In the spirit of great minds think alike, it was c.1983 when I was running a one man HVAC company and had a commercial customer who wanted a new boiler in the basement of his building. With everything stripped off of the cast iron sections, it still weighed about 800lbs. There was a trap door on the ground floor that revealed a set of wooden stairs to the basement. I did almost exactly as you did to get the thing down there. Shored up the stairs, put planks over the treads to create a ramp, found a solid anchor point to install a large eye bolt, and used a come a long to slowly slide it down there. All of this I did solo. I reassembled it in the basement and finished the job without incident. I'd actually forgotten all about that until I saw this video. Thanks for the memories.
I'll watch this 3,000 more times so we can see the band saw move. You're right about the blessings of a wonderful wife. You and I share that blessing. Thank Mrs. Pete for me!
when I bought my Bridgeport Mill, it was in a basement. I bought it from an elderly lady who's husband was a retired machinist and put a shop in his basement. When he passed, she was selling everything. Me and a friend disassembled it in her basement and moved it up the stairs, thru her kitchen and into the garage. I put a4x4 at the bottom of the kitchen door frame and used a come-a-long to hoist the colum up stairs. Surprisingly, we didn't damage anything.....except I had to use a porta power to spread the door frame to get the door to close after I put it back on. we put it all in the back of a 1/2 ton Dodge van and away we went......about 25 miles. We would laugh for every time we hit a bump in the road, that old Dodge van wanted to fly! Always enjoy your videos....learned alot...Thank you.
When I was on a Rotary Club scholarship attending Ft. Lauderdale High in 1965/66 I was a member of the varsity band. For a while we tried to get our bandmaster to let us play the 1812 Overture but he never went for it. During concert season we had a guest band and wouldn‘t you know they opened with the 1812, live cannons and all! We were totally smashed! It was the „Joliet Township Highschool West Campus Concert and Marching Band“! I am a 71 year old german oral surgeon living in Mallorca/Spain for my retirement and your mentioning of that school brought a whole lot of good memories up. It‘s a small world full of memorable coincidences! Thank you for another great video with a personal touch!
Mr.Pete, We are so much the same man!! I would absolutely do the very same thing, if I had a basement!! So many quality hours spent in the warmth, while it was snowing outside!! Awesome set-up, indeed!!! Thanks again, Vic!!
your advertisement at the end of this vid is exactly how we advertised my uncles home, years ago. the J head went with the house, lol. I miss that mill, and felt obligated to learn it's operation, and maintain it, to honor my uncle, who was a master machinist. I have never regeted learning that skill, and that of lathe operation as well, and found that painstaking restoration work on neglected machinery of a by gone era in this country, could bring me such meditatve tranquillity, and respect of fuctionality. I throughly enjoy your love and regard for the tooling and practical operation of these machines. you bring into focus the need for appreciating a dying art in America. Thanks for your attention to detail and amusing disdain, I might add
Great video, so often many people do not consider how to move heavy iron, I have a very heavy gun safe inside my house and I remember moving it on golf balls and the power of "French" words uttered that day along with a few strong friends, I use my garage for a shop, and have a decent lathe and small mill, when an if I move that gun safe will probably stay, ( The only reason it is still in the house is because my wife could never hope too move it out of are/her walk in closet ), I tell her on the positive side "If the house ever burns down at least are pass ports will be ok", but working in the paper industry helped learn a lot on how to move very heavy equipment, some of it was well over 20,000 lbs, but I always found it interesting how guys ended up with stuff down in there basement shop.
My dad had heavy horizontal Mill (WW2 era mill made in California) in his downstairs basement I remember he slid in down the stairs which were bolstered with timbers I was probably about 8-10 years old when it was moved in early 1960s. After my parents passed away I inherited the house with the Mill still in place. Since I already had my own bench top vertical imported mill I did not want it. The Mill was the last thing left in the house. I gave the mill to a CAD draftsman who took it out piece by piece I think it took him 2 weeks then I put my parents house on the market. My take away from that experience for my own home shop is never buy machine that takes more than 2 people to move. Thanks for allowing me to re-live my childhood experience observing my dad moving his mill.
You bring a smile to my face with this video. I too have similar treasures in my basement and have no intention to ever move them. Once I'm gone my treasures will become someone else's treasures.
Hi . I also moved my bridgeport down to the basement but all by myself. Iam 70 now but that was 2 years ago. I took it all apart and the column I put duble 3/4" plywood on the stairs. I used two come-a-longs. one pushing and one pulling. I used a harborfreight one ton shop crane to lift it. My wife wants me to get it out of the basement before I am 80. It is all your fault been watching you for years and when I saw yours I wanted one.
Mechanical advantage and good rigging are everything when messing about with heavy loads... I've moved stuff by myself using a chainfall and a 1 ton engine crane, along with the usual hydraulic jacks, pipe rollers and pry-bars... One of these days I'll add come-alongs to the mix!
I had a co worker who was a retired MASTER RIGGER , 6' 3' built!! He would have picked up the parts of your mill, tucked them under an arm and danced down your stairs. No sweat. he was an artist with block and tackle. Miss him.
After watching your videos for about 10 years this week I finally bought a 1954 round ram Bridgeport, and just as you said it was no easy job to move it. It's in sad shape but I live in Brazil and those machines comes at a premium price here, and you know what restoring is half the fun really.
