Thread: Freighting a Hercus

Hi Guys,
I have sent several interstate and find an open pallet has proved satisfactory so long as you remove the main damageable parts and pack them inside the cabinet. So far none have arrived damaged.
Mal

What I learnt from shipping my lathe was:

• use padding on bits that might break if they get bumped ('cause they will get bumped)
• tie down anything that might move
  
  • tail stock
  • motor
  • saddle
• remove bits that might fall off
  
  • chucks
  • tool post
  • tail stock drill chuck
• have the package so that it can not fall over (I was lucky as the stand did that but the idea of a pallet to widen the base of a standard stand sound good to me)
• choose a direct truck

My Lathe was shipped from McKay to Melbourne

It was on a non standard "A" frame stand that

• was wider than the traditional lathe stand so very stable
• had horizontal rails parallel to the bed and at the base of the "A" that are 6" off the ground so were used by the forklift as needed

so no pallet

The people packing/consigning it enclosed the end of the cross slide and the front of the apron in a plastic bag that was filled with expanding foam. The tail-stock was locked (with the locking handle taped to hold it locked) and also taped to the bed so it would not move.

The extra's (some tooling, chucks, tail-stock drill chuck etc) were wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in a cardboard box that was tied with much tape to the "A" frame.

Then the whole thing was wrapped in what has been several years supply of bubble wrap.

Finally and I am thankful for this one, the people packing/consigning it ensured it was consigned on a truck that was not repacked during the journey - ie McKay to Melbourne, one loading... where I picked it up from the depot.

Cost was in the $500-600 range including insurance back a couple of years.

I was naive when I undertook this but it worked out OK - There are good people out there (The seller and a business called "Pack'n'send" in McKay who went beyond what many of their franchises do.)

Hope the sale goes well for all.

Making up a pallet for it...

Here is the lathe on the pallet.... it is bolted down with 12mm bolts full length through the pallet.