bought a 3520b

If the one person has a roll back wrecker

Dick Coers

It would take some real fancy riggin' for a single person to load. Stuff like bridging under the bed, take off one leg set, slide it into the bed, remove the other leg set. Etc...... Another way is to have a tow truck company come with a roll back bed. He pulls it on the bed, and then backs up to your pickup and tilts it down so you can slide the lathe into your pickup. Might add $150 to the lathe, but no one gets hurt.

Re: bought a 3520b

Ivan Clark

In my prime, I probably could have gotten away with disassembling a 3520B and getting it into the back of a pickup by myself. Now-a-days, there is no way that I would try to do it by myself.

I brought one back from Tampa in a minivan so I have been through the disassembly/assembly process. So, here are some suggestions:

1) if the bed of your truck is like most, put a sheet of plywood down in the bed to slide the lathe parts around on. The headstock paint will thank you.

2) you will need some tools to remove the legs and accessory bracket

3) you want to take a sturdy sawhorse that is slightly taller than the distance from the underside of the ways to the ground.

4) take a ziplock to put screws and small parts in

Disassembly:

1) remove accessory brackets, guard cage, any chucks or centers, and toolrests

2) remove stops at ends of ways

3) remove tailstock and banjo

4) remove headstock and place upside down in bed of truck

5) line the ways up to slide into truck

6) place sawhorse under ways at truck end of ways

7) remove legs from truck end of lathe.

lift and slide the bed so that the end is sitting in the truck

9) remove sawhorse

10) remove other set of legs

11) slide bed into truck

12) secure all of the parts of the lathe in the truck

When I moved mine in the van, I screwed stops to the plywood to keep the parts from sliding around.

for reassembly, 2 sawhorses are a good idea.

Putting the headstock back on was a challenge for 2 of us. We failed to take a good look at the nut plate that has to be lined up with the underside of the ways when you are installing it. It is also heavy, has to be flipped back upright, and there are few good palces to lift by.

I got the caster set that Craft Supply sells for the 3520B and they work really well.

Re: bought a 3520b

John C Lucas

It would be awfully difficult by yourself. The headstock is 157lbs and really awkward to hold (been there done that and it was stupid). The bed is 200 or so lbs without the legs. After removing the headstock tailstock and banjo my friend and i soet of rolled the bed and legs by gently laying it over. Still very heavy. After that we set a piece of plywood on pipes and manuevered it inch by inch onto the plywood and then rolled on the pipes like they moved the pyramid blocks.

I moved an Oliver lathe that weighed at least as much by myself from the truck to my poech using a chain hoist and crow bar. Lifted each leg and slid a 2x10 ramp under it after bolting the ramp to the porch. Then used the chain hoist to drag it to the porch. Added braces to the porch ceiling and then lifted it one side at a time to get it off the ramp. Dissassembled it using the hoist because the headstock was heavier than the powermatic.

When i have a cess to my computer later this morning ill send photos of the wheels i made to move my powermatic by myself. Easy to build. You do need a hydraulic floor jack to pick up each end.

Re: bought a 3520b

Dave Delo

Cameron,

Not trying to be morbid but wanted to post a link to the obituary for the original owner of the machine you just purchased. Bill and his wife (who recently passed away) were great people. His presence at monthly meetings is greatly missed. I'm sure you will get as much joy out of this machine as he did.

http://nollfuneral.com/obituaries/william-h-alexander/73/

Re: bought a 3520b

Josh bowman

I've moved several 3520"s, amd Jet 1642's as well by myself. I use my trailer, and a folding and rolling engine hoist, You can either rent one, or buy one from HF or Northern. Buy 2 rigging straps as well. Where are you located?? A fellow turner might can loan you the hoist. When I have to move the lathe to or from the trailer, I lower it so it's sitting across the hoists carriage. That way it's close to the ground and not swinging. Good luck.

Re: bought a 3520b

David Gilbert

I moved a 3520b from a walkout basement into my minivan and then from the minivan to my basement with the help of one other person. It would be very hard for one person to move it alone.

You will need metric Allen wrenches (mine needed an 8 mm). Buy a two-foot piece of rebar and wrap it with electrical tape and stick it through the spindle. Two guys can pick it up with the rebar and it is not as awkward but it is still heavy.

Once it is all taken apart, it is at least moveable. Get a hand truck to move the ways. One for a refrigerator will work fine.

Enjoy your new toy!

Cheers,

David

Re: bought a 3520b

cameron youngstrom

Thanks for that link, I appreciate knowing where this is coming from...

Re: bought a 3520b

robo hippy

When I sold my 3520A, my buddy took it apart, and we loaded it into his VW Jetta..... The Jetta was floating a bit from being rather heavy, but it did work, and he got it out by himself.....

robo hippy

Re: bought a 3520b

cameron youngstrom

Dave, would you by any chance know if this thing is in a basement?

handling it yourself...

John K Jordan

Cameron,

I moved a 3520b across country with a tandem-axle u-haul trailer. I unloaded and set it up myself but I had help taking it apart and loading. (make sure you have the proper allen wrench.)

The most difficult/awkward/hazardous thing was removing one leg from the bed and lowering the end to the floor. A second person and a sawhorse is a real help here, otherwise some creative rigging might be necessary.

I think I could have put the pieces in the trailer by myself if necessary. The heaviest thing was the bed and it can be rolled to the trailer on a carpet-covered furniture dolly or two then one end lifted up onto the trailer by one person. The rest I could have lifted by myself. I'm 66 and certainly no superman (although I do get plenty of exercise here on the farm!)