I started to take mine apart to put in my basement but plans changed. Just sold the house and moving to a new one with a 40 x 60 shop. And the work will begin. I've got a month to move. thanks for sharing.
wow. i went to an estate sale down the street from me to try to buy a bridgeport and it was in the garage. the widow said her husband tried to get it into the basement but the ceiling was too low. if it did make it into the basement i would have assumed it would have been sold with the house! thanks for all the time you put into your vids!
Man, you are right about having a supportive wife. My lovely wife Pat enjoys tool auctions as much as I do. Awhile back I bought a workbench with a grinder and Rock Island vise on it. The guy was getting rid of it to make room in the garage and his wife wouldn't let him bring it into the house. We got it home and into the living room temporarily...she said I like it here, let's leave it here. ❤️
At 15:09 you gave the secret! My wife finally got on board. I moved a Big Joe mill like that into my shop, but it's across 100 feet of loose sand. That was a booger, but it got done. My second one was much easier. Live and learn. (And my thanks to Atlas, too!!)
In all the hundreds of videos that I have watched of yours, Mr Pete, I have never thought even once that the Bridgeport had to come down a flight of stairs! I take my hat off to you. May you make chips for many years yet.
Very interesting, sir, thanks for sharing that. I, like many others, can relate as I moved my first mill into my tiny basement last Thursday. It's a smaller Enco model that weighs roughly 1,000lbs. It was quite a task, impossible without the help of some good family and neighbors to help out. I wish I had taken some pictures to show 20 years down the road!
I have he same unit that came from jersey city To my place upstate ny 140 miles almost fell off the flat bed at the factory where it cam from. We had it on 4 skates. And in an instant it was on only 3. Learned a few lesson I'll never forget...One of witch was never trust the people you don't know helping you move 2000 lbs. thank you mr pete!!
yep it was split second decision to save it or let it fall off the deck of a flat bed 5' up in the air! ...5 of us grabbed it (and half were screaming let fall) we righted it... and as per my suggestion we got it off the skates and dragged it 10' to the spot on the truck's deck where it was chained for the 140 mile ride..
I had made a set of skates once (not very good ones either), They made me uneasy as they raised the machine too far off the ground. My neighbor Tommy is in such a hurry when helping, that I don't want him around--he's too eager!!
"and only one with the ideas!!!" is the best thing to say. I am planning to move a 4000 kg bridgemill alone by dismantling and using machinery. Hopefully I don't kill myself in the process.
I solved the problem of a reluctant wife by making it her shop. Now I am frequently asked "what is that, when did I get it and how much did it cost?" I noticed your Acu Rite dro. There is a AcuRite Master MP on my wife's Bridgeport. I sure could use a vid on programming it. The manual assumes more than I have to work with. It is confusing. I Enjoy your vids immensely, you and your followers are quite entertaining. I am just down the pike a piece in west central IL.
I may have said this before, but the guy I got my lathe from is 97! He might still be doing metal work if he hadn't sold his house. At your age Mr. Pete you may out live most of the guys asking "what are you going to do with your stuff when...." Thanks for the vids.
Well I'm a fortunate man as well. My wife is pushing me to buy a lathe and milling machine, she knows it's my passion. My misses and I build a 34' x 40' garage with 12' walls 3-1/2 years ago so I can't wait to get some machines in there but they are so expensive or it's 575V. Thanks for your videos.
I bought my first Bridgeport mill in 1969,i was 19 years old and i had to wait 23 months to get it.It cost me $3000.00 with all the extra accessories. Chrome ways,oil systems, swivelbase vise,collets,2lights,, etc etc, etc
Hi Mr. Pete, I love all your videos, keep up the great work. By the way, a series 1 Bridgeport with a 9x42 table weighs 2100 lbs. Having worked on both Bridgeport and South Bend mills, the Bridgeport is far more accurate and robust in all aspects. Your milling machine choice has greatly improved project success.
Good video I have a walkout & have been looking for a Bridgeport too replace my Rong Fu . Always enjoy your videos& sense of humor Thanks for all you have done.
I am in the process of doing exactly what you did. I built my house with a 4 foot wide staitway to the basement along with a ramp going into the garage to the basement.
Great video. I can admire the work it takes to do something like that, but I still think you 'basement guys' are nuts. I'd probably build an extension to the house before I tried moving one of those machines into a basement.
I just acquired-and moved-a circa 1940 Kempsmith No 1 Universal vertical milling machine-2750 pounds. The place I bought it from used a gantry hoist to put it on the trailer. From there I was on my own. The good thing is that I have a ground floor shop and using time, gravity and some 1 inch pipe, the beast now lives in my shop and is waiting for me to clean it up and make something.
Love it. I had a similar problem; twice actually. I have a 1937 Avey drill press. The table is actually larger than most mills. Three columns. Did it just like you, in pieces. It too, will go with the house. It's a great machine but far bigger than I need. Same as you, I got on a sealed bid. I'd hate to leave it behind because it is the smoothest, truest drill press I've ever used, but we're looking at moving in a couple of years and I can't take everything. My Southbend lathe will make the trip though.
