The Home Machinist!

Looks like I've bought myself a Rockwell mill, and I need to move it tomorrow. I have to do it more or less by myself, or is this just too crazy. I just moved a SB 9A with a 4' bed, and it wasn't what I would call easy. If I have to get some help, then I will. But can I get it down into single parts, or anywhere close? I think we're talking 750 lbs or so, complete.

So I am guessing the head comes off easily enough.
Ditto the table from the saddle...
Now, can I (should I) try to remove the knee?
Now tha crazy part - will I (perhaps with help) be able to tip the column enough to un-bolt the the base? I'm feeling healthily intimidated at this point. How much would the column w/ knee weigh?

If I do get the base off, can I get the column w/ knee onto a small dolly? (This has to go down a short flight of steps.)

How did you move your Rockwell?

BTW, it's in a small house, back room, wood floors, narrow passage to the front and down seven or eight concrete front steps. Yeah, lotsa fun

Help me out if you can!

thanks
Shaggy

I'd just remove the head, round ram and handles.

Lower the knee all the way and have a go at it strapped to a hand truck with 2+ people.

_________________
Shop toys...
10X54" Vectrax GS20F mill with DRO & frequency drive (saved from the scrap pile).
Jet 13x40 lathe.
Powermatic 1150 drill press.
I love Craigslist!

My Rockwell Midi Mill came to me with 4 steel casters on the base. I used a Neighbors old ford tarctor bucket to strap it off. It rode atop two 4x4 stringers about 3 ft long for the short trip home, securely strapped with those cute flat belt ratchet straps of suitable Taiwam quality, and strapped to the corners of the Ranger bed. The post material was a wise idea, as we found rocing the mill on the casters put deep dents in the bed floor, from the pressure point. I moved it in one piece, it was loaded with a hoist slung from a pole barn cieling truss. We made similar moves with a portable engine hoist, rated one ton.

These things are clumsy, so plan and move slowly. Getting this thing swinging or dropped is very counterproductive.

The only mistake I made moving a machine was my 9 inch SB school lathe. We were being hurried by the former owner, and I forgot to lock the carraige and tailstock down. Upon lifting the bed up to unload it, the carriage moved and unbalanced the load, the carriage went downslope, whacked the tailstock, that left the bed and smashed the hansheel on the floor. Sooo, I ordered the correct handwheel blank and fitted it out for the tail, for about $17, as I recall. Unhappy, but unhurt, it was a small lesson.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Congrats on a mill purchase Shaggy. I hope you got it home safely.

_________________
"...that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,that among these are life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." Ben Franklin

Thanks guys. I spent nearly 5 hours dismantling and moving the mill on Sunday. The day before I'd moved a SB 9A out of the same house, so you might say it was a pretty strenuous weekend, but rewarding
The column turned out to weigh 'only' 200lbs. Several other bits are around 100lbs each, but all of it was manageable, blanketed and strapped to a regular appliance dolly. (BTW, total weight stated in the manual is 780lbs.)
The parts of both machines presently lie under tarps in the yard and strewn throughout my workshop, as I try to decide on the next move... Anybody got advice on removing a 50-year mix of sawdust, wood resin and oil varnish?

thanks again
Shaggy

Removing it from what?

Yea Shaggy, are you talkin about cleaning up the machine tools you just got or are you planning on cleaning your shop
Seriously the last time I dragged a machine tool home I had to rearange everything I owned, but it was worthit

_________________
"...that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,that among these are life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." Ben Franklin

From where it's plastered all over the 'new' mill and lathe! 8>)

... and without removing the paintwork.

I've heard of using oven cleaner, but I think it might soften the paint. I will have to experiment
.
The previous owner did a lot of woodworking on these machines (musical instrument maker), and the residue is very resiny/gummy. In fact I had to crack the lathe feet off the bench with a pry bar 'cause they were so 'glued' down! It seems to be a hardened mixture of old oil and sawdust/resin.
I bought something called 'Super Clean', in a purple bottle, but I don't quite trust this new 'water-based'stuff. I've got a gallon of turpentine I might start with.

thanks
Shaggy

My shop is beyond cleaning 8>)

Shaggy

Wonder if a steamer would get that off.

_________________
People who say, "Google is your friend" need to talk to a Chinese dissident.

Guaranteed to remove paint.
Try soaking with mineral spirits (or Stoddard solvent).

Harold

_________________
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

Try Zep Citrus Cleaner in the trigger spray bottle.

_________________
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!