How to move a milling machine and lathe like a pro!

I used a pallet jack and a tow truck to move my Excello mill and Colchester lathe to their new location. Everything went super smooth except for the rain! Big thanks to Ian for helping move the machines, Tony for lending me the pallet jack, and Marcel Towing for getting them to the destination in one piece.
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[@codprawn]

Nice to see British lathes still popular in the USA! You did a great job moving them. I run a pallet shipping business in the UK and we see a lot of mills damaged because people don't bother lowering the head or the knee so they end up falling over.

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

will be using these techniques. thank you

[@glassglowz]

Just check the weather first :D

[@alexmurdoch3052]

Thanks for the video, This really helped us figure out how to easily move our Bridgeport!

[@GnosisMan50]

so glad all went well and nobody got hurt...

[@SKEL45]

why does everyone like moving their nice things when it rains 0.o ... maybe it's raining because of the move 0.0

[@jzzsxm]

Moved my mill this last weekend after using this video! Thanks!

[@glassglowz]

Hey glad this helped!

[@billoxley5315]

Anytime machinery is moved without damage and no one is injured or killed, it's a great success. I have moved many.

[@VideoMasher3000]

Question for you. How does manage to move the machinery off of the pallets?

[@billoxley5315]

@@VideoMasher3000 I happen to have a truck mounted crane.An engine crane or cribbing and rollers of some type are useful as well.

[@VideoMasher3000]

​@@billoxley5315 Oh okay cool thanks. I was watching Alec Steele's channel where in his latest video he got 3-ton power hammer and just couldn't imagine moving that around a shop lol.

[@billoxley5315]

@@VideoMasher3000 I always keep several pieces of pipe in the shop just for moving things like that.skates are good too.

[@pjofurey6239]

Glad you got it done , but this is not how pros move machine tools . 100% not.This is DIY level, nothing wrong with that at all , but “like a pro “ gives idea of instructions . Happy machining !

[@wxfield]

Honestly, renting a forklift or even a skidsteer is the best way to get these out and onto a trailer. This looks more like you were trying to save some money and finagle this with whatever tools you had on hand. Take it from someone who had to close a machine shop and move granite tables and tool room lathes out...a forklift is money very well spent. And OMG..buy a tarp at Harbor Freight next time!! The poor machines!!

[@goshnodo]

Do yourself a favor and get some Hillman rollers before you call yourself a pro.

[@MrJTJINX]

Good job you had some muscle, your boy will never forgive you. Nice new shop, like it.

[@ckm-mkc]

Note to everyone looking at this - you can rent a forklift for the day for pretty cheap. That's what I did when I moved my shop. If you palletize all your stuff, it will make you life a lot easier.

[@thorweldinginnovations6167]

Nice. I recently acquired the exact same Colchester Student Mk2. Mine is a gap bed model though.

[@glassglowz]

It's been a great machine for me over the years! Thanks for watching :)

[@fernandonogueira3290]

🎥 Great Video 🎬 ! _ Congratulations! 👍 🇧🇷

[@heavenlymachining5674]

I tear my machines all the way down and then build them back up again. One person can move almost any machine. I even hung my airplane from the ceiling in my shop that way. It hangs above my machines. You can see it in my heavenly machining video.

[@glassglowz]

Well I guess that's one way to do it eh! Thanks for watching.

[@MrJohnandMargie]

Yes, moved my boxford lathe and Warco mill myself, except I needed a hand realigning the mill head and getting the bolts back in. It wasn’t that I couldn’t lift it, I just couldn’t support the weight on my shoulder and put the bolts in, it kept moving and when cast iron moves……

[@sakorn1993]

Just wonderful Thanks for sharing..

[@1903A3shooter]

Great job moving the machines, looked very professional.

[@deweys]

Of course it rained... Fuckin life man..

[@tartorstyx5104]

Hi! How do you move/lower them from the wooden structures to the concrete stationary final locations? Thanks!

[@glassglowz]

I left the mill on the wood base. And for the lathe, it was basically the same process in reverse.

[@TheMerlion13]

This made me feel like a moron! We spent hours struggling to move a mill, even dropped it, almost killed me. Never occurred to any of us that we could just drop the table and flip the head to lower the center of gravity!