After my parents moved out of their house, I single handedly moved a large player piano out of their basement. The stairway was set up like yours and I could back my trailer and truck in front of the exterior door. Using ropes and come-alongs, grooved planks for the wheel to guide in, I managed it in just an hour or so (of course, that doesn't count the many hours of planning it in my head and all the prep work)
Tubalcain, I think the add for the house should read more like.... Bridgeport for sale, includes three bedrooms, 2 car garage and fireplace. Located on a quiet street, must see to appreciate. Priced to sell at $259,999. I'm currently restoring one, plan has always been to move it into basement too. With how long that's taking me.... I just hope I can finish the restoration before I can't move it anymore! Thanks for the video. Take Care, Pete
Back when you moved that mill, not so many hydraulics for the homeowner. Maybe today, a cherry-picker could have done it. I say hydraulics beats muscle every time. But as you get older, hydraulics is it. No alternative, unless you have a very large number of very strong friends. Well done, Mr. Pete.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us mrpete. As you say an understanding wife is a must for us "tinkerers" Luckily mine is an engineer also so no problems in that department. regards from the UK
I don't know how I missed this video- I really found ig interesting that was one heck of a job! It reminded me of when I bought my SB lathe I want a smaller lathe but none could be found close by & I couldn't afford to pay shipping so I found a SB W/13" swing & 6' bed it was a great deal but it took me 4 days to move it by myself 25' over gravel and up on a slab in the back of my pole building NOT anything I'd like to do again lol if anyone reads this I'm thinking of selling to try and find a smaller one that I can put in my basement- shoot me a message if interested- Fyi mrpete helped me to make the purchase by answering a few questions before I bought it- Thanks again mrpete you were a GREAT help!
you my friend are indeed a blessed man asam i to have a wife and friendswho support you thank you for your wisdom and thank you for sharing it so freely
I too, have a tolerant wife, for which I am eternally grateful. The houses where I (or my dad) have had machines in the basement were pre-milling machine, so there was never anything larger than a SB 9" to go down the stairs except once. Somehow I found myself with a Porter-Cable brake-drum lathe (which had been poorly converted to general use) where the irreducible bed alone weighed about 800 pounds. I can't remember how we got it into the basement, but I think it involved massive muscle and lots of people (probably paid with beer - afterwards). How it came out was something else. I gave it to my friend Paul with the proviso that I have nothing to do with moving it out. He stripped the bed and stood it on end with the help of a come-along to the ceiling joists. He then rocked it and walked it over to the base of the (shored-up) stairs. There he began rocking it back and forth, slipping stacks of shims and progressively larger blocks under the bed until he could walk it onto the first step. As Tom Lipton says, "Rinse and Repeat"*. Up the 6 or 7 steps to the side-door landing and out the door, rocked/walked it across the road to his house where he reversed the process down into his own basement. All in one night, single-handed (while I slept the sleep of the determinedly innocent). ======== * "Rinse and Repeat" was (supposedly) coined by an executive of the P&G company - makers of Prell Shampoo - back in the 1950s. It essentially doubled sales. To be fair, it makes sense - the first shampooing converts the oil in your hair to soap scum; the second washes the soap scum out of your hair.
I probably used that mill at Joliet East around 1969 or 70 before my all expense paid vacation to a great jungle resort.But still machining in New Lenox.
I feel the same way about my garage workshop. When, I've passed, I've instructed my son-in-law to have a action, and it's the buyers responsibility to get it moved.
Great video it's always good to have a few strong friends willing to lend a hand. I had a piano moved to the 2nd floor of my house and I've always said the same thing it goes with the house when I sale it or it will be cut up and moved out as fire wood
My dad bought a new bridgeport I think in 1967, he was on a 2 year waiting list, I'm sure it was under $2000.00. for years he had offers to buy it for as much as twice that he paid.
Very interesting! Sure hope you get 10,000 views soon cause I'd like to hear the other stories! And also, you look a lot better than just a "shell"! You seem to be in good health which I hope you are!
We had what was supposed to be a "sealed" bid auction at my union hall on our BAs car. Everyone put their bid in an envelope and at a certain time and day, they were opened and the highest bidder won. It just so happens that the BAs nephew out bid the second highest bidder by one dollar. That's the last time I bid on anything there.
I have seen a fair amount of these for sale on Ebay since the collapse began in 2007, some at ridiculously low buy it now prices. Like can we say a J head Bport mill with several full tool chests of endmills and other accessories, all for only $2K? What has stopped me from swapping out the 110V Siegs is the thinness of the concrete floor of my basement. Also of course the need to rewire the basement electric if I bought one. I am amaed that your home's basement floor was thick enough and reinforced enough to withstand the floor load and vibration.
Haa haa Thanks for the story on the basement workshop. My kids have already informed me that all my ''junk''Lathe, milling machine powerpress , bench and floor drills etc etc , powers saws in the "27ftx16ft outside workshop will all be going in the skip. MORE FOOL THEM. I just say I don't care as I won't be needing any of it once I snuff it .But until then I will still keep 'playing ' in my retirement , fabricating and machining things that I enjoy doing.
I too am thankful for my supportive wife. She lets me buy all the tools I want, and will even stop in and pick up small tools for me when she travels out of town. Of course, I make sure she is never, ever short on money for hair and clothes. I think a good marriage is based on a few things, one of which is two people who look out for and support the other's best interests .
I would say.... Bridgeport mill for sale with house.... BTW, I love all your videos, don't stop, we will miss hearing you talk about your great life experiences....and machines etc.
