Tips on Moving Large Tools?

[David Stone]

I'm going to move my shop in the next few weeks.  I'll take the wings off my TS and the table off my 17" BS.  Should I do something to secure the BS wheels?  I can't remember how it shipped. For my 8" jointer, should I remove the bed assembly from the base (the way it was delivered to me)?  I assume lighter will be easier, but are there other reasons?  Should I remove the motor (it shipped with the motor mounted in a different, I assume more secure position).  Any other suggestions, other than finding strong helpers?

Thanks.

[Cooler]

A moving company.  They will treat the equipment like furniture and they will bring the strong backs.  They are accustomed to carrying heavy furniture up and down stairs.  

You pay by the hour, with probably a 4 or 6 hour minimum.  A lot depends on how far you are moving, but if it is local it should not cost too much.

[Steve N]

Check locally for riggers. Movers are Hillbillies with a truck. Riggers are seasoned pros who move equipment all day long. Or break your back and tick off all your buddies, and do it yourself. I'm older now, and look at things according to how much pain they are liable to cause me, my doing it myself days are past me, so I'm willing to throw money at it, to not be in pain for days. I have a few friends who would help me bury a body, but if I call to move equipment, suddenly I get a dial tone, they are old fartolas too.


All that said I have found riggers to be the best kept secret for getting it done, and still having a few bux to go out to eat an enjoyable dinner with the LOML.

[Turner52]

Moved 3 years ago. Yes movers were $4800 for a 3 mile move. They did all of the heavy lifting and packig,. Well worth the price.

[dg152]

It depends on how far you're going to move. If you're moving across town rent a UHaul trailer, get a couple of (really good) friends or hire a couple of strong temp guys, load the equipment, tie it down and pack it securely, and drive to your new location. If it's across country, as others have suggested, get a moving company staffed with people who know how to move heavy woodworking equipment.

[Bob10]

I'm going to move my shop in the next few weeks.  I'll take the wings off my TS and the table off my 17" BS.  Should I do something to secure the BS wheels?  I can't remember how it shipped. For my 8" jointer, should I remove the bed assembly from the base (the way it was delivered to me)?  I assume lighter will be easier, but are there other reasons?  Should I remove the motor (it shipped with the motor mounted in a different, I assume more secure position).  Any other suggestions, other than finding strong helpers?

Thanks.

you need to page Aram he just did what you are wanting to do.  I moved a PM66 and a Uni today alone, caught the back edge on the tailgate grabbed the bottom and tipped in.  Reversed the procedure to take them out.  I have a PM60 that I loaded into my truck buy rolling the truck tires into a low spot walked it up a couple blocks and into the truck.  Planers are difficult IMO but not so much with a cherry picker.  I recently picked up a couple of large grinders the seller insisted in using a forklift made a lot of work out of it.  I prefer tipping the top end of machines in and walking the bottoms in.  Lots of people will suggest low trailers and that's good advice if you have one available but lots of stuff can be walked up to where you need it to be if you don't.

[Aram]

you need to page Aram he just did what you are wanting to do. 

Aram is watching the Sharks duke it out with the Islanders. However, he is a stand up guy and will take time out to help. 


I moved from Kali to Oregon last April. Bob convinced me that loading a UHaul was no big deal and I went for it. The most time consuming part was packing my hand tools. Seriously.

Here's what I wrote recently in another thread:

I just moved a few months ago. It was a 9 hour move from CA or OR. My tools are not small. I had to haul a Minimax MM16 bandsaw, PM66 with the long rails, a 6-foot long 8" jointer, 15" stationary planer, a top heavy floor-standing drill press, shelves, wood, hand tools, and so on.


I hired professional movers for my household goods, but not so the tools. I rented a UHaul, got a buddy to help me load it up, and drove it myself. It can be done with a little patience, a furniture dolly, a lot of ratchet straps (used as a safety net while running big tools up the ramp, and for securing them to the van) and a lot less muscle power than you probably imagine. Lever and nudge the big tools up onto a dolly, roll them up the ramp, and off you go. Seriously. It was more time consuming than difficult.

