Hello all,
Is is just me, or does the metalworking industry seem deaf to hobbyists and other home-shop customers? Put another way, what is the correct approach to getting a machine off a truck in one piece. I am by no means fixed on the Enco lathe, but I asked them about shipping, and have gotten mixed signals about a lift gate. I can understand "it's too heavy for that" but it seems strange to me that companies that sell heavy items do such a poor job of giving consistent answers to customers.
I have an engine hoist and an F-150 that would be able to cope with safely getting a 1000 lb lathe down my sloping driveway, but going from flat bed to the ground is another story. Control over shipping was a big factor in choosing Rutland for my mill-drill, though I will admit the process was not free of surprises. It worked out well, but proved I was right to have respect for the weight of what was arriving.
How do YOU handle a ton or so slathered on cosmoline sitting on a truck outside your home? Do I need to buy a fork lift to be one of the guys? :) There are manual stackers that have suitable capacity, but they appear to be a lot more expensive than the 500-700 lb variety I have been considering for general use.
Bill