How Do They Deliver A Big Lathe To Your Residence?

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mchech

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
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84
Location
Meadville PA
I've done my research and decided the time has come to upgrade to a Jet 1642 or a Powermatic 3520. As these rigs are shipped factory direct I can't seem to get a definite answer as to method. After speaking to 4 different online vendors I've heard everything from 18 wheeler to small box truck with a lift gate. I need the package landed on my driveway which would be near impossible for an 18 wheeler. I'll drag the box into my garage and haul the individual pieces down the stairs to my shop. Please share your experience? Thanks

Note: I am about 90% certain of doing the Jet 1642-2 but who knows. If I can get enough change rolled up I'll consider the PM. I just had a 220 volt line ran to the basement so I am going 2 hp. I fear the weight of the bed on the 3520 is a bit much to handle to the basement or it would be a 50-50 thing. I'm sitting back waiting for a sale and trying to tie up loose ends.
 
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A friend of mine recently bought a Robust lathe. Around $8,k. The delivery would only be to the foot of his driveway as the weight is enough that dropping the pallet elsewhere has been known to crack paving stones etc. He had to move it from there to wherever he wanted it. He did have a garage level shop, so no basement problem, but he still had to use a pallet jack and a few friends to horse it around. He likes this lathe more than words can describe!!
 
Usually, delivery is to your driveway. No father. I even had one trucker tell me all he had to do was roll my product off the flat bed. Then it was mine. I told him if he dropped it, I refused shipment.
Don't sign anything till it is in your driveway and off the truck. I got burned one time because I sign the paper and then it was mine. I had to unload the shipment.

I would like to see some pictures of it getting in the basement. Hope that you have lots of help and a winch.
 
My PM 3520 was delivered in a large cargo truck ( they switched it from a 18 wheeler at their depot ). They unloaded it in the street but the guy used his cart to move it into my garage. I was prepared to offer a tip if he moved it to my garage for me. I suppose this would depend on the delivery person, traffic on the street, your driveway, etc.

I put my PM3520 in my basement workshop, although the basement door is in the garage and I only have about 8 steps to navigate. I had a helper and it went down in the basement ( prior to assembly ) with no problems.
 
Last experience I had with the delivery of a large item, was shipment from Anderson Windows several years ago. 3- 6' X 8' window unite 14 single window units, and 3 sets of patio doors for replacement in my house. It came in the 18 wheeler direct from the factory with fair warning of its arrival time. Since they were not replacing the window frames, they only shipped the glass units themselves. My house is 310 ft off the road with a 16 ft wide driveway turning into a 55' X 40' turnaround at the house. Semi driver said he could not make the turn into the driveway, and would have to unload on the road. No helper, no tail gate lift, do pallet lift to move window. Solution: driver removed all palleting from the windows and moved the units to the rear of the truck. I had one of my sons there to help me, so we went and got one of the garden tractors and the 5' X 9' utility trailer, and backed it up to the rear of the truck. The driver slid the units over the edge and my son and I set them down in the trailer. Backed the trailer in one stall of the garage, took the units out of their boxes, stained what needed to be, and waited for the installers to replace the windows. There is a very bright side to this story however !! Anderson Windows replaced over $14,000 worth of windows at no cost to me because they were 3 months short of their 20 year garentee date. Only cost was the $250.00 I gave the two guys that installed them in a single day on both stories. Usualy the trucking firms are responsable to deliver your item to your door, or to the end of your driveway. It's your responsabilty to remove it from the truck if they don't have a lift and get it to the point you want it. You can pay extra to have it placed where you want it, but this is usualy arrainged ahead of time. Jim S
 
Not a lathe, but I once had a 700# King Kutter tiller delivered that way. I made sure to specify that delivery had to be made via box truck with a lift gate and that it had to be placed on my driveway such that I could get to it with my tractor. I suggested that they should send 2 people, but the driver showed up alone and I wasn't home at the time. My wife said that he had a heckova time wrestling the crate onto the lift gate and then off to the side of the driveway where I wanted it placed. Bottom line - make sure you specify your delivery requirements when you place the order & don't accept delivery unless they comply.
 
