machinery skates???

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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Do any of you guys have a set of these?

I had a thread awhile back that was sort of "tongue in cheek" about moving stuff, but I was just using round-stock and a pry-bar.

The guy I bought my 100# LG from had a set that worked amazingly well, but cost about $1k!!! :eek:

I've seen there are many cheaper versions available these days. For a few hundred bucks it might really make life easier moving the shop equipment close enough to the door to pick it with a fork lift.... but I've never seen any of the cheaper ones in use.

I am usually pretty firm on "you get what you pay for".... but I only plan on using them enough to move my shop. And I hope to not have to move it again after that for at least two weeks! ;) :)

edited to add: Just in case you have no clue what I'm talking about, these are (I think) the cadilacs of the industry and are the same as what the fella I bought the hammer from had. With over 4,000# of hammer sitting on them (including the wood float my hammer is on) he pushed it from one end of his shop to the other with one hand. Crazy slick tools but right around $1k for the set he has.
http://www.hilmanrollers-mf.com/ind...ss&partCatID=1631&category=Individual Rollers
 
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Why don't you make your own set? I'm sure you could.

Or do you need them soon? :D
 
I agree with Phillip.

The guy who moved my mill and surface grinder from their former home to my trailer used home built skates that saw every day use. His consisted of .25 or better C channel with large bolts for axles and and old sealed bearings (I think) for wheels. The bearings where 2-3" in diameter (fortunately moving on concrete). On the top/flat side of the channel he had welded a lip on one side so that when the machine was lifted he could slide it under and the lip would stop at the base of the machine and help keep it located in movement.

Seemed pretty doable if you could source the "wheels"

David Sharp
 
What weekend are you moving? I sent an e-mail offering to help a couple weeks go, but forgot which weekend it was. I do have a furniture type hand truck for extra heavy equipment that tilts back onto wheels. It'll handle 400-600 pounds easily. It weighs 80 pounds or so itself....We use it for commercial water heaters... might not work for the mills and hammers but maybe for other items?
 
Nick, you're a good welder -- with some channel iron, cold rolled axles, and ball bearings, you can fabricate your own in an afternoon.

These aren't mine, but you get the idea:

2929d1206916794-tree-325-gets-new-home-skates.jpg
 
Al the equipment rental places rent them, not cheaply, but they do.


I'm with the others, if you have the time to think and make them, you will be better off.


Consider this style.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...lies + Movers&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_ven=Aggregates
188198_lg.jpg


Only with a hydraulic jack instead of a threaded crank
http://www.rigging.com/shop/index.php?target=categories&category_id=30

hydraulic_raisenroll_350px.png




Photos of a 5,000 pound safe being moved with them.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279377
DSCN2552.jpg
 
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They are also called hillman rollers. Makes life much easier when moving heavy equipment. My old boss had a set he allowed me to use when I moved. I do not think he has them anymore. Equipment dealers or riggers might have a set to rent/lend you.
 
When I moved my 50#LG into my shop, I just used my engine hoist. Jacked it up about an inch, then use a 2x4 to wedge into place. Was slow, but was able to do it myself. Make sure to lift the hammer by the frame and not the crankshaft.
I'm retired and live a long way out in the boonies. Most of my helper type friends have either moved on or passed on. I'm now moving a surface grinder the same way.
Chip Kunkle
 
Thanks for the replies guys :)

I'm going to be moving the entire shop from its current location to a new building. Two forklifts will be doing the lifting from near the door of this shop, to near the door of the new shop.... but most of the heavy stuff needs to get closer to the door in order to pick it.

This includes the 2,000# vertical mill, 1800# lathe, 5,000# horizontal mill, 800# mill drill, 2,000# surface grinder, 600# of anvil/stand. The hammers and several other heavy items are close enough to pick them with the fork lift without any other moving.

That's enough heavy tool moving to make me interested in building some simple rollers or purchasing some of the "cheapies" but not enough to warrant buying or building professional rigging/moving type of equipment.

David and Robert (lazlo) those are what I was thinking of... maybe I will have to try making a set... trouble is there's not a lot of extra time around here these days.
 
I saw the pictures of you carrying your anvil....You can move those all by hand He-Man! :P Hope everything goes well on your move, can't wait to see pics of your new man cave shop!
 
Haha... thanks Mike :p LOL

Chuck- The realtor and mortgage outfit are telling us we are going to be able to close on the house at the end of the month, but it will probably be a month or so before I can move the shop. The new2me shop was built as the father-in-law's apartment and needs some prep (like ripping out carpet! lol) to make it more shop-like. ;) :D
 
Nick, when you get a firm date let me know, I might be able to come up and help. Might be able to find some hillmans also as well as a portapack. Used them to move a couple shops. Need to ask the old boss if he still has them though.
 
NIck most rental places will have skates you can get for a short period. I'm glad to hear about the house - I was wondering about you guys the other day and if you had gotten it or not.
 
...I kind of figured you'd just use the old set you have from your boy band days...

41RtxNMHyXL.jpg
 
Those things hurt my eyes. I much prefer the machine gray or grizzly green instead of the rainbow bright. :D

I'll be moving shop myself here in about 6 or 8 months. Of course, it's a sad state of affairs when the heaviest thing in my shop can be moved by two guys with wimpy arms. :( I need bigger stuff. :p

--nathan
 
silver_pilate said:
Of course, it's a sad state of affairs when the heaviest thing in my shop can be moved by two guys with wimpy arms. :( I need bigger stuff. :p

--nathan
Click to expand...

Man, do I hear that!

Worse still, I'm one of the guys with wimpy arms!

Nicky, a fab shop friend of mine suggested I mention placing anchored I-beams in strategic locations to allow for chainfalls or winches in the shop. I don't know the dimensions of your new place, but considering the amount of gear you have it seems like that may be a good consideration...
 
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