[@glassglowz]

LOL... well now you know for next time :D

[@melarky8555]

This is why I think that the only move I'll do, is the one where I go out toes first. lol

[@MrJohnandMargie]

Yep, will be leaving the contents of my workshop to my nephews, my kids would just sell it all. It takes a lifetime to collect them all.

[@jeffiscool1805]

I used an engine crane when I moved my lathe. About 1000lbs. The guy I bought it from forgot to mention all the huge cracks in the floor. Took 3 maybe 4 hours to move it 30 feet. Pallet jack would have been sooooooo much easier . Nice job.

[@glassglowz]

Nice. What lathe do you have? I think mine is around 1500 lbs but the mill is pretty close to 3000 lbs from what I've read.

[@jeffiscool1805]

Busy Bee ct043. Does metric and standard. Older model. Guy used it about an hour and lost interest. Swings almost 14" x about 36". About 18" with the gap out. Descent machine from before they got more cheaply made.

[@sportster88]

What is the long pry bar with wheels called?

[@glassglowz]

I'm not really sure. Someone once ask the same thing and there was a response somewhere in the comments.

[@sportster88]

Thanks, I researched it today and discovered it's called a johnson bar. I haven't found any place that sells them around here so I might make one myself.

[@JJ-hy5qx]

Sometimes they are also called a pry bar dolly or pry bar lever. I got mine for a decent price at Northern Hydraulics: www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200673892_200673892 There is even a larger one available that will lift 5.5 tons!

[@cleophusfowler]

We use these on a daily basis. Ours have 72" handles. We have always called them jaw breakers LOL.

[@rider6.0]

Thanks for show. Job well done.

[@glassglowz]

My pleasure!

[@garymiller7880]

a "pro" would have used a tarp...

[@glassglowz]

Yes, I agree.

[@jasonmpd2946]

Water plus cast iron....what's the problem? haha.

[@CoolAirVw]

or a box truck with a lift gate? Would a lift gate hold the weight?

[@sportster88]

As a retired trucker I have to say, If it's dry, why?

[@carlospineiro758]

Great job! I have to move my shop in a few weeks. Is challenging

[@antigen4]

handtrucks and natural stone floors DO NOT mix ...! it looks to me anyway

[@carlalm6100]

I guess wearing Crocs (like in the beginning of the video) did not really help much? =) Thank for the video, informative =)

[@Rafael-xy5ti]

a tricky one

[@aligmai4936]

Hello I have experience in Turning & Milling and everything Do I work for you and thank you

[@dob2030]

Really great^^

[@grahamwaite1]

I work for a machine moving company and if i moved machines like this i would loose my job

[@exilfromsanity]

graham waite If he was a pro and had professional equipment he wouldn't move them like this either.

[@rlewis1946]

What would you have done differently?

[@juanleon6088]

Who do you work for I'm a m mover to dmm

[@gravelyhighpriest]

DO------NOT-----LEAVE------BARS or BARS/Levers WITH WHEELS where anyone might trip over them!!!!! Even for a moment: ie. like standing the lining bar on concrete against a pallet leaned against the wall: Kind of like a BOX TRAP only there is no need for a CARROT!!!! CMVHighPriest Rigger for 40 plus years with a 100% accident Free safety record!! Company I worked for had hired a few dummies over the years that could/would not be retrained to do it the safe way and they had to be "CANNED"!

[@WeAreNotAlone69]

graham waite posted: "I work for a machine moving company and if i moved machines like this i would loose my job" Q: How would you MOVE a mill and a lathe... WITHOUT the equipment you may have at your JOB ? Please give details vs one-liner.. offer some suggestions and work-arounds... "tips" from your years? of moving stuff.

[@exilfromsanity]

Some round stock or 1" pipe as rollers would have made the job a lot easier.

[@rlewis1946]

Good idea.

[@robinturner2300]

I've used 1" iron pipe to move big data safes... They are lined with high density concrete and can weight 1500kg but a few bits of pipe and a pry bar they go easily...the Egyptians moved huge stone blocks on wooden rollers so why not a Bridgeport on steel

[@davidalejoperez2907]

Moving a hello buendia like the same from the capital to a district far more than 12 hours greetings.

[@highcarbrider]

how did you take it off the pallet?

[@glassglowz]

A very large pry bar and pretty much the reverse as putting it on. Thanks for watching!

