Moving a Big/Heavy Lathe
My G0800 lathe has a bed extension attached, and it is a big, heavy, beast of a machine, Approx 1000 lbs. Not one to try to move without a sound plan! I know I'm going to be relocating in the not too distant future, so I needed to find a good, safe, yet inexpensive solution to being able get my lathes up my tailgate ramp on my trailer. I did not want to go to the expense of purchasing a lathe dolly, and I don't have a welder, so I thought about a safe dolly that I could build out of scraps and materials I had on hand in the shop.
The casters are quality 360 degree swivel casters made with bearings, and each dolly has 4 casters and will hold 1200 lbs. x 2 = 2400 lbs. total weight bearing. I also put a 3/8" eye bolt on each end with a washer on each side of the 2x8 board and tightened down, for the purpose of attaching a ratchet strap across the bed ways, and securing the lathe to the dollies, so as to make them roll safely, without danger of them coming off during the roll. I use a jack to lift the lathe, and place the dollies underneath the legs. The pic shows only one side on the dolly for illustration purposes.
I guess I could have purchased cheaper swivel casters from Harbor Freight, but when I looked they were out of stock on the size I wanted, so I ordered from Amazon.com. They are 3" heavy duty, locking casters.
Lathe dollies.jpg lathe dolly 2.jpg
I hope this solution helps someone else to solve the problem of moving a big heavy lathe [or other equipment] in a safe and inexpensive way. I didn't have the correct length lag bolts, so I just used heavy duty 2 " screws with small washers to attach the casters, then ground off the excess with an angle grinder, because I had them on hand.