All my large tools were delivered by a big rig. Although delivery "officially" was suppose to be at the curbside, each driver was nice enough to use their portable forklift device to move the pallet to my garage. I tipped each for making my life a little easier.
 
mchech said:
I've done my research and decided the time has come to upgrade to a Jet 1642 or a Powermatic 3520. As these rigs are shipped factory direct I can't seem to get a definite answer as to method. After speaking to 4 different online vendors I've heard everything from 18 wheeler to small box truck with a lift gate. I need the package landed on my driveway which would be near impossible for an 18 wheeler. I'll drag the box into my garage and haul the individual pieces down the stairs to my shop. Please share your experience? Thanks

Note: I am about 90% certain of doing the Jet 1642-2 but who knows. If I can get enough change rolled up I'll consider the PM. I just had a 220 volt line ran to the basement so I am going 2 hp. I fear the weight of the bed on the 3520 is a bit much to handle to the basement or it would be a 50-50 thing. I'm sitting back waiting for a sale and trying to tie up loose ends.
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I have a Jet 1442 and had it delivered to my home when I bought it. It weighs almost 400 pounds so getting it down to your basement will be a chore. It comes in pieces (bed, headstock, tailstock) but is still heavy. As far as getting it to your garage the majority of delivery drivers use a pallet jack to unload and will be happy to back up as far as they are capable with their truck and roll it to wherever you want as long as you simply ask them nicely (gravel or dirt driveways not included). Wave a couple of bills around when you ask....they will appreciate it.
Enjoy the new lathe.....
 
Here's a video of Carl Jacobsen assembling his new Powermatic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2D_f7tx46o&list=UUirYSGBqwN5V0wxP72fuUGg

I think he said in a previous video that he picked it up at the dealer in his own truck. Note that he has a lift for the large parts.

I thought it was humorous that the lathe was almost completely assembled before we saw him or his wife looking at the instruction book!
 
Same experience with my Robust. 18 wheeler in the middle of the street, off tailgate on portable forklift and delivered to threshold of my garage. Direct from pallet to inside garage and put in position. Tips are definitely appreciated by drivers............Special thanks to Brent & Deb English at Robust for how they arrange excellent transportation and delivery.
gordon


Boss302 said:
All my large tools were delivered by a big rig. Although delivery "officially" was suppose to be at the curbside, each driver was nice enough to use their portable forklift device to move the pallet to my garage. I tipped each for making my life a little easier.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the replies so far. When purchasing an item like this the #1 problem should be clearing it through SWMBO. #2 should be financing the project. I have 1 & 2 all good to go. If they land the package on my road or driveway I can drag it to the garage by atv or tractor on my blacktopped driveway. I can muster the help to get it to the basement and assembled. That does not require friends being on call 24-7 to manhandle 500 to 750 pounds off the back of a semi as one vendor suggested. All it takes is a case or so of adult beverage kept cold and some phone work to schedule.
 
When I bought my lathe, a Jet1442, I picked it up at the local Woodcraft store in my little Range pick up... I was able to back up to within about 6 or 8 feet of my shop door and opened the package in the truck, schlepped each piece down out of the truck and into the shop... the legs and ways each weight about 50-70 lbs... the head stock in a little under 80 lbs or so... it was actually the hardest piece to move around... heave and awkward... fortunately I had no steps to go down, and only 2 steps up into my shop. My local friend has the 1642 and I'm thinking it's not all that much heavier than my 1442.... don't know about the powermatic... it does look heavier.
 
Get the Powermatic or you will regret buying the Jet in a year and want to upgrade again.
3 people in my club have recently bought 3520's and we have all helped each other get them down the stairs. 3 friends should do it.
 
TellicoTurning said:
When I bought my lathe, a Jet1442, I picked it up at the local Woodcraft store in my little Range pick up... I was able to back up to within about 6 or 8 feet of my shop door and opened the package in the truck, schlepped each piece down out of the truck and into the shop... the legs and ways each weight about 50-70 lbs... the head stock in a little under 80 lbs or so... it was actually the hardest piece to move around... heave and awkward... fortunately I had no steps to go down, and only 2 steps up into my shop. My local friend has the 1642 and I'm thinking it's not all that much heavier than my 1442.... don't know about the powermatic... it does look heavier.
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Unfortunately there are no woodworking tool stores in my area. It's internet vendor and direct factory shipping or nothing.
 
