Now bandsaw - how to move

[krw]

I just had a bandsaw delivered. I expected it to be delivered upright on a pallet but it's laying down, fastened to a long pallet. It was going to be a problem to move into place but as it is, it's going to be really unwieldy. I'm kinda stumped.

The problem is that it's in my garage and, somehow, I need to get it into my basement. Fortunately I have a walk-out basement but the door is in the back of the house and no paved access to the rear. I could assemble the saw in the garage and move it but it would probably be better to move it in its shipping packaging. The shipping weight is

440lbs. so it's not going to be easy. Ideas? I thought about hiring a piano mover but thought the folks here would have some other good ideas.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Can it be stood up with help? Two wheel hand truck like used for refrigerators? Should be able to go across grass, maybe with a helper.

[krw]

That was sorta my original plan. It'll have to be stood up at some point, obviously. The wheels on a refrigerator dolly are pretty small (and my grass is *really* bumpy). I moved my Unisaw myself by using a ramp to get it into a trailer and used my truck to pull the trailer around to the back, then across boards to the back door. I wasn't afraid of it falling over, though. The packing material is a good

50lbs, so maybe the best plan is to unpack it in the garage. Perhaps the motor and table are separate, too. I guess I'll read the assembly directions tomorrow.

[DerbyDad03]

2 sheets of plywood? Dolly it 8', move a sheet. Rinse. Repeat.

A helper is required or at least make sure SWMBO isn't home if you try it alone. ;-)

[krw]

I have two 1/2 sheets (2'x8') of plywood framed with 2x4s for this sort of thing.

She wasn't home for the Unisaw move. ;-) The drill press was easy in this house. Not so easy getting it down from the attic in the previous house. She wasn't home then, either.

I guess the Unisaw was over 500lbs. (didn't remember that it was that heavy), so perhaps I'm over-thinking this.

[dpb]

That's where I'd start -- how many pieces did it come in--"divide and conquer".

If you can get the pallet on the trailer and back to the rear door, I'd guess probably then moving pieces from the pallet into shop piece by piece simpler than trying to move the whole enchilada and then uncrate inside. But, just have to see how it was packed, specifically. Sometimes, even some further disassembly first can actually be beneficial...

OK, the Q? nobody asked! What did you get??? Inquisitive minds and al that... :)

[krw]

I don't think I can move the crated beast an inch. Maybe I can use a jack (or even an engine puller?) to get it onto four-wheel dollies but their wheels are really small too.

I've been thinking about it some more. My Unisaur was ~550lbs and I moved it myself. This is a little more awkward but 150lbs less, so two people should be able to move it without too much grief.

Laguna 18|bx. I've been eyeing the Laguna 14x14 SUV for number of years. Both were on sale for the same price recently so it came down to a coin toss. I don't know that I'll ever need the additional size but if I do, I'll be kicking myself. And SWMBO didn't object, much. An unexpectedly large annual bonus didn't hurt. ;-) It was time to pull the trigger.

[Unquestionably Confused]

Yes, RTFM! Open the crate and see what you're dealing with.

If you don't want to, or can't, break it down to its component parts, follow the advice given here with the appliance dolly. Have a helper and two sheets of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood and "pave" the path around back to your basement entrance.

[whit3rd]

Three options: (1) pull it apart (motor, upper frame, lower frame) and move in pieces

(2) get a keg and invite a fratermity

(3) grass isn't great for wheels, but if you could bolt skids onto the thing, a winch/comealong will slide it over the grass, maybe even without killing the greenery. Heck, I've moved a dead water heatsr upstairs solo, after strapping some skis on and tilting it onto the staircase.

[Leon]

So what model saw did you get?

[Leon]

OOPS! never mind. So my Laguna LT16HD was shipped with the motor detached. That motor is/was very heavy. FWIW I did not pay near today's price that is listed, it was south of $2k.

You will love the guides.

[John Grossbohlin]

As things developed at my parents' house, when problems present themselves a home improvement project may be in order. A new concrete sidewalk would allow you to move the bandsaw on a furniture dolly, or two depending on the balance. ;~)

I moved my 36" Crescent bandsaw frame through my yard on a handtruck. Everything was going great until one of the bolts I so carefully screwed back into the frame for safe keeping got snagged on my shirt. I couldn't get away from the saw as I tried to set the saw back down. As a result I then had to lower myself and the saw to the ground instead of standing it up on it's feet. I then had to call for help to get disentangled. Later I had to enlist the help of two friends to pick the frame back up and get it on it's feet.

Get help on site before hand. ;~) Impatience can maim and kill!

[dpb]

On 6/24/2019 5:36 PM, John Grossbohlin wrote: ...

As I age, I get more concerned on the farm about things used to never think about at all...

[krw]

Now there's some thinking outside the box. LOL!

The grass on that side is no loss but I think trailering it around is easier. I can rent a low U-Haul for cheap. It would only be local and only for a couple hours. There is a rental place about 2mi from my house.

I moved my drill press upstairs, and back down, using a hand truck. According to the spec sheet it's 240lbs, so was quite a challenge by myself.

[krw]

Concrete is easy. Home Owners Associations are much harder. I have to be careful what tools I buy. SWMBO is ready to move because of them.

More than a shirt, too. ;-)

[krw]

That's a plan. I haven't opened the crate yet. I've suddenly gotten busy and it'll probably have to wait for next weekend.

They've all gone up in price significantly. The 14x14SUV was about $1K, at one point. The normal prices is twice that. The recent sale was -10%. Not huge, but it bought the blade. ;-)

That was the tipping point between the Lagnua and Rikon (same price). I remembered you raving about the Laguna guides.

[Dr. Deb]

Not knowing the topography of your place, but could you get a couple of buddies and some 2-3" pvc and, using them as rollers, roll the crate out of the garage and down to the basement ?

[krw]

That idea had crossed my mind but my yard is *really* rough. I don't think anything that small would work. I suppose the "pipes" don't even have to roll but the crate does have to get from one to the next without burying itself in the ground.

[DerbyDad03]

Hire a landscaper to smooth out your yard. While he's there, throw him a few bucks to move the band saw with his bobcat.

Your band saw will get moved and your yard will be ready for whatever you buy next. (Ducking so as not to get hit by whatever SWMBO just threw at me.)

[Leon]

LOL, Yeah!

I remembering running up and down stairs, when I reached the top I was in the air and coming down to the second floor.

Now, I hold on to the hand rail. ;~(