I think I had the easiest moving experience of anyone. I'm in a commercial/industrial building divided into smaller units with various types of businesses, gyms, and workshops. I bought it off the guy down the hall, and it was on a roller base, we just wheeled it down the hall.
The Bridgeport in the basement, will be the best selling point. I have a tow truck, and was wondering if would be able to use it to move one. I am looking for a mill now. My Lodge and Shipley, came home on the back of my tow truck, the front wheels were ready to come off the ground, but we made it.
I love your home sale ad that is just great hilarious. @mrpete222. maybe some Lucky Soul will find that house that needs a meal nice warm comfortable area shop to work in
My 1973 BP has a Don G. Beck badge on the side same as yours. I bought it from Lost Creek Machine in Ottawa, IL. I think you have been to his shop before.
Yes, I have been there. And I bought machinery from Don G back when I was at the high school. My BP that I bought for the high school was about 1975 vintage. It was sold at the auction
Great move !!!!! I like to see a video of the new cnc machine what kind it is ect....I’m real interested cause I have a old knee Bridgeport mill , and thinking of a cnc machine .so I hope u do a video on that
Omg mr pete ..... I was watching a video of a guy moving his 1960 j head Bridgeport from Pennsylvania to Rhode island and while I’m Listening and watching this guys video you were doing a video but I couldn’t see it or find it or turn it off.....so I commented on his great video ....as you noticed ..... and It must have posted it on your video how strange ...the power of utube 😱.... I do love your videos when I went back to watch your video I couldn’t find it ....thank you mr pete c u soon
Similarly, a house was for sale with all types of lathes, mill, grinder exc. on Camano island a couple of years ago. The owner of the home owned a machinist shop that closed its doors sometime in the 70s. The family that bought it had the home torn down with a new one built, apparently he "gave" it all away to a neighbor
A friend will help you move to another residence. A really, really good friend will help you move a body. But only a truly great best friend will help you move a machine shop.
Personally I intend to live right where I am until I am dead and then I don't care what is done with my toys. A basement must be a great thing to have. Around here a basement would be full of water. I have never seen a basement in Texas, not even in the desert areas out west. Of course I have not seen all of the houses, their must be one some place. Keep on keeping on.
Some of the older homes in Dallas have basements I've been told, though never seen one. Moving here from the Midwest, it is one thing I really miss having.
We had a "fraidy hole" over in Lubbock county where I grew up. It was about the size of a small bedroom, mainly for storage and running away from storms. The access was inside the house, so technically a basement. We were on a slight rise, and the water table was 300 feet below us!! I remember one in Plainview, too. It was at my baby sitters house. I remember looking down the stairs, then suddenly I was looking up at them!!! I think she aged 10 years for every day she watched me....
yup exactly why am trying to find a benchtop rockwell ...or enco...can still move it alone...never fails guys half my age disappear when needed but if i am needed they will come and get me
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In the spirit of great minds think alike, it was c.1983 when I was running a one man HVAC company and had a commercial customer who wanted a new boiler in the basement of his building. With everything stripped off of the cast iron sections, it still weighed about 800lbs. There was a trap door on the ground floor that revealed a set of wooden stairs to the basement. I did almost exactly as you did to get the thing down there. Shored up the stairs, put planks over the treads to create a ramp, found a solid anchor point to install a large eye bolt, and used a come a long to slowly slide it down there. All of this I did solo. I reassembled it in the basement and finished the job without incident. I'd actually forgotten all about that until I saw this video.
Thanks for the memories.
👍👍👍👍
I'll watch this 3,000 more times so we can see the band saw move. You're right about the blessings of a wonderful wife. You and I share that blessing. Thank Mrs. Pete for me!
when I bought my Bridgeport Mill, it was in a basement. I bought it from an elderly lady who's husband was a retired machinist and put a shop in his basement. When he passed, she was selling everything. Me and a friend disassembled it in her basement and moved it up the stairs, thru her kitchen and into the garage. I put a4x4 at the bottom of the kitchen door frame and used a come-a-long to hoist the colum up stairs. Surprisingly, we didn't damage anything.....except I had to use a porta power to spread the door frame to get the door to close after I put it back on. we put it all in the back of a 1/2 ton Dodge van and away we went......about 25 miles. We would laugh for every time we hit a bump in the road, that old Dodge van wanted to fly! Always enjoy your videos....learned alot...Thank you.
When I was on a Rotary Club scholarship attending Ft. Lauderdale High in 1965/66 I was a member of the varsity band. For a while we tried to get our bandmaster to let us play the 1812 Overture but he never went for it. During concert season we had a guest band and wouldn‘t you know they opened with the 1812, live cannons and all! We were totally smashed! It was the „Joliet Township Highschool West Campus Concert and Marching Band“! I am a 71 year old german oral surgeon living in Mallorca/Spain for my retirement and your mentioning of that school brought a whole lot of good memories up. It‘s a small world full of memorable coincidences! Thank you for another great video with a personal touch!
Small world thank you
Mr.Pete, We are so much the same man!! I would absolutely do the very same thing, if I had a basement!! So many quality hours spent in the warmth, while it was snowing outside!! Awesome set-up, indeed!!! Thanks again, Vic!!
