I need some help moving my press.

Hello there!

I have a C&P 8 x 12 and I need to move it out of my parents’ basement. Is there anyone in the NY/Long Island area that can assist?

I think I’ve figured out how I’m going to get it up the 7 or 8 steps, but it needs to be taken apart in 2 pieces, and I’m not sure how to do that. I’m also not strong enough to do that, as I’m a tiny lady.

Any help would be appreciated!

Sarah Smith

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Sarah: I can’t help you in person…I’m just too far away and headed in the other direction. Taking a 8x12 apart isn’t overly difficult; just be sure that is what you *need* to do. A C&P can be a bit narrower when closed front-to-back than side-to-side.

But if you do need to take it apart, there are a number of descriptions of how to do that in the archives. Basically you remove the flywheel (with the shaft attached), remove the sidearms and roller arms, remove thin ink system, and lower the bed (it won’t go all the way to the floor and needs to be propped up on some blocks of wood) so that the bottom shaft can be removed, thus removing the bed. Don’t try to take it any further; that’s where it gets “interesting.”

Thanks Arie. Lowering the bed is the part that scares me. If I remember correctly, it’s extremely heavy and I don’t want to drop and break anything. Do you know if there are press movers I could hire for the day?

The bed is heavy (around 300 or 400 lbs, I think) but you only need to support one end. The easiest way is to loop a strap around the two bed projections that lead up to the ink table and lower it using the strap from in front of the press. If there is a handy post nearby then you could also put the strap around that and use it as a pulley. If there’s a way to use a come-along to lower the bed, do that. Make sure to pre-position some wood blocks where the bed will come near the floor. The legs of the frame will prevent the bed from going all the way to the floor, but you want to prop it up to avoid it banging to the floor when you drive out the hinging shaft.

That reminds me I forgot to add above that you need to remove the throw-off arm and saddle so it won’t get damaged when the bed is lowered. You need to mark the saddle orientation and note which bolt goes in the top hole of the saddle…they’re not the same. If you take the back shaft out of the bed to make it lighter to lower, then also mark left and right on it, so you get it right when you put it all back together. I’ve found this is the trickiest part of reassembly of a C&P (backshaft/throw-off saddle). Just about everywhere else parts fit only one way, or there is an obvious clue as to orientation (such as oil holes never face down).

Its always a good idea to have two people around when moving. taking apart or putting back together heavy stuff. If nothing else, the second person can call for help. I’ve done it by myself, but my wife was usually in the house. You and a sturdy friend should be able to do it if you take it slowly and think through all the steps to minimize muscle and maximize mechanical advantage.

I don’t know any riggers in your area, but call around to print shops and ask. The yellow pages section here on Briar Press should list some near you. Tow truck operators have also been very useful to me in the past.