(pix) How to move a 700 lb drill press to the basement without extra help

Slightly crazy. This is my new DP. I did not like the Delta and sold it back. At least I did not lose $$.

The new drill press is Powermatic 1200, with MT3 spindle and 1 HP

1140RPM motor.

This is actually a big MF, with very slow spindle speeds, comparatively speaking.

The motor is 3 phase and I will put it on a VFD. That way the DP can run at 90 Hz, as if the motor was 1,750 RPM instead of actual 1,140. I could also tap with it without a tapping head.

Have not decided if it is better to get 220v into the basement shop, or, alternatively, to buy a 110v VFD. The latter is much easier.

The drill press weighs about 700 lbs, and pictures below show it at the factory where I bought it, and also how I took it downstairs tonight.

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While this is not the kind of experience that I would like to repeat, nothing broke and nothing got hurt.

I have not completely reassembled it yet, I still have to attach the drill head and them stand it up, but I am optimistic.

My saying is, anything can be moved anywhere, but it could take a long time.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus8745
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Glad it went o.k. The fun comes when you move and need to get it back out. I'll post my experience momentarily.

Pete Keillor

Reply to
Pete Keillor

Yep. Tell us some more.

I actually bought it because we considered, but decided against moving.

Taking it upstairs will be 3 times harder. The drilling head weighs about 300 lbs.

I still have no idea how I would stand it up, but I am optimistic.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus26520

My dad had stairs in the garage going down to the basement. He ran a length of railroad track just below the rafters above them, and had a chain hoist on the track. I think he only used that rig about a dozen times total, but it was worth its weight in gold when he moved the commercial safe down there for his coin collection, and when he moved a surfacing plate in, and when he moved some of his tools (lathe and table saw are the ones that come to mind) in.

Looking at one of your photos, I should mention that there was no corner in the stairs.

Reply to
Joe Pfeiffer

We had a refrigerator in our basement in Seattle (not my parents house, so no handy chain hoist like I just described). When we were moving down here, the movers asked how we got it in there, so they could get it out. I made the mistake of mentioning a friend of mine who dislocated his finger in the process. So far as I know, that fridge is still there. Next time I'm in Seattle, I should drop by the house and find out.

Reply to
Joe Pfeiffer

I'm looking at the greasy hulk sitting on the carpet, thinking that your wife must be some kind of saint. :)

As for mov> Slightly crazy. This is my new DP. I did not like the Delta and sold

Reply to
RoyJ

It is not carpet, the assembly is taking place on a moving blanket.

Yes, it is tough and unpleasant.

Reply to
Ignoramus26520

Thats very similar to my 1hp Delta drill press. Mine is about the same weight etc etc.

What I did is mount a 1hp vfd on the left side of the drill press, up high, along with a light etc etc and I simply use the VFD to control the speed. I seldom ever change belt positions, but can if I need super torque on low ranges. Ive run 3 INCH drill bits with it.

If you have a 1hp VFD, consider mounting it as I did. Its a joy to use and it runs off single phase (220)

And Iggy..you really really really need to bring 220 down to your basement shop. It will really help and isnt all that big a deal. Worst comes to worst..run 3/4" gray conduit around the side of your house to the breaker panel and hook er up. A 100 amp breaker panel (need one?Ive got a bunch) mounted on the basement wall and then feeding your machinery locations etc is about a days work..maybe a weekend.

Gunner

"IMHO, some people here give Jeff far more attention than he deserves, but obviously craves. The most appropriate response, and perhaps the cruelest, IMO, is to simply killfile and ignore him. An alternative, if you must, would be to post the same standard reply to his every post, listing the manifold reasons why he ought to be ignored. Just my $0.02 worth."

Reply to
Gunner Asch

I will definitely mount a VFD on it, no ifs or butts. I have plenty of

220v VFDs, as well.

There are even 110v VFDs that take 115v in, and produce 230v out. This is what I was referring to.

Well, yes, but it is it really work that I need to do? My basement shop is all light stuff for electric work, small repairs, my son to play with his jigsaw, and some such things.

All the heavy duty 220v stuff is in the garage, with the exception of this DP.

The other reason why it would be good to have a subpanel in this basement shop, is that I could make a very convenient 220v outlet for the patio, like to run a pool pump or some such.

The minus is that my 200 amp panel is already full.

I have not decided on what route to take, 115v VFD or 220v line.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus26520

Yep, the corner really messes things up.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus26520

See below....

So why would you take a big industrial drill press and put it as far as possible away from the one location you really really need it?

Shouldnt you put a small drill press in the basement and use the bigun out in the garage?

Are they all single breakers..or do you have it filled with 'slim line" breakers?

A slim line breaker is two breakers in the space of one

Figure out where that drill press actually NEEDS to be first..then figure

Gunner

"IMHO, some people here give Jeff far more attention than he deserves, but obviously craves. The most appropriate response, and perhaps the cruelest, IMO, is to simply killfile and ignore him. An alternative, if you must, would be to post the same standard reply to his every post, listing the manifold reasons why he ought to be ignored. Just my $0.02 worth."

Reply to
Gunner Asch

On Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:07:44 -0600, the infamous Ignoramus8745 scrawled the following:

Good call, Ig. Powermatics are very good, reliable machines.

-- The Smart Person learns from his mistakes. The Wise Person learns from the mistakes of others. And then there are all the rest of us...

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Reply to
Larry Jaques

I can drill with a Bridgeport in the garage. It will be more convenient to have it in the basement.

I do not really feel that I need to own a small DP. Bridgeport is my small DP.

Yes, slimline would be a way to go... Tha basement shop is only 20 feet away from the main panel... I can indeed install a 100A subpanel in the basement, that would provide the patio with 220v also... I could then set up a big 220v pool heater for the inflatable pool... I would need to replace four regular 115v breakers with slimlines, then I will have space for the 220v breaker. It wil definitely be omre expensive to do than buying a $199 115v VFD, though.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus12778

I have taken much of it (except the head) apart for cleaning and relubing. It does indeed seem to be a good and reliable machine, and also looks better than comparable Clausings.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus12778

More expensive? When you can buy slimlines on Ebay...$35 for 5?

Gunner

"IMHO, some people here give Jeff far more attention than he deserves, but obviously craves. The most appropriate response, and perhaps the cruelest, IMO, is to simply killfile and ignore him. An alternative, if you must, would be to post the same standard reply to his every post, listing the manifold reasons why he ought to be ignored. Just my $0.02 worth."

Reply to
Gunner Asch

It will include slimlines, one 220v breaker, a subpanel, conduit, wire, oulets, plugs, and various trinkets.

I did this once by making a 220v line to the garage. It was not cheap.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus12778

sounds like a $100 bill or less.

Define "cheap"

Gunner

"IMHO, some people here give Jeff far more attention than he deserves, but obviously craves. The most appropriate response, and perhaps the cruelest, IMO, is to simply killfile and ignore him. An alternative, if you must, would be to post the same standard reply to his every post, listing the manifold reasons why he ought to be ignored. Just my $0.02 worth."

Reply to
Gunner Asch

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