Have you ever moved something really heavy on pipes or dowels?

[Zeke]

Years ago I watched a middle aged man working alone move and install a horizontal commercial freezer. IN fact, he did a few in a small store I was building for a client. The thing was 8 feet long and probably weighed 400 lbs. min. He had a single prong lift device with 2 hard rubber rollers on each side to raise the unit high enough to slide some pipes under. Then he pushed and turned the unit on the pipes like an Egyptian moving a stone. The key to his ease of moving such a large object easily was the lack of friction and not having to raise the thing more than 2 inches.

I can't find any info on the wheeled pry gizmo. I can't seem to come up with the proper search terms.

[widgeon13]

Yes, every spring and fall I move my dock in and out of the lake using thick walled 6" PVC pipe, 10 ft. long. I do it all by myself using a tractor w/ 4' forks. It usually takes about a half hour. The dock piece is made of pressure treated 2X6 and 3X1 decking measures 8' x 16'. Not certain of the actual weight but it's heavy. It has 2 2x8's that run the length (underneath) and they support it on the PVC pipes. It usually weighs more in the fall as it has absorbed water from being in the lake. Have attached a picture once it's in the lake.

[bigbrotherjohn]

try searching for 'johnson bar' or 'pry truck' ...

[BK911]

Johnson bar.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/NTESearch?storeId=6970&in_dym=1&Nty=1&D=than&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=lever%20dolly&cmnosearch=PPC&cm_ven=PPC&cm_cat=I-search%20(Google%20Adwords)&cm_pla=nt_handtools&cm_ite=johnson%20bar

[Jims5543]

Coral Castle in Miami is a wonder of the world as far as I am concerned.

http://www.coralcastle.com/pictures.php

One man built the entire thing by himself using leverage, block and tackle setups, and pipes look you describe.

We visited it and its a remarkable structure.

This is a gate that weighs 9 tons, he set it in place by himself and soemhow used bearings to handle the load and never bind up.

[porsche930dude]

yup iv moved sheds like that. Once you get it up on the pipes moving its a breeze. I remember once i thought we were going to have all kinds of trouble because we had to roll it over very uneven surface with stones and bricks in it and make a sharp 90 degree corner. But it went no problem. We just used a few 4" pvc pipes i think the shed was 8x12 or somthing like that. They have wheeled prying gizmos in northern tool like this one http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200326481_200326481

[johnco]

although this was moved on 2 x 4's to be easier to control, I sometimes use 1 1/2" pvc pipe. one man can move the 2500lb pool easily with pipe rollers.

[Zeke]

Johnson bar. That's what he called it. Thanks.

I need one of those. How come you never see neat stuff like this at sales?

[javadog]

I've moved all kinds of crap with pipes and other things. Around here, we call a Johnson bar a mule.

If you're needing to move some heavy stuff, there are all kinds of things that are useful. Check out a heavy rigging company.

JR

[Porsche_monkey]

In a previous life I rebuilt machines in my garage. Dropped off and picked up with a tow truck, not a fork, lift a tow truck. To move within the shop we only had 1/2" black pipe and a 6' pry bar. Sometimes used a bottle jack. Nothing else required.

http://www.douglasequipment.com/Images/c7_prybar.jpg

If I had to move a really big machine now I would use the 'machinery dollies', but they look a little sissified to me.

http://www.chdist.com/images/products/71-195B_bk.jpg

[jim72911t]

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

.......

If I had to move a really big machine now I would use the 'machinery dollies', but they look a little sissified to me.

http://www.chdist.com/images/products/71-195B_bk.jpg

Those do look a bit wimpy. The ones that our machinery movers use are forged steel, about 1/2" thick on all sides.

As to the original question, I've moved milling machines and lathes using 1" steel pipe, but usually with a helper.

I also moved my milling machine myself in my garage 3-4 feet using a 6' long pry bar and a come-along. Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.

[jim72911t]

stupid duplicate post!

[notfarnow]

I tried once, but was a bit lazy with the details. Drama ensued...

[woodman]

Yeah, my friends at the tree company moved some 6 ton boxed trees on pipes around on the garden deck level of the Disney concert hall when we were building that. It was like they weighed nothing. I have pics somewhere.

[maxnine11]

also see "Jack and Roll"

[Tobra]

That was how they moved a building in Salem OR when Willamette University purchased it. The name of the building escapes me at the moment, but it had formerly been the Post Office as I recall.

Broke all the pipes under the street doing it too, many years ago, cool building though.

[look 171]

How heavy? I have an air sled for moving appliances to prevent damage to the finish floor. It will move 4-500 lbs woth ease. One finger will move a 36 inch viking stove in place where you could position it perfectly.

Jeff

[Tobra]

Here is a pic of Gatke Hall, built in 1902, being moved up State St in 1938, the internets are pretty incredible. Says it weighs 200 tons, this is the back of the building

[kstar]

[on2wheels52]

I helped move a 1000lb safe around with a half-dozen 1/2" steel rods. They were cut close to the deminsion of the width as the front doorway wasn't very wide. Was an easy push.
Jim