I asked for pictures...

Yes. Inside and outside of where you plan to bring this thing into the building, as well as the access path from there to the street.

JR

Good advice. I recently had the mast of my sailboat unstepped and stepped. The local boatyard uses a sign company to do the work. They charged $125 each way.

One thing that stands out in my mind is this:

This leads me to believe that a truck-mounted crane might not be able to get right next to the building, which might rule out using a sign company crane.

More details needed...

JR

Correct. Here's the building. I have the second floor. To the left (dark brick) is a moving company, can go through that building but has a small door in the back to get to the back of my building.

Going through the front would be easy with the loading dock, but I would have to open up a doorway on the inside to get the press in the back production room.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288271259.jpg

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Talk to Brookside, they aren't too far away (about 1 hour on Hwy 2) and they have a good selection of lifts. You will need either a telescopic unit or a 3 stage mast. I'm not sure a 3 stage mast will fit through an 8 foot tunnel.

Forklift, Used Forklift, Forklift For Sale At MachineryTrader.com - Page 1

Okay, so to get to that parking lot shown in your picture, you have to drive under something with 8'-0" clearance? And, there's no access on the other side of the building that a crane could get right next to?

In that case, your best option is a fork lift. They can be rented farily cheaply and either driven to the site, or delivered to the site on a trailer. I've done both, depending on how close I was to the rental yard and what streets were in between.

I'd give up on the making-my-own-crane idea....

You sure the windows shown are large enough to get the press throught them? You going to be the one removing them?

JR

here's the roof. don't think hanging anything from this is a viable option.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288279027.jpg

If I can rent a forklift, that would be a good option. busy day today, one sign co. I called needs truck access. considering putting it in through the front and then angling through doors. Would only need to construct a dolly to hold the press in a horizontal position. need to take more measurements to finalize.

geez..a rubber wheeled forklift would be perfect. like this. i've run one (for fun) it is easy. this one lifts 8 tons which is much more than you need. reach is gonna govern the one that you rent.

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Please forgive the following bluntness. It looks like this is trying to squeeze industrial equipment into office space.

I'm assuming:
1. There is a long-term lease signed that will make all these relocating costs/efforts cost-efficient over time.
2. The owner has signed off on the equipment in writing, or preferably it is noted in the original lease. Important in case the floor decides it can't handle an extra 1,000lbs+.... Also, if it is not on concrete or a solid base, movement may waste a lot of raw material. Does your business insurance cover this potential loss?
3. The costs of moving the press out later on are noted.

Redoing an interior 2x4/sheetrock wall seems like the easiest solution. Those windows may not be available anymore in case of breakage, and look like a tight squeeze. A forklift operator would probably have to pivot at full lift on the narrow dock.

John you would do that lift from the ground with a shooting boom lift... Not a convetional forklift on the dock...What Vash pictured would be perfect... Provided it can be gotten around to that side of the building....

if a car is parked there, that fork can get there.

The second half of the move is when the crane has got the thing inside, 3 feet up in the air.
Use 2-4 engine cranes or what?

The carpet's thin and trashed, but it could bunch up at the wrong time.
I'd consider putting down 3/4 plywood to distribute the weight over the floor better, don't want a wheel punching through at the wrong time. Who knows what's under it.

Find a new building?SmileWavy

As a matter of fact I looked at 4500 square feet of space yesterday. First floor, huge garage door, right on the beach, and it was CHEAP. First thought was a half LT and half car place, then I realized the salt air would eat away the two early cars fast (I could walk 1 minute and be in the water). So I'm going to pass on it. Where I'm located for the price is excellent. I could be out in the boondocks and pay a lot less, but then I'm in the boondocks. Part of the business model for this press is I can set up a proper silk screen shop in late spring. I've got front of house office/nice and back of house industrial/work.

This is an industrial building in which the second floor was converted to office. Floor is concrete under the carpet. Don't expect any problems with the press weight.

Shawn, move to NH,, no taxes and MUCH closer for those "I need help from Chris" runs!!!

I wonder what a machinery moving company would charge. Everyone has heard of our local machinery movers, the Dunkel Brothers. Last I read about them (just a few days ago), they were installing a large outdoor sculpture. It required a crane.

I had a lift done of a spa/tub a couple years ago. I paid the guy 400 which included a tip.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288285651.jpg

how can a building with a loading dock have an 8' height restriction???

I was wondering the same thing.

different buildings.

my building has no door in the back at all. building next door does.

moving company next door eh?

have you talked to them at all?

If you were closer I have a knee crane and 1 ton hoist I would part with. It is the kind that bolts to a I beam and can pivot 180 degrees.

Speedy:)

Well I am driving out to MN for Thanksgiving. Would it fit in the front of the 86?:D


I may be purchasing this hoist which comes with a gantry to attach to the boom. Currently has a 12 foot chain. Is this something where I can just source a longer chain, 25 feet? Casters are on the way.

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You cut the chain, get split links and more chain from a good hardware source, and lengthen the chain.

McMaster-Carr will have it, but shipping chain is expensive... you can find it locally

Thanks Tim, have a local hardware store down the street. this is coming together!

Next question. This thing is 230V 3 phase. Not a problem for where I want to hoist initially, any problem with making a 50 foot extension cord so I can use it out front? What spec wire would I get?

You'd need to identify the amps/watts, but the bigger the better. Your limit in terms of pulling enough amps will be at that 3 prong plug.

Be careful what splice links you buy, they have to fit through the gears.

Couple of things to consider. The chain on a overhead lift is nowhere close to what you will find at the local (China) hardware store and anything less than welded links would be a cause for concern.

Additionally if this is a business, I believe that floor has to be load rated by a PE. If my memory serves me well, look at OSHA CFR 1910 I think. I believe it is referenced in the General Industry standard.

If you have to get a crane, I believe OSHAs new crane standard goes into effect to some degree on the 8th.

Wire-Gauge Ampacity - Transwiki
These are the minimal wire guages vs amps/watts.

You should also consider the rated specs of the motor at full load, and the complete chain of electrical pathway from transformer, through building circuit breakers, through connections, through tool.....
Nothing like getting stuck with a rental crane for a couple of days.