One tip: I made a full length cradle that I strapped onto the spine of my MM16, with casters on the top end. Moved the saw upright until it was close, tipped it so that the cradle rested against the back edge of the van floor, levered the saw up and rolled it in along the floor. Stood it up again in seconds. It worked great!

I did partly disassemble the tablesaw (rails and extension/router table off), and jointer (removed the fence and tables). It was probably necessary for the TS. In retrospect, I might have left the jointer tables on.

On the receiving end, I hired a couple of local people (found on Craigslist) to help me and my buddy unload. That was mostly for speed, so we weren't there late annoying my new neighbors.

Highly recommended, and no (ahem) "pros" to damage things.

It really didn't take a long time to load them up. I spent the entire drive up waiting for the sound of crashing iron. Never happened. I left the wings on the TS. I really don't see any reason to take them off. It's probably a good idea to wax the cast iron surfaces. 

Rent the truck. Give your best bud a case of beer. Load it up, strap it down, and go. 

[Bob10]

Aram is watching the Sharks duke it out with the Islanders. However, he is a stand up guy and will take time out to help. 


I moved from Kali to Oregon last April. Bob convinced me that loading a UHaul was no big deal and I went for it. The most time consuming part was packing my hand tools. Seriously.

Here's what I wrote recently in another thread:

I just moved a few months ago. It was a 9 hour move from CA or OR. My tools are not small. I had to haul a Minimax MM16 bandsaw, PM66 with the long rails, a 6-foot long 8" jointer, 15" stationary planer, a top heavy floor-standing drill press, shelves, wood, hand tools, and so on.


I hired professional movers for my household goods, but not so the tools. I rented a UHaul, got a buddy to help me load it up, and drove it myself. It can be done with a little patience, a furniture dolly, a lot of ratchet straps (used as a safety net while running big tools up the ramp, and for securing them to the van) and a lot less muscle power than you probably imagine. Lever and nudge the big tools up onto a dolly, roll them up the ramp, and off you go. Seriously. It was more time consuming than difficult.

One tip: I made a full length cradle that I strapped onto the spine of my MM16, with casters on the top end. Moved the saw upright until it was close, tipped it so that the cradle rested against the back edge of the van floor, levered the saw up and rolled it in along the floor. Stood it up again in seconds. It worked great!

I did partly disassemble the tablesaw (rails and extension/router table off), and jointer (removed the fence and tables). It was probably necessary for the TS. In retrospect, I might have left the jointer tables on.

On the receiving end, I hired a couple of local people (found on Craigslist) to help me and my buddy unload. That was mostly for speed, so we weren't there late annoying my new neighbors.

Highly recommended, and no (ahem) "pros" to damage things.

It really didn't take a long time to load them up. I spent the entire drive up waiting for the sound of crashing iron. Never happened. I left the wings on the TS. I really don't see any reason to take them off. It's probably a good idea to wax the cast iron surfaces. 

Rent the truck. Give your best bud a case of beer. Load it up, strap it down, and go. 

I couldn't remember what I suggested with the bandsaw.  The rest is pretty straight forward.  What most people don't understand is it is rare you have to lift the entire machine at once

[David Stone]

Thanks everyone.  Movers aren't really an option.  But I've got some strong friends with some good equipment to help lifting.

I guess I don't need to worry about securing motors and stuff.

[TDKPE]

I guess I don't need to worry about securing motors and stuff.

If you have a Unisaw, then I would secure or remove the motor.  They have a reputation for weak CI attachments.  When I moved mine, I lowered the motor against a block of wood, to relieve the load.  But I did use the movers who moved the household, and who had no trouble moving it, and even brought it into my basement.  Extension, table , and rails removed, of course.  

If and when I move my 12" Delta RAS, I'll break it down and crate the parts.  Same with the radial arm DP and a few other things that are just awkward and unweildy.