Installing our Heidelberg - it’s heavy!
We have our new Heidelberg on iron rods to roll it into the correct location. It made it to the right spot, but it slipped off the rods so that one edge is on the ground, and it is resting at a slight slant.
So, first question — any suggestions regarding how to tilt the machine to get the iron rods out from under it?
Relatedly, second question — we would like to put a drip pan under it. Any suggestions on how to slide it under in the process?
Third question — Would it be a good idea (if possible) to put the press on some wooden blocks or a pallet? Why?
Thanks!
A windmill or a different press?
Assuming a windmill, the best way to do things is use a lifting eye from the top of the bed and a crane or forklift to pick it up; I think this is described in the manual. I don’t know of any good way to lift that press from below but someone else may.
Past that, you’re never going to slide a pan under it without lifting up the whole thing.
IMHO, do not put it on blocks, rest it on the floor directly (because it’s designed for that and it ought to be more stable).
It’s been a few years now, but when I moved my 10 x 15 in it was on a pallet that broke somewhere along the way in the move. I didn’t want it on the pallet and, like you, I wanted a drip pan under it. I had no ceiling room to work with the lifting eye or a strong enough ceiling above it. So, I got two iron rods - about 2 inch diameter iron rods - that fit through the two sets of holes on either side of the base.
The next step was to get four low profile scissor jacks and place one under each protruding end and slowly and evenly lift it off the pallet slide the pallet out from under it, slide drip pan under and slowly lower it. I used a small torpedo level to keep checking level from front to back and side to side both in lifting and lowering as scissor jacks are precarious under these circumstances, especially when the bars start bending under the weight.
Anyway, the process worked. I think I held my breath the whole time. I might add that a good friend of mine helped me. You always want to endanger someone else’s life and wellbeing along with your own.
I did, by the way, take pictures of the process. If you want to see them you can email me at rabbittownpress@gmail .com and I’ll send them to you if I can find them. They are in the computer somewhere…..David Brewer
When using the 2 bars method I used a pallet truck and blocks of wood. When raising the press always lift the fly wheel side first, otherwise it could tip over being topheavy on that side. When lowering the press bring the pump side down first, unless you can get 2 pallet trucks, one for each side and raise and lower evenly. Dont put on blocks but maybe 4 pieces of heavy card board, one on each corner(used for case book binding) which will compress to take out any slight uneveness of the floor.
Using the blocks of wood would certainly add more stability to the process……
Good Morning! You probably have your solution by now! We decided to build pallets for all of our presses, with the exception of our Heidelberg K. Our reasoning was twofold - we liked the presses being lifted a little because we are a little taller; and we wanted the convenience of lifting and/or moving the presses. Now whenever we want to move a press we slip a pallet jack under the pallet and ease the drip pan out… Attached is a picture.
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In the UK Messrs Pickfords ”Heavy Lift” Department gorillas
use a six foot long crowbar, with a small ball bearing wheel
on its heel. I have watched six of these fellows heave on command and lift a really large Miehle stop cylinder press
quite happily about 2 inches in the air, when scaffold pipes were then rolled underneath. Where one gets such crowbars
I’ve no idea but boy, with an experienced team they do work
For smaller presses ‘skates’ were used across the floor but that had steel sheets laid down first…
In the US, it’s often called a “Johnson bar”- https://www.mcmaster.com/johnson-bars/
Thanks! That Johnson bar is a nice tool, but a bit expensive.
I should probably try the floor jack method. Still debating about putting a pallet under it…
I think Harbor Fright sells them… (or find one used?)
If you’re going to raise up the press, make something really substantial like gfoots has.
I hired a johnson bar here in the UK when moving my Vertical Miehle to put it put it onto skates. I think the bar I used was rated to 2 tons
Hi,
Be careful! Your best move, really, is to hire a professional local rigger… it won’t cost much and those guys really tend to know what they’re doing. It will be a tiny job for them - esp. with the small windmill. That’d give you an opportunity to put blocks and a drip pan under it. Both those are highly recommended.