Machine Mover Recommendations?

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Jelly

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I've been made an offer on a large lathe (17×120) which is good enough to make me seriously consider moving up my timeline for acquiring one, but need to make sure my figures stack up (in so much as making things hard for oneself in the short term to bag a great deal ever can) before responding.

Problem is that getting it to the workshop involves access restrictions meaning it's a choice of either a large trailer (loaded to pretty much its full MAM) towed behind a narrow vehicle to come down the access road, or a hiab flatbed with a substantial reach to lift it over the bank from a side-road.

I looked at Landylift, but it's way above his maximum weight at about 4-4½ tonnes, definitely in the machine mover/general haulage with hiab kind of arena.

Can anyone recommend a machinery moving service who are amenable to working with those kinds of constraints and aren't ridiculously expensive?

Don't really want to let the opportunity pass by if it's feasible, but also aware that there's only a slim chance of making this work right now, and the feasibility of moving it at a reasonable price will make or break that.
 
I can ask my BIL his company moved a whale for the smithsonian and a trex among other weird stuff all the time. but wont get hime until tomorrow
 
We had a container delivered by a company in Hull called Ashcourt. The truck was ridiculous - last one we had they had to back into our yard and work right next to where the box was going, the second one the guy just parked on the road and swung it over our factory. I would imagine there's plenty of machine movers in Sheffield? Could be worth asking some of the used machine dealers if they recommend anyone?
 
I would imagine there's plenty of machine movers in Sheffield? Could be worth asking some of the used machine dealers if they recommend anyone?

There are, although I know from getting stuff quoted for work they're largely on the more expensive "move a whole factory in a day" side, and I'd rather not waste anyone's time knowing I'm going to have to be highly cost conscious.

Asking some of the local machine dealers isn't a bad shout, although I'd feel kinda cheeky.
 
Give Steve Cox a call. He advertises on the Home Workshop site and specialises in this sort of thing 07836 736496 or email [email protected]
I have used him to move a Bridgeport sized mill. He did a superb job and is a really nice guy.
 
It's on the original post that its about 3 tons more than the landylift guy can handle...
 
Oops, missed that bit. It is still worth giving Steve a call though as he is 'in the business' so to speak and may well be able to advise. He is a very helpful guy.
 
I’ll vouch for Landylift, maybe it can be broken down to smaller parts.
 
Knowing what Jelly is after, I assume its a DSG. In which case even if he stripped every nut and bolt you'd still need a 2 ton lift just for the bed.
 
Thanks everyone!

Unfortunately circumstances have intervened over the weekend and I'm now in need of a new car; which takes this purchase from "not being the best idea right now" to "a catastrophically silly idea".

I have made a note of the recommendations however, as I will need them in the future.



Knowing what Jelly is after, I assume its a DSG.

That's a bingo!

I suspect 2 tonnes for a 120" bed and headstock combination casting stripped bare is probably still quite optimistic!

I have been told there are some similar sized Stankoimport "Type K" (precision quality made in Moscow, rather than ordinary quality from east of the Urals) lathes which might come up for sale later in the year, which would be a very interesting alternative to a DSG, with an independent 2hp motor on the apron to provide the feeds much like your HLV's design (only huge!).

However those don't look any lighter, apparently regardless of if you were in Moscow or Keighley, "more iron = more accurate" held true at the time.


I can ask my BIL his company moved a whale for the smithsonian and a trex among other weird stuff

I just re-read, clocked this properly and did a double take.

A Whale! That must have been one hell of a job to shift!

I still remember seeing the whale skeleton that Hull Maritime Museum has in their collection as a schoolboy and being in awe!
 
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Yeah but he still wont help carrying the shopping according to his missus
 
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