[@TheDivineImpulse]

almost by my own... but just from one room to the other...... + rotate the 1.7 ton lathe moving a 2TON lathe by myself & shop update

[@therealchayd]

You don't appreciate how top heavy those milling machines are till you try to move one. I think I'm going to need a week off just to recover when I shifted mine.

[@andrewwilson8317]

I share your pain! I had to move my Elliott Milmor super 16 on my own! Made my Colchester master look featherweight! Never again!

[@MultiChaga]

I guess I would have rented a lift to move this machine.

[@bradleytidrick5066]

Good job!! I have the same mill

[@glassglowz]

Thanks. It's a great mill!

[@JustinAnderson-mp8ri]

Whats the tool called that you're using to lift them off the ground initially? (not the pallet jack) Thanks

[@glassglowz]

+Justin Anderson Not sure the name of it. It's a special pry-bar for moving heavy machines.

[@toolhorder7741]

+Justin Anderson Its called a Johnson bar.

[@BobDarlington]

+Justin Anderson It's a J-Bar aka Johnson Bar

[@madeljacky]

Im in the U.K and I call it a fencing crowbar because its used to make holes in the ground for fence posts with the pointy end, its about 6 foot long and a very useful tool to lever heavy weights with the angled foot on the other end of the bar.

[@gravelyhighpriest]

Thats a Lever Dolly; some times called a "Johnny Bar" They are available with either a steel or Oak Wood Handle & Come in three different lengths. Very handy; but on top heavy loads yeah gotta have the quitting sense. Toolwell and Carr company have them; around $200.00 bucks well spent; longest ones are more money, I have had mine for 40 plus years.

[@mooreracing11]

smartest saying have seen! Nicely excited!

[@MrJohnandMargie]

Excellent. Two men shifting weight like that. Where’s there’s a will there’s a way.

[@glassglowz]

Thanks for watching!

[@codprawn]

Nice one! I run a pallet shipping business and you would be amazed how people think they can just stick a large machine on the pallet and hope for the best. I like the way you lowered the knee and rotated the head to lower the centre of gravity as much as possible.

[@BobAmarant]

Great day to eat two bowls of your Wheaties!!

[@blackdaan]

i moved a mill like that. did it with a hoist.. on a pellet moved it.. and moved the pellet the the place and hoist again to remove the pellet

[@glassglowz]

The hoist would make it much easer to get the mill onto the pallet. Thanks for watching.

[@blackdaan]

@@glassglowz I pushed a hbeam with 2 jack posts. Against the ceiling and mounted the hoist on that hbeam ^^

[@burbman60]

Hard work man!!! Good job getting that stuff home and advancing your shop to the next level. Is there anything you would do differently? I have to move a mill in the near future, not very far but still will be difficult.

[@glassglowz]

I'd move on a day where rain wasn't in the forecast :D Thanks for watching!

[@Jpetovic]

Great job

[@lpapa4445]

This is a great video - love the music, and showing the whole process sped up - Thank you! Any special screws to fasten the machines to the wood?

[@9531-d7w]

Good move going high and low with the hookup pulling the milling machine up the incline on the rollback. Wouldn’t be a rigging crew without a plumber’s crack though.

[@glassglowz]

haha! YUP! Thanks for watching.

[@expatconn7242]

great vid real good nice pry bar

[@mindkrypted]

Worked beautifully, thanks for sharing!

[@sewerroundtablereview4929]

Nice background music.

[@glassglowz]

Does the job eh! Thanks for watching.

[@PatrykPabo]

You didn't expect the rain, right ? :)

[@Elluefilim]

What the music? I realy liked it.

[@ProspectorFrank]

Just one question... does your wife know that you bought that stuff.

[@glassglowz]

haha! Yes she knows ;)

[@tcalcut]

"Why did it have to rain on the machines...???"...spoken with a groan

[@glassglowz]

ugh, I know eh!

[@SG-uh6sw]

Rule number uno get the fattest helper you can find !! Pro style

[@glassglowz]

LOL.. you know it buddy! :D

[@shlomoattia7706]

good job

[@glassglowz]

Thanks, I try!

