Moving and Cleaning a 8x12 C&P Press

my partner and i just purchased a beautiful 8x12 C&P press from a wonderful guy in alexandria, va. it is in perfect working condition — but we now have to figure out how to move it from his basement to our studio (both with steep stairs and bout 30 miles away) and then clean it up a bit so it shines in it’s new home. does anyone out their have either a moving or cleaning recommendation for us?

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I just moved a C & P 8 X 12 Old Series into my walk-in basement. I only had one step to go down; I would not have attempted to take it down a steep staircase. Anyway, I brought the platen and bed together and wired the press closed. I removed the small gear on the right, and the bolt-on plate on the left, to remove the flywheel and main shaft as one unit. I removed the ink disc and feedboard. The press was loaded into the pickup truck, and unloaded from it, with lengths of half-inch water pipe, oak planks and a cable come-along. Make sure the steps are strong enough to support the press and don’t stand where you could be hurt if it gets away from you. I think the 8 X 12 weighs somewhere between 800 and 1,000 pounds; your New Series press is probably heavier.

I’ve moved one of these three times. Since I don’t have access to heavy equipment, in each case I’ve dismantled the press as much as possible. As Kevin noted, you can pull out the main shaft and flywheel. You can also remove bolts and lift out the platen—but it’s a heavy piece. I have even driven out the bearing shaft at the lower rear and removed the entire back half of the press, which makes it fairly easy to handle. You would want to make sure not to mushroom the end of the shaft when driving it out. Taking the press apart also gives you access for cleaning with a brush and mineral spirits or possibly something like TSP to remove grease and oil. Of course, then you have to put it back together!
One thing you’ll want to be careful with, if you decide to move the press in one piece, is to secure the treadle. The treadle can’t be removed, as far as I know, without driving out the shaft I mentioned. If you don’t secure it, it could drop and either get in the way, injure someone or something, or get broken.
I don’t know if anyone else would recommend this kind of dismantling, but it has worked for me—moving this exact press in and out of three different basements, and down or up at least 10 steps each time.
Connor