Thank you very much
your advertisement at the end of this vid is exactly how we advertised my uncles home, years ago.
the J head went with the house, lol. I miss that mill, and felt obligated to learn it's operation, and maintain it, to honor my uncle, who was a master machinist. I have never regeted learning that skill, and that of lathe operation as well, and found that painstaking restoration work on neglected machinery of a by gone era in this country, could bring me such meditatve tranquillity, and respect of fuctionality. I throughly enjoy your love and regard for the tooling and practical operation of these machines. you bring into focus the need for appreciating a dying art in America. Thanks for your attention to detail and amusing disdain, I might add
I would advertise. "Machine shop with a 3 bed, two bath house attached to the roof." Thanks for sharing.
lol
Great video, so often many people do not consider how to move heavy iron, I have a very heavy gun safe inside my house and I remember moving it on golf balls and the power of "French" words uttered that day along with a few strong friends, I use my garage for a shop, and have a decent lathe and small mill, when an if I move that gun safe will probably stay, ( The only reason it is still in the house is because my wife could never hope too move it out of are/her walk in closet ), I tell her on the positive side "If the house ever burns down at least are pass ports will be ok", but working in the paper industry helped learn a lot on how to move very heavy equipment, some of it was well over 20,000 lbs, but I always found it interesting how guys ended up with stuff down in there basement shop.
My dad had heavy horizontal Mill (WW2 era mill made in California) in his downstairs basement I remember he slid in down the stairs which were bolstered with timbers I was probably about 8-10 years old when it was moved in early 1960s. After my parents passed away I inherited the house with the Mill still in place. Since I already had my own bench top vertical imported mill I did not want it. The Mill was the last thing left in the house. I gave the mill to a CAD draftsman who took it out piece by piece I think it took him 2 weeks then I put my parents house on the market. My take away from that experience for my own home shop is never buy machine that takes more than 2 people to move. Thanks for allowing me to re-live my childhood experience observing my dad moving his mill.
You bring a smile to my face with this video. I too have similar treasures in my basement and have no intention to ever move them. Once I'm gone my treasures will become someone else's treasures.
I love going back and looking at these older videos. Mr. Pete I hope you are doing well and keep the videos coming.
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Hi . I also moved my bridgeport down to the basement but all by myself. Iam 70 now but that was 2 years ago. I took it all apart and the column I put duble 3/4" plywood on the stairs. I used two come-a-longs. one pushing and one pulling. I used a harborfreight one ton shop crane to lift it. My wife wants me to get it out of the basement before I am 80. It is all your fault been watching you for years and when I saw yours I wanted one.
Good job--would never even thought of doing it alone
TY. I also brought my 13" South Bend Turret lathe down myself. That was last year.
Mechanical advantage and good rigging are everything when messing about with heavy loads... I've moved stuff by myself using a chainfall and a 1 ton engine crane, along with the usual hydraulic jacks, pipe rollers and pry-bars...
One of these days I'll add come-alongs to the mix!
I had a co worker who was a retired MASTER RIGGER , 6' 3' built!! He would have picked up the parts of your mill, tucked them under an arm and danced down your stairs. No sweat. he was an artist with block and tackle. Miss him.
After watching your videos for about 10 years this week I finally bought a 1954 round ram Bridgeport, and just as you said it was no easy job to move it. It's in sad shape but I live in Brazil and those machines comes at a premium price here, and you know what restoring is half the fun really.
Yes, you will enjoy that machine and I have a lot of fun with it
The pure determination of the machinist in many regards is something to be considered and admired. Thanks for sharing.
I started to take mine apart to put in my basement but plans changed. Just sold the house and moving to a new one with a 40 x 60 shop. And the work will begin. I've got a month to move. thanks for sharing.
You are truly one of youtube's greats. I wish I had a shop teacher like you, or any shop teacher for that matter.
You do. And I do. Right here, right now.
wow. i went to an estate sale down the street from me to try to buy a bridgeport and it was in the garage. the widow said her husband tried to get it into the basement but the ceiling was too low. if it did make it into the basement i would have assumed it would have been sold with the house! thanks for all the time you put into your vids!
thank you, mr. peterson, for the great pictures of the great achievement.
also, my hat off to your lady for supporting your initiatives.
-toly
Thanks toly
Toly Dukhovny ht
Great example of what ingenuity, perseverance and good relations with family and friends can do. Many thanks!
Great story, I never appreciated how much work was involved in getting machines into a shop!
Man, you are right about having a supportive wife. My lovely wife Pat enjoys tool auctions as much as I do. Awhile back I bought a workbench with a grinder and Rock Island vise on it. The guy was getting rid of it to make room in the garage and his wife wouldn't let him bring it into the house. We got it home and into the living room temporarily...she said I like it here, let's leave it here. ❤️
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ive been listening to you for hours. your videos are all great. thanks for making them all
Thank you very much, keep watching
At 15:09 you gave the secret! My wife finally got on board. I moved a Big Joe mill like that into my shop, but it's across 100 feet of loose sand. That was a booger, but it got done. My second one was much easier. Live and learn. (And my thanks to Atlas, too!!)
I'm telling my realtor to look for a house with a mill in the basement.
Practical Engineering lmao
i guess I'm quite randomly asking but does anyone know of a good site to stream newly released movies online?
@London Andres Flixportal xD
@Kase Ezekiel Thank you, I went there and it seems to work =) Appreciate it !!
@London Andres You are welcome xD
In all the hundreds of videos that I have watched of yours, Mr Pete, I have never thought even once that the Bridgeport had to come down a flight of stairs! I take my hat off to you. May you make chips for many years yet.