[@JJ-hy5qx]

What size lag bolts did you use for the Ex-Cell-O Mill? I just purchased a 602 similar to yours from an auction and I need to move it soon. I don't have any way to see it or measure it before I pick it up since it is a few hours away from me. Any details on the number and size/length of lag bolts that you used to attach it to the 4x4 beams would be great. Also, how narrow does the pallet jack need to be to fit between the beams? Thanks in advance...your video has really helped me out!!!

[@glassglowz]

Hi there. You'll want lag bolts 7" or 8" long - 3/8 diameter will do - you'll need 4 of them. You'll need really large washers for the lag bolts as the hole in the mill base is rather large. The base of the mill is just shy of 3' in length and the space between the 4x4's is 28". The mill is around 3000 lbs. Good luck with your move and thanks for watching!

[@JJ-hy5qx]

Thanks! Also, if you don't mind me asking, what tools will I need to bring along to extend the ram and rotate the head down like you did to lower the center of gravity?

[@glassglowz]

Just some wrenches - 3/4 and 1/2.

[@christophertuten6772]

I'm about to bring a 4000lb lathe to my shop using a roll back truck and a pallet jack. I like how smoothly this moved off the truck onto your floor. My only question is, how did you get the pallet from under the lathe? I will be up against the same challenge if I move it on a pallet.

[@glassglowz]

Watch 2:30 in the video. We used big prybars to move it onto the pallet. It was a huge pain in the ass! Good luck with your move and thanks for watching!

[@christophertuten6772]

@@glassglowz I will go back and watch it again, i must have over looked it. Thanks

[@ckm-mkc]

When I moved my shop, I rented a forklift for a day....

[@GaryTruesdale]

Great move

[@malcolmlagares8245]

Wow! What a helpful video. Thanks! :)

[@glassglowz]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@shallowfakes593]

fricken awsome video!

[@psiwog]

Any idea how much the mill weighs?

[@glassglowz]

Around 2400 lbs

[@МаркГуляницкий]

Приятные хлопоты. Поздравляю.

[@leslienorton4590]

So when are we going to meet

[@joncobb6677]

Way too long

[@glassglowz]

That's what she said ;)

[@iankleinschmidt712]

dude, that rain...

[@glassglowz]

ugh... i know - i cried a bit on the inside. i soaked them with WD40 before hand so it didn't damaged anything, thank goodness!

[@gravelyhighpriest]

First rule of thumb is never leave a lever dolly; where unattended it could become a hazard; I have seen those things tripped over or falling down or worse the handle coming up with great velocity: true Pros think safety first. CMVHighPriest an accident free Machinery Rigger for 45 years!

[@alfredododaro8120]

A pro do not show his ass he would adjust his belt, Congrat! good job!

[@newstart49]

Did you get in trouble when the machines got wet? How much does that cost...?... I need a huge lathe moved.

[@glassglowz]

newstart49 I soaked the machines with WD-40 before I left so the rain didn't do any damage. I think it cost around $300, but I really can't remember anymore.

[@gravelyhighpriest]

Even though WD means "Water Displacement" in Military lingo it is not recommended to avoid rust/likewise plastic tarps sweat on the under side and can cause a lot of damage. Water and oil can cause an electrolysis process between unseen surfaces. CMVHighPriest

[@WeAreNotAlone69]

Clifford, So how would you protect some machines that had to be moved?... and moving them on a wrecker / on a open trailer was your ONLY option?.... Please give a DETAILED response. Additionally, any rigging /moving tips or tricks you can share? Thanks!

[@TechTomVideo]

still waitig for the "like a pro"-part

[@glassglowz]

LOL... well they made it into my shop didn't they? :D

[@TechTomVideo]

@@glassglowz - well - there you've got a point

[@abrownduck3]

As a pro I can tell you that this was super dangerous and inefficient all to save a couple of hundred bucks. I would have bid the whole move including tarped transport at 300 to 350 depending on mileage.

[@glassglowz]

My self proclaimed title of 'pro' should be taken with a grain of salt ;) Thanks for watching!

[@MrJohnandMargie]

Not all ‘pro’s’ like your claimed title, can get into awkward sheds across grass gardens etc. Sometimes a bit of ingenuity like these guys came up with is all you need. As for super dangerous, rubbish. They took all possible precautions and ensure the lathe pallet was big enough and strong enough for the job. Credit where credits due. I suspect your jealous, an worried that potential customers will see they can afford to do it themselves without paying so called experts a small fortune.