Moving a Vertical Mill

[mattdrag]

Can i pickup a Millrite vertical mill by the dovetailed ram??? I need to load and remove from a trailer??? Any ideas?? Thanks Greg

[SGW]

There's no hoist ring, or provision for one?

Lacking that, I'd think a suitably rated Nylon sling around the ram would be fine...but I'm not a machinery mover.

I would be inclined to take off stuff that will come off, like the motor and table, before lifting, to reduce the weight.

[Rustybolt]

I know bridgeport does not recomend it for their mills. That having been said; I've done it a lot, being careful to pad the dovetail with wood blocking. Be sure the bolts that secure the ram to the column are tight.

[hobbycraft]

I put a sling around my bridgeport and lifted it with a long boom recker. Driving very slow until I reached the door of my basement. At the door (36 inches wide) I then cut the releif in the side wall/jamb until I could slide the mill in without removing the table. My wife complained as I had removed several block to do this, but after I put the block back, she got over it. The door is back to normal. Be careful. Paul