Moving Industrial machines around the shop and outside

[Dave9111]

I have my share of industrial machines and I sometimes want to move them around both in the shop and outside for a larger canvas job.  Sometimes into a box trailer that has a ramp door.
I have flat moving dollies, but small wheels don't make rolling easy over uneven pavement.  And they don't work at all in gravel or on grass.  Yep, off road sewing!   I have some large covers to modify and alter and putting the machine in the lawn under a tree can work in nice weather.

What do you guys do?   

This has come to a head since I bought a two thread chainstitch machine and the head is really heavy - well over 100lbs and I want to be able to move it without planning for back surgery.

My machines all have the common K stands.   On the lighter machines (like a Pfaff 1245), I have mounted casters on the bottom of the K legs.  And that works in the shop.   But that's about all.  

Thanks,  Dave

 

[ksteers]

find a used Hoyer lift on CL or FB marketplace.    I recently saw that recommendation.   

[327fed]

Mount them on a little trailer with a bench seat? 

 

[Wepster]

I would guess larger wheels are the key, this may give you some ideas...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=off+road+dolly&t=brave&ia=web

[Dave9111]

Hoyer lift.   Gosh I think my sister in law just sold one from my mother in laws house.    Never thought about that.

I have looked at some commercial solutions and it seems like the lift has to pickup the table top to go "off road", or off a hard floor.   Looking at my machines, that is really the only common pickup point.

So I will make something up and share it when I'm done.  I'm thinking a 1/2" or 3/4" steel pipe frame, some large air tire casters I already have should make up the bulk of it.  

A lever mechanism (maybe?) to raise the machine, etc.  Or maybe just tip the frame?

Thanks for the ideas.

I do have a little trailer I'm not using...  hmmmm...

Edited May 1, 2024 by Dave9111

[chisel]

Dave9111,
I use a Hoyer type lift for lifting heads that are too heavy for me to handle out of tables, but it doesn't take much of a gap in a concrete floor to stop the Hoyer if it's moving slowly. If modified with much larger and wider wheels, I believe the type of lift in the picture would be better suited for what you want to do. The hook hinges at the top, and hooks under the top cross member of a K-leg as long as the leg is close to the edge of the table. Place the hook in position, crank up and you're on your way. It will work on longer tables, but with so much leverage at the other end, it's best to crank up a little and then manually lift the other end. Let me know if you want any measurements or other info.

[Dave9111]

I've decided that I'm going to lift the machine via the table top.  

There is a couple of machines on the web that can do this but they are quite elaborate.  I'm going to try and keep it simple. 

I like the jack simplicity but I don't think lifting from the K leg even at the top is a good idea for me.  Reason being that I have one really heavy machine head, and I'm pretty sure the k leg wouldn't stand the strain.  

[councilman24]

I think I'm the one that started the Hoyer lift recommendation. At least started recommending it a few years ago. I use it to lift entire tables with machine from the end.  Using a couple of adjustable straps I made. Since it's made for moving up to 400lbs through doorways it works well.  I also use it to lift 166 lb Class 7 heads and 30" long arm 144's.  Working on a Class 7 when you can reach the top and the bottom of the head is a whole lot easier than reaching or crawling under a table.   I've also used the lift to put them in and out of a van or truck. They go under the vehicle just like a bed.  I have about 18 head on the first floor of my house and another 35 or so downstairs. So I bought two used lifts.  For around $75 each.  Often left over when an elderly relative moves to a care facility or passes.  Living alone most of the time the lift makes it easy for me to move all but the biggest tables around.

[Dave9111]

Just a follow up:

I did attempt to make a lifting dolley that lifted by the table top.   It failed.  Turns out lifting from the top requires a rigid frame (heavy steel) which was in opposition to my goals of a simple compact dolley.  

As I result I put all of my machines on casters.  That is the way to go for me.  If I need to move a machine outside, I have a small steel top trailer that tilts to the ground to create a ramp.  The trailer was built as a rototiller trailer, so it is small, but large enough.

[toxo]

I have one of those sack trucks that transform into different guises but any decent sized truck would do. I also have a strapping system that you normally find around heavy duty crates or cartons.

When I sold my "69" there was just me so I cut a pallet to size and strapped it to the bottom of the machine. this made it extremely easy to move around on my own. If I was doing it just to move around the "pallet" would be just high enough to get the sack truck under.

 

 

[Dave9111]

I like the idea of your tilt hand truck!   That's a lot better than what I tried!!!    I have a hand truck that is aluminum and it converts into a flatbed, but it won't do what your truck does.   The kickstand with wheels is really nice.

Thanks for the idea!    

[Cumberland Highpower]

When I moved allot of machinery from one shop to another I learned a trick.   Most machines will "tip" left to right off a dolly.  So I took 2 dollies and used 1" ratchet straps to strap them tight on the machines. One dolly on each leg.  A 12" pine board under both back legs.   I was able to move some really heavy machines that way.  That way I had 4 pneumatic tires on the ground

In a way similar to Toxo, just with 2 dollies involved.

Edited Saturday at 11:21 PM by Cumberland Highpower

[Dave9111]

On 1/25/2025 at 6:20 PM, Cumberland Highpower said:

When I moved allot of machinery from one shop to another I learned a trick.   Most machines will "tip" left to right off a dolly.  So I took 2 dollies and used 1" ratchet straps to strap them tight on the machines. One dolly on each leg.  A 12" pine board under both back legs.   I was able to move some really heavy machines that way.  That way I had 4 pneumatic tires on the ground

In a way similar to Toxo, just with 2 dollies involved.

Good idea!