In two weeks I will finally take possession of my #4. It is being moved by a professional machinery mover, but I would like to give him some specific advice concerning the press itself. The move is only about 50 miles, however getting it into my space will be tricky as it’s going to a lower level. We are planning on removing the handle and the paper feed. I know the movers can deal with the actual move I’m more interested in how they need to prep the press. Thanks, Lynda Campbell
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Hello all, I’m hoping to pick up my No.4 in a few weeks, my plan was to move it myself using a rental truck with a tail lift. My worry is the weight, on the stats page it is listed as 1100 lbs, the tail lift has a capacity of 500 KG. Using an online converter that puts the press at 498.9 KG which doesn’t leave me with much room for error. I can remove the parts mentioned above, but don’t imagine that will reduce the weight by much, just wondering if any of you have experience of such a move, and can impart any wisdom to save me ruining a press and truck in one miserable afternoon. Thanks, Al
Thank you, Eric, Paul, Alex and Barbara.
Great advice and new to me. I’m forwarding on to my rigger.
Can’t wait,
Lynda Campbell
Hello Lynda and congratulations on your new press. I can’t offer much advice on moving the press since my own move was a particularly easy one — not one single stair. However, before your press arrives you might consider the surface on which it will sit. If it is not a basement or slab, you probably will want to have some sort of platform ready to distribute the weight more evenly over the floor joists. I made one from 3/4-inch plywood, though you could go even thicker. Also, I bought four 1/4-inch hard rubber feet from NA Graphics which keep the press rock solid on the platform. The movers will probably have a level but just in case they don’t you might have one handy so that the press can be leveled while they are still there. Good luck!
I found that removing the sheet metal piece on the non-operator side made moving much easier. That way the movers could lift from the cast-iron bed on both sides. Unless your #4 is built the same way as the Universal series, it should be an easy removal.
I would also remove the inking system, In this case both the top frame oscillating roller and the bottom frame form rollers assembly. Don’t forget to clean out the shelves and cabinets.
Most professional movers will know to lash the cylinder down, but I have heard of a few times where it was left loose, causing damage in transit when it rolled.
Another cause of damage is using a forklift or pallet jack to lift the press from beneath the storage shelves. There isn’t enough strength there to take the weight of the press without bending.