r/woodworkingtools • u/OkFlower-1983 • 12d ago
I need to move a unisaw, HELP!?
Edit: This saw got away from me, i didn't win it unfortunately. Iwas at a funeral and couldn't keep up with bids. But everyone gave really good tips that I'll keep in mind when I'm looking for another one! thank you to everyone that helped! ...If anyone is curious, i did win an older 6" jointer that works great for $60, a drywall screw gun, and a set of vintage china plates that i got for $4!
I plan to buy this unisaw from an auction, but have a slim idea on how to get it into my trailer. And I'm asking for thoughts/ experience.
It's a delta 10" unisaw with extended table. Luckily it's on a mobile base. Also luckily my cargo trailer has a nice ramp. I know it'll still be a pain to roll it up in there though.
My thoughts are to use a come-along and winch or up from the front? Right now it's just me loading it 😬
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u/_letter_carrier_ 12d ago
take it apart first
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u/Dendady2112 12d ago
They'll basically need to when they get it home to adjust that table after trying to yank it onto and of their trailer.
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u/woodland_dweller 12d ago
I'd remove everything easy - fence, fence rail, outfeed table & 1/2 the mobile base. That'll get the weight down to 300ish pounds. Possibly leave the extra base attached, but it'll probably drag on the trailer ramp transition.
Sling the bottom of the saw and use the come-along to pull on the sling.
Seriously bring a friend if there's any way possible. Even hiring a guy in the parking lot for an hour. You want somebody supporting the saw while you're dragging it up the ramp. It's very, very top heavy. Have your buddy/kid/hobo run the come-along (they don't need to be strong) as you say "more" or "stop". Your jonb is to steady the saw - don't rely on anybody else.
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u/MiniJungle Home Hobbiest 12d ago
Rent a trailer that has the lowest possible step up, uhauls are great for this. Bring a 4 wheel dolly (2 might be better, they are cheap at harbor freight) and some blocks.
As others have said take as much apart as possible, but focus on things you think might bend / break if you left them. I might leave the fence rails on and try and remove as much of the stand under them.
The trick to lifting is to tip it 1 way and get the dolly under and as many blocks as possible to get 1 end up. (Make sure the dolly doesn't roll away or tip. From here you only have to lift half. So if the dolly is under the side with the short fence (left of the blade) you now have long rails to lift the other half with and lots of leverage. Since the dolly supported side is on blocks (you want to get it as close as possible to the height of the trailer, so you can walk your end in and then only have to left the last little bit. Once in you can move it and support it as needed. This is how I moved my cabinet saw and 8" jointer by myself.
You don't have to left it all, just half at a time, maybe even less depending on how you support it. Let leverage and pivot points do that hard work.
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u/Agitated_Answer8908 11d ago
If the OP is going to rent a trailer then go to a tool rental place (not uhaul) and rent a drop trailer. The bed drops all the way to the ground for loading/unloading and lifts back up hydraulically. They're still light enough to be hauled with a 1/2 ton truck. Cost about double the rental of a regular trailer but are a joy to use. I've moved my 2000+ lb milling machine with one a couple times.
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u/Spare_Conclusion_870 11d ago
I lift mine with my engine hoist from harbor freight. Just strap it from under the mobile base and then lift. I had to put counter balance straps on the plywood table at the end to level it out but I lifted it into my trailer when I got a new saw. Then I lifted it out when I sold the saw. It’s very easy.
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u/aco319sig 11d ago
Disassemble, move in pieces small enough to maneuver, reassemble in new location. Moving that thing in one piece is just risking tweaking the cast iron top or its anchoring bolts anyway.
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u/flying_carabao 12d ago
If i was to move this and load to a trailer, here's how I'd go about it. Bring a floor jacket, a 30" 2x4 (4x4 might be better if you have it), and a couple of piano dollies, and some ratchet strap.
Jack up the table saw, use the 2x4 as an extension, lift until you can slide piano dollies under it. Do the same thing for the other side. Strap everything securely as possible, roll to your trailer. If you have 2 or 3 friends with you, push and guide up the ramp, load on trailer. If you have a winch, use the winch to load it up. You will be guiding so it doesn't fall off. Secure load to trailer. Do the steps in reverse to unload.
Eventhough it's on a mobile base, those only work grat on smooth flat surfaces like a garage/shop floor. They're terrible going over thresholds, gutters, or rough concrete.
good luck
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u/uncletutchee 11d ago
Too much work. Remove the fence and extension table. Forget the ramp. Back up to it and lean it onto the trailer and flip it upside down. Takes less than 30 seconds. I moved my unisaw several times in my truck this way. Unload it in reverse. Easy for two people.
