Be careful handling computer racks

On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 2:20 PM, William Donzelli <wdonzelli at gmail.com> wrote: In the woodworking groups, we talk about this stuff all the time. People frequently have wood shops in their basement and have to get new machines down the stairs. The only advice I can offer is what the woodworking people do. Frequently, they disassemble machines as much as possible. They remove motors and cast iron tables and carry the pieces to the basement. The other thing they do is use engine cranes. I have a fold-up engine crane and a flat trailer. I was able to move all of the big machines in my shop in about a day. It's scary seeing a 500lb machine suspended a couple feet in the air, but it works well assuming you've tied it up correctly. And it's only scary because you're risking the machine. You're not actually under it. The only drama I had was my own fault. I didn't realize (seems obvious now) that the 1000lb rating means different things for lifting straps, towing straps, and tie-down straps. I used the tie-down variety to lift an 80 gallon compressor (the size of a fridge). I lifted it onto the trailer, moved it, then lifted it off of the trailer and had it 2 feet from it's intended resting place when the metal part of the strap broke. Luckily, it only dropped an inch to the concrete and let down slowly as the strap unraveled. 10 minutes earlier, it had been 2 feet in the air. brian