Relocating my shop - advice wanted

Well it sounds like you are lucky in that you have time. As much as you can set up in the new shop (s) before you move in the better. Believe me setting up a shop moving and stumbling over boxes and not placed machines is terrible! On any boxes/crates I emphasize label label and detail label!! Trust me before you are set up you will need something that you will search the boxes for. That becomes a nightmare.
A lot of what has been said, I can strongly echo. It wouldn't hurt to let the moving company moving your house move the boxes "you pack" of the shop hardware and loose tools (those not in tool cabinet/boxes). Hire guys to help move the machines and tool boxes/cabinets, but instruct and supervise. As Clueless NewB said, crank handles and pulleys should not be lifting handles.
If you do not own a pallet jack now would be the time to buy a used or new one. Bolt the machines to 4x4's and let the length of the 4x4's account for some of the off balance if needed. These also help to tie down during transport.
If you are renting a truck I strongly recommend renting one with a lift gate.
Anyway it looks like you've got some great input from many of us who have lived through the hassle you are about to have. The bright side is you get to set up a new shop with the improvements you wished you had when you were in your old shop. Good luck
Doug
 
If I were moving that much heavy equipment I would hire a Rigger. You won't have to touch anything, they will do it all.

"Billy G"
 
When transporting a vertical mill it is important to support the head. Bouncing up and down could cause the head to move up or down and possibly break off the teeth on the tilt.
 
Mills are top heavy. The turning of the head will also help to stabilize the load. It can be done either way.

"Billy G"
 
When I inherited my father in laws workshop. I made Roll around gantry crane. It was made to be transported and assembled on site. Money well spent as it made everything so much easier. Harbour freight sell one.
 
kevin said:
In the next couple of months I will be selling my house and moving to a new home 150 miles away. Along with the usual misery of moving all my furniture, etc., I will also be moving the contents of my home shop - 3 lathes, a benchtop mill, workbenches, tooling, grinders, table saw, bandsaw, power tools, garage tools, lumber, raw metal stock, etc.

Some of the stuff is in my basement, so moving that stuff will be fun. At the new house, I'll be moving metal shop stuff into the basement (has a ground level walk in, so that will help), and wood shop stuff into the garage.

No doubt there are others out there who have gone through this before, so I'm asking: What lessons did you learn from relocating your shop? What worked well? What didn't work? Any and all advice welcomed.
Click to expand...

I would start by bolting all the machines to suitable timber bearers, renting a shipping container and with a fork truck or pallet trolley, fit all the prepacked machines into the container, You can add extra timbers at this point to help stabilise the top heavy stuff.

Hire a trucking company, or if you can drive a suitable truck yourself rent the truck, then move all the machines in one go, you can then unpack with a degree of leisure and take the time to set up each machine as you move them into their new locations, during this time the unpacked machines are safe in the container.

Depending on the sizes and quantity of your machines and the size of your container you should consider working out a floor plan of how they will all fit in the container. Check with your local machinery dealer they may have some hints and contacts that will help If you have some space left in the container, you might consider filling it up with some domestic stuff like fridge, washing machine, freezer etc. Will save some money with the moving company.
 
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