Moving Machines

Anyone who moves from one house to another understands how much work and stress is involved in moving. Moving from one shop to another shop is a bit challenging as well. I did just that in 2019 and covered the experience in my 30×40 shop series. In this video I’m sharing my high points involved in moving from a shop to a conex, to move into a new shop eventually.

Where to store everything?

Shipping container/conex was the solution for us. We paid $2375 for a 40′ shipping container delivered with a 5-year leak-free warranty. It’s not pretty. It’s beat up a little bit here and there. And it has some surface rust in spots. But it’s structurally sound and guaranteed to not leak. For us, this is ideal. We will have it moved once more to the new property once we get the shop built and the conex unloaded. Our initial plan for this on the new property will be as a starting point for the barn.

Purge!

Moving space and storage space is a premium….so PURGE! I gave all of my smaller bits and shorter boards to a local woodworker who carves spoons. For someone who makes smaller objects, it was a welcomed gift. I gave all of my longer boards to a local woodworker who could use them for projects. And finally, the last large item to purge was the miter saw station. I sold it to Zach and Jason from Back 40 Customs.

Reduce Multiple Trips

1) boxes…duh
2) 55 gallon barrels. Easy to move with an appliance dolly. I used this strategy in the last shop. The only downside is you can cram so much weight in them that they become hard to move with a regular 2 weel hand dolly.
3) large crates for more volume, also stackable.

Embrace Hydraulics

When possible, of course. A pallet jack for heavy lifting in tight spaces proved it’s weight in gold during this move. We got the $399 one from Harbor Freight. Thumbs up. A tractor (etc.) for heavy lifting in open space is obviously a good idea. But word on the street is that tractors don’t grow on trees. I understand not everyone will have access to this option. But if you have any way to utilize a tractor or a forklift of any kind, DO IT. Save your back.

Palletize

If you embrace hydraulics, group items onto pallets. Heck, get some cheap 55-gallon drums and fill them heavier than you can lift them. But place them on a pallet before filling. Then use a pallet jack to move them around.

Random Thoughts:

• Take a picture of every bin before you put a lid on it. It’s easier to scroll through photos to find stuff than it is to open every box, tote, and crate.
• The most predictable thing is the unpredictability of the weather. We had a slight downpour on one of my cast iron tools. Fortunately, I flooded the surface in WD-40 before the drive, and it had an hour of 60mph wind blowing it off after the rain. No rust!
• Be safe. Prepare for the unexpected. We made several hour-and-a-half trips to the new location, and before one of those drives, I thought, “Maybe I should put my automotive floor jack in the back of the truck, just in case.” Of course, I didn’t. On the trip home that same day, our trailer popped off the ball after hitting a huge hole or bump (I never saw it) at a transition from road to bridge on the interstate. The trailer was hooked up properly with the correct size ball. The impact was just too intense for the trailer latch. The trailer drug the concrete sparks flying everywhere, and dust and debris filled the air behind us. We settled to a stop with our hazard lights on and assessed the damage. No damage to the truck. No damage to the safety chains or the wiring connection. But the tongue jack didn’t make it. It took all of the damage and bent to an unusable state. A kind gentleman at a lawn care company at the bottom of the highway onramp we were parked next to yelled up saying he was coming with a jack. What a wonderful gesture. He helped me get the trailer back on the ball, and we were on our way. ALWAYS PAY IT FORWARD AND HELP OTHERS WHEN YOU CAN. You never know when you’ll be the one needing the help!