How to move a Boxford AUD?

[Beanwood]

I'm looking at one shortly, and need to understand how I move it if I press the button. There aren't any lifting facilities where it's coming from, and I want to get it onto a trailer that's 15" off the floor, with nobody around to help, which makes it interesting. At least it appears to be coming from a nice even concrete floor.

I've looked all over and apart from finding they weigh 350kg or thereabouts and are top heavy, I've found no definitive information.
Here's what I think - remove the tailstock
Move the toolpost to the rightmost side and lock it of to help with balance.
I've read there are holes in the cabinet to put a bar through? I can see somethin on the photo - are they obvious when I stand in front of it? How long and thick does the bar need to be?
If lifted using the bar, do I need weight bearing slings around the tailstock end, or is it well balanced?
Can I move it on rollers (Round wooden fence posts)
Is there anywhere I should/shouldn't attach ratchet straps to - I'm guessing not over the ways is a good start.
Is there a simpler way??

 

[Agroshield]

1. remove the tailstock
2. Move the toolpost to the rightmost side and lock it of to help with balance.
3. If lifted using the bar, do I need weight bearing slings around the tailstock end, or is it well balanced?
4. Can I move it on rollers (Round wooden fence posts)
5. Is there anywhere I should/shouldn't attach ratchet straps to - I'm guessing not over the ways is a good start

1. Not necessarily. Lathes are heavy at the headstock end and the challenge is getting them to balance. More weight at the tailstock end is never a bad thing. Taking off the chuck would do more good than removing the tailstock.
2. See above. Use in conjunction with the tailstock not on its own. Take some containers of water and put in the cabinet at the t/s end.
3. It is more likely to be headstock heavy than tailstock heavy so the balancing sling, if needed at all, would be better that end.
4. Steel rollers (scaffold tubes or 1" or 3/4" water pipe) will be a lot better than wooden ones.
5. Over the ways is good. It is the leadscrew that the straps should not touch. You might need a spreader to stop the strap pulling in the edges of the drip tray if the attachment points are close together.

Take the wheels off the trailer and let it rest on the brake drums while you load the lathe.

 

[Seadog]

Rollers I don't think will work. The fixing holes on the cabinet are plated on the underside.
There are holes at each end of the cabinet. 1" bar is adequate.
Alternatively, strip it down. The cabinet is still a two person lift, but I have carried the bed on my own several times.

 

[Pete.]

If the legs of an engine crane will fit under your trailer borrow one, lift it up, roll the trailer underneath then put it down.

BTW I would make that 'very shortly' because that lathe is seriously cheap.

 

[RichardM]

I'd borrow or rent an engine crane as @Pete. says.

I have in the past moved a MkIII myself with a little bakers trolley to move the base / bed. All into a Berlingo. Don't take the bed off the base, everything else can be stripped and rebuilt relatively easily. There are two bolts under the headstock which I had to use a slim spanner to undo. Just take some boxes to put the bits in. Expect to find they are BSF/WW sized spanners and imperial allen keys.

Belt goes through the headstock down into the base, should be a Nutlink style belt.

If you have some steel sheet pieces place them under the lathe and pull it on the steel (stainless is best). Steel on steel slides relatively easily, I move my 280 about like this when I need to, but you will not be able to lift it onto your trailer like this.

Get down there, buy it.

 

[jimbo84]

I moved my Boxford CSB (without a cabinet) the first time jacked up on blocks of wood, the second with a lifting table. Both times I wished I'd just got an engine crane to do it.

The only bit of knowledge I can give is that on mine the headstock end was far heavier than the tailstock end, by quite a way, even with the tailstock on and the carriage wound as far over to the tailstock end as it would go.

 

[ATGNI]

When I moved my boxford I stripped it all down and removed the unit from the pedestal. It was still a two man lift but I managed it. when I move machines at home I use a cheap engine crane.

 

[addjunkie]

Rollers and a ramp, two scaffy planks and a winch, lengths of tube under a lathe they move easy, pallet truck, engine hoist.

Two men can lift one of those onto a trailer

 

[123hotchef]

If the legs of an engine crane will fit under your trailer borrow one, lift it up, roll the trailer underneath then put it down.

BTW I would make that 'very shortly' because that lathe is seriously cheap.

How much was it pete

 

[Pete.]

How much was it pete

£350 for an AUD. The gearboxes sell for that.

 

[123hotchef]

£350 for an AUD. The gearboxes sell for that.

Bargain!

 

[RichardM]

Boxford AUD III Screw Cutting Centre Lathe

Ex School Boxford AUD 4.5" screw cutting centre lathe in full working order. Very well maintained. 28" bed length. Comes with some spares. 3 phase. Vid and delivery available.

www.facebook.com

 

[indy4x]

As per other comments

I've moved two by myself

1st one I dismantled and put in the back of an old 306

2nd one a few years later on, used an engine crane and trailer, way easier

 

[Rrobson]

I saw this a bit back, I was going to buy it myself but dont have the time to collect.
Engine lift is the easiest option, I’ve lifted one before using the crane.
Rollers are fine for moving it about but they aren’t ridiculously heavy, so a small dolly would do under it to move it about.

Failing that take a mate and strip it down. They are manageable in pieces.

 

[Richiew]

Take a friend. Between you, you will manage. I moved a Southbend, which the Boxford is based on, in a Focus with help from a mate. Couple of trips, nothing really heavy if broken down.

 

[6ply]

Not impossible on your own but without a lift or hoist of some sort you will certainly struggle on your own. I have moved similar sized machines around on 1" pipe no problem. Getting on/off a trailer was a struggle. I've since bought a pallet stacker (manual fork lift) which makes things easy. An engine crane would be similarly fine. Maybe someone local to you could help? If shifting on your own make sure it doesn't tip.

 

[Smouser]

I have a love/hate relationship with my Chinese engine crane. It is such a pain storing the the thing when not in use but it was invaluable when I off loaded my lathe and shaper.

Shamelessly overloaded

 

[Morris]

I unloaded my Colchester Bantam with my Chinese (Sealey) engine crane. Moved it into my workshop on rollers.

 

[Beanwood]

Bargain!

It really was, and unfortunately I was gazumped.!!

 

[Smouser]

Got to be quick about these things.

As soon as I am convinced I will be able to sell it for at least the amount I bought it for I pull the trigger!

I have also missed out before because I was too slow.

O well, now you have time to get an engine crane so you are ready for the next one