The trailer is nice since it is low to the ground. A truck would be more difficult.

I did unload and set the lathe up by myself. I pushed/pulled/lifted each piece out of the trailer onto the same furniture dollys and rolled into the shop. I made use of one pry bar and a ratchet strap to get the bed moving. I used one extra tool to help fasten the second leg casting to the bed: after fastening the first leg casting I used a floor jack and some blocking to lift the bed high enough to position the leg under. Every thing else was easy, including pushing the lathe across the concrete into place (before the headstock/tailstock was attached).

I think the average healthy person could do the whole thing but it would be a LOT easier with a second person. Maybe ask the seller to locate a strong young fellow to help at the pickup location?

Use safe lifting techniques, of course!

JKJ

Re: bought a 3520b

Dave Delo

It's in a separate room attached to a ground level garage with cement floor and level driveway. Not sure if you'll be able to wheel it out into the open or not with the lift & lock gizmo. If not, you'll just need to take it apart in the shop area. In other words, no major obstacles at this end except other people picking up their stuff. I'd offer to help you but I'm in the middle of a chiropractic episode so I'm in a no heavy lift condition.

P.S. If your looking for the standard issue Powermatic 3" faceplate that comes with a new machine, I have it in the lot that I bought. After going to the preview, I was really disappointed in the auctioneers set-up. There was at least a half dozen lots that had pieces and parts from one machine mixed in with a different machine or lot. Maybe that's the way it works but it didn't look like any effort was put into trying to match things up.

Anyway....good luck.

Re: bought a 3520b

cameron youngstrom

Thanks for in info, that helps alieviate a little of the worry about getting this thing home, I have managed to find a person that should be able to come with me tomorrow although that was not easy considering the crazy time frame they have for pickup. I am 3 hours away and thus was bidding on faith that it worked and the parts were all there (plus I am literally just starting out so I am not sure what parts should even be, seen mention of inserts for a chuck etc but...) Also, I didn't bid on any tooling as I wasn't going to be able to drive that far for some chisels if I didn't get the lathe, made it hard. I assume I will need a faceplate, what would it cost me?

Re: bought a 3520b

Stuart Johnson

Rent a truck with a lift gate rather than trying to load it into your pickup. It might cost a few bucks but you might save your back.

Re: bought a 3520b

William Duffield

I've assembled, disassembled and delivered more than one of them. There's only one operation that I've really needed any help with. (Setting the head on the bed is difficult to do alone, but is doable.) What I needed help with was turning the legs and bed assembly over. It takes a second person a few seconds to help you turn it from upright to on its side during disassembly and back upright again when reassembling it. Disassemble the legs from the bed with the bed on its back, and put it back together in the same position. You can roll it over from on its side to on its back and onto its side again by yourself, but getting the bed from 40" up in the air to down on the floor and back up in the air again you probably need help.

It makes it easier to pick up the head if you engage the spindle lock and tape it down. That'll keep the spindle from rotating out of your grip.

You suck! (That's a galoot compliment.) I wish I owned a 3520b.

Re: bought a 3520b

Dave Delo

Was able to go over the machine during the preview and check it out. Belt good, centers line up perfect and the motor purrs like a kitten. You got a well taken care of lightly used plum of a machine.

Faceplates from PM direct are $122.00 and from other places in the mid 90's. It's not that you can't turn your machine on if you don't have a faceplate but for some larger pieces, they provide the highest degree of stability & security IMHO. If you have a 1.25" spindle tap, you can make your own faceplates out of hard wood if you want.

i use a shop engine crane.

Keith Newton

Mine is a cheap Harbor Freight brand, but will lift 2 tons, and cost about $150.

A little chain or good rope through the bed gap near the center of gravity will easily lift it.

For rolling it around, I only lift it high enough to place some boards across the lower legs so it isn't dangling while I roll it around. Then when it is time to lift high enough to get into the bed of a truck, I lift it then back the truck under it, then let it down.

Home made Powermatic wheels.

john lucas

Here is my Wheel set. Big enough to roll across gravel. A funny story. When I was moving the time before this last one I had borrowed a really really nice truck and trailer from a friend. Had to back it up a slight grade to get to the shop. I had the lathe up on the wheels shown. I had already loaded the Washer and Dryer by myself on a dolly into the trailer. I was waiting on a friend to load the lathe but it was rolling around the shop so easily I though I'll bet I can load this myself. Should have hollered Hey Bubba watch this before I started. Anyway I rolled it up the ramp and got on the trailer which was apparently sloped down hill more than I thought. It took off toward the front of the trailer and his truck dragging me kicking and cursing all the way. I don't know what made me think a 164lb guy could stop a 750lb lathe. Anyway fortunately when the wheels hit the front of the trailer it stopped and no damage anywhere.

Re: Home made Powermatic wheels.

dick hines

I helped move one....once. It took three of us to get the bed in the truck. The headstock is a two man job.

I can lift the tail stock by my self. Can't remember about the legs.

If you have a trailer a PM can be moved by one person. Install wheels and roll it into the trailer. Make sure you strap it down. If the trailer has a grated bottom place a sheet of 3/4" plywood in the trailer.

Re: bought a 3520b

Larry Copas

I go to a lot of auctions. I always call the auctioneer in advance and ask "If I but that huge PM lathe can you help with loading?" The usual answer is yes. After the auction ends is sometimes a different song. Still, I would call the auctioneer and ask. He very well may have a few helpers available. Often times other buyers will give a hand especially if they need help loading there own heavy item.

BOOM!  That's taking the plunge!