An fantastic accomplishment with the space we're talking about here.
The Don G. Beck dealership in Chicago is where my Bridgeport mill came from as well. Mine is a 1973 model. Great video, thank you for sharing!
Very interesting, sir, thanks for sharing that. I, like many others, can relate as I moved my first mill into my tiny basement last Thursday. It's a smaller Enco model that weighs roughly 1,000lbs. It was quite a task, impossible without the help of some good family and neighbors to help out. I wish I had taken some pictures to show 20 years down the road!
I have he same unit that came from jersey city To my place upstate ny 140 miles almost fell off the flat bed at the factory where it cam from. We had it on 4 skates. And in an instant it was on only 3. Learned a few lesson I'll never forget...One of witch was never trust the people you don't know helping you move 2000 lbs. thank you mr pete!!
Thats scary--even dropping off the 5/8" rods scared me, like it did once.
yep it was split second decision to save it or let it fall off the deck of a flat bed 5' up in the air! ...5 of us grabbed it (and half were screaming let fall) we righted it... and as per my suggestion we got it off the skates and dragged it 10' to the spot on the truck's deck where it was chained for the 140 mile ride..
I had made a set of skates once (not very good ones either), They made me uneasy as they raised the machine too far off the ground. My neighbor Tommy is in such a hurry when helping, that I don't want him around--he's too eager!!
hahah i know the type!! trust and often just 2men is the best.. and only one with the ideas!!!
"and only one with the ideas!!!" is the best thing to say. I am planning to move a 4000 kg bridgemill alone by dismantling and using machinery. Hopefully I don't kill myself in the process.
I solved the problem of a reluctant wife by making it her shop. Now I am frequently asked "what is that, when did I get it and how much did it cost?" I noticed your Acu Rite dro. There is a AcuRite Master MP on my wife's Bridgeport. I sure could use a vid on programming it. The manual assumes more than I have to work with. It is confusing. I Enjoy your vids immensely, you and your followers are quite entertaining. I am just down the pike a piece in west central IL.
I may have said this before, but the guy I got my lathe from is 97! He might still be doing metal work if he hadn't sold his house. At your age Mr. Pete you may out live most of the guys asking "what are you going to do with your stuff when...." Thanks for the vids.
Well I'm a fortunate man as well. My wife is pushing me to buy a lathe and milling machine, she knows it's my passion. My misses and I build a 34' x 40' garage with 12' walls 3-1/2 years ago so I can't wait to get some machines in there but they are so expensive or it's 575V. Thanks for your videos.
👍👍👍
Thanks for recognizing your wife for your toys! A good wife is a blessing to have.
Hi Dan--Yes, a blessing indeed. Your kitchen must be done by now?
I bought my first Bridgeport mill in 1969,i was 19 years old and i had to wait 23 months to get it.It cost me $3000.00 with all the extra accessories. Chrome ways,oil systems, swivelbase vise,collets,2lights,, etc etc, etc
Hi Mr. Pete, I love all your videos, keep up the great work. By the way, a series 1 Bridgeport with a 9x42 table weighs 2100 lbs. Having worked on both Bridgeport and South Bend mills, the Bridgeport is far more accurate and robust in all aspects. Your milling machine choice has greatly improved project success.
Thank you for that
Good video I have a walkout & have been looking for a Bridgeport too replace my Rong Fu . Always enjoy your videos& sense of humor Thanks for all you have done.
THANK YOU...for sharing. Forty-three years of support here. :)
I had to take a double take when I saw you on the video - wow - good to see you and as always thanks for sharing your great knowledge
I am in the process of doing exactly what you did. I built my house with a 4 foot wide staitway to the basement along with a ramp going into the garage to the basement.
That was smart planning, I just had to make it work.
Great video. I can admire the work it takes to do something like that, but I still think you 'basement guys' are nuts. I'd probably build an extension to the house before I tried moving one of those machines into a basement.
GREAT!!! .....I enjoyed the adventure of your prime years....keep them coming...thanks...Jeff
I just acquired-and moved-a circa 1940 Kempsmith No 1 Universal vertical milling machine-2750 pounds. The place I bought it from used a gantry hoist to put it on the trailer. From there I was on my own. The good thing is that I have a ground floor shop and using time, gravity and some 1 inch pipe, the beast now lives in my shop and is waiting for me to clean it up and make something.
Thanks for sharing Mr. Pete, we love your videos. Thanks for taking the time to teach.
Love it. I had a similar problem; twice actually. I have a 1937 Avey drill press. The table is actually larger than most mills. Three columns. Did it just like you, in pieces. It too, will go with the house. It's a great machine but far bigger than I need. Same as you, I got on a sealed bid. I'd hate to leave it behind because it is the smoothest, truest drill press I've ever used, but we're looking at moving in a couple of years and I can't take everything. My Southbend lathe will make the trip though.
Lol " hey Sharon " shut that dog up lol , I really love watching your videos , even the older ones more then once
Thank you, keep watching
After my parents moved out of their house, I single handedly moved a large player piano out of their basement. The stairway was set up like yours and I could back my trailer and truck in front of the exterior door. Using ropes and come-alongs, grooved planks for the wheel to guide in, I managed it in just an hour or so (of course, that doesn't count the many hours of planning it in my head and all the prep work)
Tubalcain, I think the add for the house should read more like.... Bridgeport for sale, includes three bedrooms, 2 car garage and fireplace. Located on a quiet street, must see to appreciate. Priced to sell at $259,999. I'm currently restoring one, plan has always been to move it into basement too. With how long that's taking me.... I just hope I can finish the restoration before I can't move it anymore! Thanks for the video. Take Care, Pete
nice to see the face behind the voice!
