to get the two halves down a narrow side passage - across a short lawned area to my workshop . I do have a a good engine crane and set of roller machinery skates which do make moving quite substantial machines a fairly easy task I have used some short pieces of rectangular 80 x 40 hollow section and through bolted the skates to the under side of the machine parts. I can move this lot single handed . I also have some sheets of old ply- wood that I can use to traverse the lawn - saves any grief from the `lady of the house ` complaining about the messed - up lawn !

I will use this set up to move my other new acquisition - a CVA lathe weighing about 1500 kg ! - although I will probably strip as much off the lathe to lighten it as much as I can for the move .

This will be followed by a Harrison horizontal mill - another 5- 600 kg lump !

Oh well - these antics keep an 80 + year old out of mischief .

MARK.

Mark, you did a lot better than me with using machine skates, I tried to move a lathe and almost killed myself in the process. I found that they rised the centre of gravity too high and made an already unstable machine into a very unstable machine. I can’t get on with engine cranes, I find that their little rollers just lock up and I end up with my 6 foot crow bar trying to move the whole lot an inch or two at a time.
at the moment it looks like winch and wooden boards. I have asked the seller to drop the knee and the head to its lowest possible position to reduce the centre of gravity and make it more stable. However from what I have heard these pallet delivery companies are not that great on collection and delivery times, so time will tale if it happens at all. I May result to hiring a van with a Towbar and a trailer yet.

and glad to hear that you are still active at 80, hope I will be the same

500kg is easy pallet truck weight. If you're using 2 sheets of ply either get a piece of metal to bridge the gap and stop the small wheels from going through or over-lap the edges a few inches so the one you're one lays over the one you're going onto. Ply sheets are plenty long enough so that you can stopin the middle of a sheet and bring the second one around to tuck under the edge of the first to carry on.

Ideally you'll have 2 people, one on the truck handle and one to steady the load and provide some extra push.

Do not just drag it, as you might propose to. Always roll it gently on a minimum of three pieces of pipe/bar (I only use 25mm diameter, not scaffold tubes), it will move much more easily - sometimes too easily - so please don’t try this yourself unless you cannot find at least one helper.

A pallet truck is a very good option. Engine crane only at a push - they are good for lifting things but not so handy for moving them any distance - especially on your own. Any helpers must be fully aware to be safe and not try to physically hold back the machine if it tips!

If any doubt as to stability, dismantle as far as possible, before any pending disaster may occur.

BE SAFE!

Engine cranes sometimes won't go high enough without extending the arm to max and then the capacity drops.

The wheels aren't really meant to carry the weight so they stick a bit, then you push or pull harder and the crane goes with a jerk but the mill lags so everything starts swinging and bouncing.

If you do have to use a pump up pallet truck, overlap your boards if a wheel drops in between the two it won't come out in a hurry.