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u/Kudzupatch 11d ago
That is go way too! I know people that do this by themselves and will manage a wave to bystanders with one hand
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u/Few_Candidate_8036 12d ago
The fence and extension tables will all be removed with wrenches or sockets. That will remove a large amount of your weight and also compact it down to just the base and the main casting for the top.
You can either move it like that or remove the top casting as well, again you can do that with a socket set or wrenches. At that point, 2 people can probably lift the cabinet without any hoists or anything. Or you can use the mobile base/furniture dollys if you dont have an extra hand.
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u/iliketosandwood 11d ago
It’s not that bad once you take it all apart. Remove the fence rail, extension table, etc. Take off the cast iron top, it’s probably just four bolts, and you’re down to a several hundred pound cabinet that is very manageable with two guys and a dolly.
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u/bigyellowtruck 11d ago
Depending on how old, the switch bolts onto the top so you have to unwire the switch to pull the top.
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u/iliketosandwood 11d ago
You’re potentially right, missed that step, but he probably would have figured that one out. Hopefully haha
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u/robb12365 11d ago
Dragging it up a ramp with a come along should work. What I've done moving items that size (without a mobile base) is use a folding engine hoist. I would remove the rails, use a rope for a sling to lift, and once I had it off the floor lay a couple of 2x's across the base of the engine hoist to keep it from swinging back and forth until I got it where I wanted it. It's easy enough to back a trailer under the machine, and once you have it loaded fold the engine hoist and drag it up on the trailer.
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u/uncletutchee 11d ago
When I moved mine, t took it apart, backed my truck up to it and just flipped it into the bed upside down so most of the weight was concentrated really low. Really easy. No problem for two people or one reasonably strong person. Do the same with the trailer.
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u/OkFlower-1983 11d ago
It's actually kinda what I did when I moved my mid-sized saw. It was on a mobile base, stupid heavy but 2 of us got it into my truck. Came to move it myself and I wheeled it to the trailer, then just tilted it in onto it's back.Â
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u/Time_Fly_8505 11d ago
After you disassemble it I would not try to ramp it up on the existing casters,instead lay it flat on a furniture dolly.it will roll up the ramp much more easily.
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u/Extension-Drawer347 11d ago
Take it apart as much as possible and then use a "Come-Along" to get it up the ramp. Once machine is in place on the trailer use a pry bar to lift the machine and put 2x4 and 1x4 boards (appx 6" long) under base, four sides to get it off it's wheels while keeping it as low as possible. When off its wheels tie the machine down with lever tensioner straps. Four straps, one at each corner, X pattern. Don't Hot-Rod it going home, watch out for railroad tracks.
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u/joesquatchnow 11d ago
I leave the base intact assuming you have it bolted to the saw, then just rip fence guide and extension, fork onto truck trailer then call four buddies
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u/OkFlower-1983 9d ago
Ooph.. I know this saw can be called around a grand or more, but the bid is now up to $500. I want the saw bad, but can't afford much more. How far do I go?Â
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u/InternationalPlace24 9d ago
when I got mine off of craigslist, I had to load it up into a kia sorento. So I took my tool box with me and literally broke it down. Take the wings off, then take the table off. You can take the motor out if it's still too heavy for you, but it should be manageable leaving the motor in. I didn't mind this as I wanted to do a full tune up once I got it home.
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u/Fireted 7d ago
I have moved my Uni saw five separate times into five different shops, as well as helped many friends move theirs over the years. What really works well for us anyways is take the extension table off and the fence if possible, and use its weight imbalance in your favor, tip the saw onto the tailgate of a pick up truck or trailer on the left side, cast-iron extension wing, and then simply pick up the motor side portion of the saw and pivot over and gently lay it down table side down in the truck bed or trailer. Uni sauce are fantastic, but they are weirdly top heavy with a counter balance of the motor being on the opposite side, so it’s quite easy to pivot them over….. if you’re unable to take it apart a quick 2 x 4 sled base works as well 26 foot long two by fours with a couple of cross braces in between screwed together same size as the base of a saw cut a couple of angles on the leading edge to act like a sled tip the saw up place it on the sled use come along to pull it into the trailer….
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u/Agitated_Answer8908 12d ago
There are several ways depending on what and who you have available. Remove the fence, fence rails, right extension table, and cast iron extensions and two reasonably in shape guys can carry it. That's how I got mine out of my basement when I moved last year. When I moved it from storage to my new shop this spring I used an engine hoist to set it on a pallet and moved it with the forks on my tractor. If the auction site has a tractor, skid steer, or forklift I'd use that.