Back when you moved that mill, not so many hydraulics for the homeowner. Maybe today, a cherry-picker could have done it. I say hydraulics beats muscle every time. But as you get older, hydraulics is it. No alternative, unless you have a very large number of very strong friends. Well done, Mr. Pete.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us mrpete. As you say an understanding wife is a must for us "tinkerers" Luckily mine is an engineer also so no problems in that department. regards from the UK
Thanks for sharing. All your videos are great. Gonna be a bigger deal when someone wants to move the BP mill OUT of the basement I think.
lol - Thanks for watching
I don't know how I missed this video- I really found ig interesting that was one heck of a job! It reminded me of when I bought my SB lathe I want a smaller lathe but none could be found close by & I couldn't afford to pay shipping so I found a SB W/13" swing & 6' bed it was a great deal but it took me 4 days to move it by myself 25' over gravel and up on a slab in the back of my pole building NOT anything I'd like to do again lol if anyone reads this I'm thinking of selling to try and find a smaller one that I can put in my basement- shoot me a message if interested- Fyi mrpete helped me to make the purchase by answering a few questions before I bought it- Thanks again mrpete you were a GREAT help!
you my friend are indeed a blessed man asam i to have a wife and friendswho support you thank you for your wisdom and thank you for sharing it so freely
I too, have a tolerant wife, for which I am eternally grateful. The houses where I (or my dad) have had machines in the basement were pre-milling machine, so there was never anything larger than a SB 9" to go down the stairs except once. Somehow I found myself with a Porter-Cable brake-drum lathe (which had been poorly converted to general use) where the irreducible bed alone weighed about 800 pounds. I can't remember how we got it into the basement, but I think it involved massive muscle and lots of people (probably paid with beer - afterwards). How it came out was something else.
I gave it to my friend Paul with the proviso that I have nothing to do with moving it out. He stripped the bed and stood it on end with the help of a come-along to the ceiling joists. He then rocked it and walked it over to the base of the (shored-up) stairs. There he began rocking it back and forth, slipping stacks of shims and progressively larger blocks under the bed until he could walk it onto the first step. As Tom Lipton says, "Rinse and Repeat"*. Up the 6 or 7 steps to the side-door landing and out the door, rocked/walked it across the road to his house where he reversed the process down into his own basement. All in one night, single-handed (while I slept the sleep of the determinedly innocent).
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* "Rinse and Repeat" was (supposedly) coined by an executive of the P&G company - makers of Prell Shampoo - back in the 1950s. It essentially doubled sales. To be fair, it makes sense - the first shampooing converts the oil in your hair to soap scum; the second washes the soap scum out of your hair.
I probably used that mill at Joliet East around 1969 or 70 before my all expense paid vacation to a great jungle resort.But still machining in New Lenox.
Thank you for your service
Thank you again Mr.Peterson. i really do enjoy your vids so much.
I feel the same way about my garage workshop. When, I've passed, I've instructed my son-in-law to have a action, and it's the buyers responsibility to get it moved.
Great video it's always good to have a few strong friends willing to lend a hand. I had a piano moved to the 2nd floor of my house and I've always said the same thing it goes with the house when I sale it or it will be cut up and moved out as fire wood
I bought a B/P from an ebay seller in Indiana last summer and low and behold it also has the Don G Beck placard on it also.
Awesome. I moved a Bridgeport clone a few of feet by myself with a forklift. Scary as hell.
Thanks for the show ,please add more machinery installation videos.
My dad bought a new bridgeport I think in 1967, he was on a 2 year waiting list, I'm sure it was under $2000.00. for years he had offers to buy it for as much as twice that he paid.
So now I tell my wife, "see, I'm not the only person who moves this stuff around on pipes and crowbars." Lol Thanks for sharing.
WOW That Bridgeport is Gorgeous! I will buy your house and all the contents in the basement. :)
Very interesting! Sure hope you get 10,000 views soon cause I'd like to hear the other stories! And also, you look a lot better than just a "shell"! You seem to be in good health which I hope you are!
We had what was supposed to be a "sealed" bid auction at my union hall on our BAs car. Everyone put their bid in an envelope and at a certain time and day, they were opened and the highest bidder won. It just so happens that the BAs nephew out bid the second highest bidder by one dollar. That's the last time I bid on anything there.
It was fixed--like everything in Washington
Love those pictures, thanks for sharing.
I have seen a fair amount of these for sale on Ebay since the collapse began in 2007, some at ridiculously low buy it now prices. Like can we say a J head Bport mill with several full tool chests of endmills and other accessories, all for only $2K? What has stopped me from swapping out the 110V Siegs is the thinness of the concrete floor of my basement. Also of course the need to rewire the basement electric if I bought one. I am amaed that your home's basement floor was thick enough and reinforced enough to withstand the floor load and vibration.
Nice video as usual, it's good to see you once in a while . If I ever decide to move from uk to USA , I'm considering buying your house :))))
Bobby.