Woodcraft was awesome!
UPS Freight Pro...well they sucked!
If your new lathe shows up via UPS Freight Pro, have a camera handy to document the damage!!!!



Scott (I won't let them deliver to me) B
 
I just moved my new Powermatic from the Phoenix Convention Center to my home in a pickup. If you take it apart, and it will be apart when you get it. Its not that bad to move. Two half way strong guys can do it. The heaviest parts are the bed and the head assembly.
 
mchech said:
I've done my research and decided the time has come to upgrade to a Jet 1642 or a Powermatic 3520. As these rigs are shipped factory direct I can't seem to get a definite answer as to method. After speaking to 4 different online vendors I've heard everything from 18 wheeler to small box truck with a lift gate. I need the package landed on my driveway which would be near impossible for an 18 wheeler. I'll drag the box into my garage and haul the individual pieces down the stairs to my shop. Please share your experience? Thanks

Note: I am about 90% certain of doing the Jet 1642-2 but who knows. If I can get enough change rolled up I'll consider the PM. I just had a 220 volt line ran to the basement so I am going 2 hp. I fear the weight of the bed on the 3520 is a bit much to handle to the basement or it would be a 50-50 thing. I'm sitting back waiting for a sale and trying to tie up loose ends.
Click to expand...
They are usually shipped as freight and the shipper does not normally have much control over what size truck it shows up in. I've had stuff delivered in cargo box and 18 wheelers. Residential deliveries are specified to the curb and off the truck, it will often be on a pallet. Depending on the truck there might be an hand operated lift to move the pallet with and every driver I've had dropping things off was willing to move the pallet for me. I have a walkout basement and one driver was willing to move it to my patio so all I had to do was get it through the door. Another willingly moved a large unpalleted item into my house.....
 
Spend the extra on the PM. You will not regret it....

I bought mine just over a year ago and it came via semi. The driver unloaded it with a pallet jack at the end of my driveway and then helped me haul it up my driveway thru 4" of fresh snow. I did give him a $20 tip (which he refused at first). Then I hauled most of the small pieces up 3 stairs and then down 13 stairs to the basement. I was able to haul most of it myself but had a neighbor help with the bigger stuff. I did most of the assembly myself but had a helper for the big things.

Again, get the PM!
 
alankulwicki7 said:
Spend the extra on the PM. You will not regret it....

I bought mine just over a year ago and it came via semi. The driver unloaded it with a pallet jack at the end of my driveway and then helped me haul it up my driveway thru 4" of fresh snow. I did give him a $20 tip (which he refused at first). Then I hauled most of the small pieces up 3 stairs and then down 13 stairs to the basement. I was able to haul most of it myself but had a neighbor help with the bigger stuff. I did most of the assembly myself but had a helper for the big things.

Again, get the PM!
Click to expand...

Oh I am thinking about the PM. A lot of it depends on what the sale prices look like.
 
You gotta get the powermatic. I got mine about 2 years ago. The semi showed up and the guy in the truck volunteered to use the pallet jack to get the lathe down my 150' gravel driveway and into my shop. He said he didn't mind helping and wanted to see my shop... I couldn't believe how nice he was about it. I assembled it by myself ( that sucked).
I bought mine from equipment sales and surplus from ebay. They are a jet/powermatic overstock dealer. They have a powermatic for sale/best offer on ebay right now. I would send them a low offer and see where you land. I bought mine for $3150 shipped to my door.
About six months after I got the powermatic I bought a grizzly 12x36 metal lathe (weighted in at 300lbs more than the powermatic and shipped in one piece). The SAME driver delivered it. He once again volunteered to help me get the lathe to the shop and was an awesome help.
About 6 months ago I bought the new powermatic drill press. I had moved and had an even worse setup in terms of getting tools to my shop. The guy who showed up was a different driver... and boy was he fun. I asked hime to help me get the drill press (keep in mind it wasn't THAT heavy compared to the other two tools... only about 300lbs) to my shop and he grunted a couple times, pulled it to the front of my shop and handed me the paper and walked over got in his truck and left. He couldn't have been more unfriendly or less helpful.
Bottom line is its a crapshoot. You should plan for the worse and hope you a get a "happy" driver.
You gotta get the powermatic. I've used both and the powermatic is head and shoulders a better machine... even though they are made by the same company.
 
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