Derek

The two bad points about this sort of lift table are a rather high lowest position and no provision for tying things down.

Typically the table starts at about a foot above the floor so you have some significant lifting to get a machine off a pallet onto the table. The basic footprint is rather small which is good for getting into confined spaces but not so good for stability when lifted.

Machine tools tend to be narrow footed, top heavy and rather unstable so its best to tie them down good and proper until ready to shift from table to bench.

Engine hoist or high lift pallet jack are, in my view better options. I've used both. If you do go the engine hoist route get one with parallel wheel carrying arms at the base not the less costly versions with them splayed out from the column. Way back I saved maybe £50 by getting the splayed leg version and regretted it many times since as it's not possible to slide it to full jib depth over a cabinet.

As ever there is no affordable perfect solution. Its all a matter of balancing the disadvantages against how you plan to do the job and whatever other capabilities you have to hand. I've always found it useful to concentrate on what the thing can't do rather than what it can. After all you are not going to look at anything that is totally unsuitable.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 20/06/2021 21:54:54

It’s listed as 125kg. Removing a few parts (tailstock and chuck, for a start) should make it manageable by two healthy strong people – even if it means lifting in stages – is my view. Unless you have plenty of use for a lift, as linked, it would be an expensive toy. An engine hoist would be much cheaper, but not needed, IMO, for this particular lathe

Moving should just be a matter of rollers of some description, pallet truck, crowbars, etc.

Most hire shops will have an engine hoist.

Steve.

I would suggest you don't know exactly how you are going to deal with a machine until you actually see it and buy it. What size of machines are you wanting? Are you buying new from, say Warco who I understand will deliver, or used from a dealer, for example? Are you looking for small bench-top machines or those larger types from industry or education which have the stand integral to the machine? I have shifted a few machines of all sizes and weights up to 2-tons over the years, and into some very awkward locations too, and I would suggest the lift you have indicated in the link is totally unsuitable for shifting anything much but the smallest and lightest machine tool. For a start, any lathe around 'Myford' size two of you can usually lift and shift that without much trouble, if it's 'Colchester' size then I suggest you lever it up on blocks and slip a pallet under it. It can then be moved, given the room, easily with a pallet truck. Make sure you strap any machine down when shifting because most of them are top heavy and will topple very easily and once they start to go you can only stand and watch because there is absolutely no stopping them. It would be very dangerous to try in any event. Machines with integral stands can also be shifted on level ground by levering round bars as rollers under them and inching them along with a pinch bar. There are any number of ways of shifting machines including jacking them on to machine skates. I have been banging on in other threads about just using common sense in all things and its no different when shifting a machine tool. Assess the tool, assess the move and then decide on the best way of doing the job. It's not rocket science, but if you feel you must buy something to move a machine I would suggest you buy a cheap 2500Kg pallet truck for about two-hundred quid on eBay, they are not as good as the proper Swedish BT make but they at least do the job. I have shifted a 2-ton J&S cylindrical grinder on one, it creaked and moaned a bit but it did the job. With or without a pallet make sure you strap any top heavy machine down and, if you are making tight manoeuvres with the machine on the truck where the rear wheels will be at right angles to the rollers, bolt or clamp some stabilising bars to it to arrest any possible tilt beyond the point of no return because if it starts to roll you will never stop it. Think about what you doing, try to anticipate any possible risk and above all do it all slowly for safety's sake, you are not in a race. I always wear PPE when moving machines, safety boots, heavy duty gloves etc. I would also suggest that you think about doing the same when the time comes.

Edited By Chris Crew on 21/06/2021 06:07:53

When I moved my mill in (240kG – a lightweight compared to some), I found a chap on ebay hiring his engine hoist for somewhat less than a hire should would have charged. Two particularly challenging parts:-

getting the machine over the ridge of the door in the shed. The door and frame were integrated so there was a 3 cm bar there. I build a platform of two long wood joists, lifted the mill onto the outside of the door with the engine hoist, pushed it along by hand, (somehow) navigated the hoist over the mill and continued at the far end.

The other issue was that there was ONLY just enough height in the shed to lift the mill in place. Probably not an issue with a lathe, but worth thinking about.

OH – I had the help of a strong young man. I could not have managed on my own.

Iain

Always try to lift machine tools from the top with an engine crane,lifting from below ie with pallet truck or lifting table can be dangerous ,just too top heavy, use a strop for lifting,new ones are not expensive ,a lot cheaper than a damaged machine,rope can be used for smaller machines as long as its new and not old ,dirty and oily and you know how to tie knots.for horizontal movement I prefer steel rollers anything from 5/8 dia solid to inch bore water pipe,scaffold tube at 1 7/8 od is a bit too big ,if the load slips off this tube on one corner the load can tilt a bit too much for comfort ,if it slips off small rod it cannot drop too far,though the floor has too be smooth.Engine cranes can also be used to dismantle/assemble machine tools,that cannot be done with a pallet truck.

As one who had to be rescued from under a shaper, BE VERY careful. Many machine tools ARE top heavy and prone to topple at the slightest oppertunity. On anything but a hard flat surface rollers or skates may not work. An engine crane is the way to go, and lift from as high as can be. A lift, swing and lower repertition will get you over a threshold or where the crane can't be moved loaded due to rough or soft surface. A hot day and tarmac is not a best plan ! Good luck Noel.

There is a pallet truck available that will lift 500kg from about 80mm and lift to about a metre, they are safe and controllable you can hire them from Brandon tool hire etc

Hi,

As a model engineer and a vintage car restorer i have both the lift as shown and a clarke folding engine hoist. Both have there place.

As a model engineer the lift works for me, when my machines were delivered they were placed straight on the lift from the truck and held with ratchet straps. I do have a wide door so the machines can go in sideways, the lift is always set at its lowest whilst it is moving, raising only to slide machine on to bench. I have drilled the sides of the top of the lifting truck and fitted eye bolts to secure loads. It does a great job of moving my 5” loco from bench to bench and bench to car. It also is used as an extra build table and can be rolled outside for steam tests. If you load overhangs the table pad the load overhang on the underside with secured wood blocks so if it does tilt it can only tilt a couple of inches whilst moving.

To be safe you need to carefully balance the load, strap it down, and have a smooth floor surface. And lastly stay clear of the load whilst moving

As mentioned in previous posts +1 for the engine hoist. When I was setting up my man cave I bought the 1 ton hoist from Machine Mart + a 1 ton web sling as there was a discount offer on at the time. It was eminently suitable to set up my lathe ( WM250V-F) onto its stand & the mill WM16 onto its stand, with the assistance of SWMBO. Usual disclaimer applies.

As it folds up I have it tucked away in a corner for future ( ? ) use.

George.

Edited By mechman48 on 21/06/2021 14:15:49

My next workshop if I ever get to build one will have a post crane, you can always put a strut under the end to increase capacity if you make the beam strong enough. Really handy for moving heavy vices, dividing heads and heavy jobs on and off machines. If you are building a new workshop worth thinking about some lifting arrangements from the off.

Paul.