Getting awfully close to those 10,000 views. Hope you got the next machinery moving video ready!
Haa haa Thanks for the story on the basement workshop. My kids have already informed me that all my ''junk''Lathe, milling machine powerpress , bench and floor drills etc etc , powers saws in the "27ftx16ft outside workshop will all be going in the skip. MORE FOOL THEM. I just say I don't care as I won't be needing any of it once I snuff it .But until then I will still keep 'playing ' in my retirement , fabricating and machining things that I enjoy doing.
Where there is a will.....there is a way!...enjoyed
I too am thankful for my supportive wife. She lets me buy all the tools I want, and will even stop in and pick up small tools for me when she travels out of town. Of course, I make sure she is never, ever short on money for hair and clothes. I think a good marriage is based on a few things, one of which is two people who look out for and support the other's best interests .
I would say.... Bridgeport mill for sale with house.... BTW, I love all your videos, don't stop, we will miss hearing you talk about your great life experiences....and machines etc.
I think I had the easiest moving experience of anyone. I'm in a commercial/industrial building divided into smaller units with various types of businesses, gyms, and workshops. I bought it off the guy down the hall, and it was on a roller base, we just wheeled it down the hall.
love a chance to see that add.. your a great teacher.
The Bridgeport in the basement, will be the best selling point. I have a tow truck, and was wondering if would be able to use it to move one. I am looking for a mill now. My Lodge and Shipley, came home on the back of my tow truck, the front wheels were ready to come off the ground, but we made it.
Yes--a tow truck moved a BP for me once. The hook held it upright--the thingamajigs at the bottom held the weight. Moved it 5 miles.
thingamajigs LOL wheel lift. It is amazing what you can move with a little imagination.
I love your home sale ad that is just great hilarious. @mrpete222. maybe some Lucky Soul will find that house that needs a meal nice warm comfortable area shop to work in
lol
And I thought moving my 9" southbend into the basement along with squaring shears and pyramid rollers. Impressive.
You are indeed a fortunate man!
My 1973 BP has a Don G. Beck badge on the side same as yours. I bought it from Lost Creek Machine in Ottawa, IL. I think you have been to his shop before.
Yes, I have been there. And I bought machinery from Don G back when I was at the high school. My BP that I bought for the high school was about 1975 vintage. It was sold at the auction
I have a “ little” Grizzly benchtop mll in my shop in the basement. It weighs 680 lbs and was a beast to install!
Yes in deed
Great move !!!!! I like to see a video of the new cnc machine what kind it is ect....I’m real interested cause I have a old knee Bridgeport mill , and thinking of a cnc machine .so I hope u do a video on that
I do not have a CNC machine. Where did you hear that
Omg mr pete ..... I was watching a video of a guy moving his 1960 j head Bridgeport from Pennsylvania to Rhode island and while I’m Listening and watching this guys video you were doing a video but I couldn’t see it or find it or turn it off.....so I commented on his great video ....as you noticed ..... and It must have posted it on your video how strange ...the power of utube 😱.... I do love your videos when I went back to watch your video I couldn’t find it ....thank you mr pete c u soon
Hahaha i would love to see a house for sale with a brideport mill mentioned in the add. Great video
Wonderful Lyle.....wonderful !!
Thats a beautiful machine. Thank you for sharing.
Similarly, a house was for sale with all types of lathes, mill, grinder exc. on Camano island a couple of years ago. The owner of the home owned a machinist shop that closed its doors sometime in the 70s. The family that bought it had the home torn down with a new one built, apparently he "gave" it all away to a neighbor
Wish I was the neighbor
A friend will help you move to another residence. A really, really good friend will help you move a body. But only a truly great best friend will help you move a machine shop.
Epic... This goes down in youtube history
13:30 Signs of Vandalism From being in a High School My Old Votech Instructor used to Call it Studentized Machines
THAT WAS A HECK OF AN UNDERTAKING!!!
It was, but I was young
mrpete222 That makes a BIG difference-!!!
Greatly inspiring story, thanks a lot!
Like the old solid slate pool table that comes with the house......
I'll be looking for that listing. Think of the work that'll save moving a mill into the basement.
I worry about getting machines up 4 steps with good access all around, you must have a gold medal in machine moving.
Personally I intend to live right where I am until I am dead and then I don't care what is done with my toys. A basement must be a great thing to have. Around here a basement would be full of water. I have never seen a basement in Texas, not even in the desert areas out west. Of course I have not seen all of the houses, their must be one some place. Keep on keeping on.
Some of the older homes in Dallas have basements I've been told, though never seen one. Moving here from the Midwest, it is one thing I really miss having.
We had a "fraidy hole" over in Lubbock county where I grew up. It was about the size of a small bedroom, mainly for storage and running away from storms. The access was inside the house, so technically a basement. We were on a slight rise, and the water table was 300 feet below us!!
I remember one in Plainview, too. It was at my baby sitters house. I remember looking down the stairs, then suddenly I was looking up at them!!! I think she aged 10 years for every day she watched me....
What part?..my shop is in the Houston area (coarsely speaking). Have enjoyed your content & thinking about starting a channel myself.
madness!
someones got to get that out one day too!
Nice to put a face to the name, after watching n-hundred of your videos. :)
yup exactly why am trying to find a benchtop rockwell ...or enco...can still move it alone...never fails guys half my age disappear when needed but if i am needed they will come and get me