I was hoping someone else has purchased a large air compressor and found an easy (or hard) but safe way to get the compressor off of the pallet that it arrives on.

I got a 7.5 HP IR, which arrived bolted to a standard pallet. I think it weighs about 700-800 lbs. I used a tractor to get it into the garage, but had to manually get it over to where its going to get installed, as the tractor won't fit in my garage. So far, I've managed to unbolt it from the pallet, and I used large furniture clamps to pull it to the edge of the pallet. My plan was to get one of the legs off the edge of the pallet onto a block, then try to remove the pallet from the rear legs by (somehow) sliding it out backwards and transition the rear two compressor legs onto blocks. My blocks have a couple of layers, so then I would remove one layer leg-by-leg, effectively then putting it on ground level.

This compressor is extremely top-heavy, so its easy to see how things could go very wrong. If one leg were to slip, down it would go I think.

Anybody else done this ?

Thanks

-Kevin

I have a 60 gal compressor I bought used that was still bolted to the pallet. I left it that way as it makes a good isolator between the floor and the compressor. Since I didn't want to bolt it to the floor I rigged up earthquake straps like those used on water heaters to secure it from tipping over. I'm really glad I left mine on the pallet, it makes the moisture drain easier to get at...

You can use tie downs around the tank hooked to lag bolts into wall studs to keep the unit from falling over as you jimmy it off the pallet. Play it safe and have a buddy or neighbor come over for a beer and to give you a hand to make it much easier to wrestle with...

Thanks; I thought about leaving it on the pallet, but the location makes that bad. I could cut it down, but structurally, it might not be good and even the minimum size is too big.

But I like your idea of strapping it to something. Its near a wall now with steel supports, so that would provide another margin of safety. I had not thought of that and its why I asked before going further. I paid extra for the automatic drain thingie, which is good except they preinstall it and it makes for something else to make it harder to get off the pallet.

What I need is a good 'skyhook'...

-Kevin

Where in Texas are you located??? Update your profile with your city so we know where your at....

As Mike said, ya might get some offers of help if we knew where ya where at.

You could get a comealong like this...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Comealong.jpg/308px-Comealong.jpg

Years ago I built a rope and pully sling for removing a camper shell from my truck and storing up under the rafters so I could park under it. You could improvise something with pullys to spread the weight out across several roof joists if you feel the compressor is too heavy to lift off of just one.

I have one of those and have added that to my plan. There is a beam right above the compressor and I am attaching my come-a-long and probably two heavy tie-downs. That way, it won't be able to fall over, at least in theory. But my roof support can probably only take about 300 lbs, but at least that solves my main problem: how to keep from ruining my new compressor when it falls over and squashes someone.

Profile updated: I'm near San Antonio.

-Kevin

Add some temporary 2x4 or 4x4 supports from the exposed beam down to the floor. Hoist it up with the come-along slide out the pallet.

How about using an engine hoist ?

How about using an engine hoist ?

I'm for the hoist, I used one to assemble a 4 post heavy lift.

I thought of using my engine hoist, but it does not have enough 'up' lift. I would need at least about 7'. A bobcat would probably work, but I don't have one handy, and it would leave black marks on my floor.

Right now, I have the roof supported on a 4" pipe. I made a loop over the top of the compressor to an eye-bolt to the roof 'rafter' connect to my come-a-long but my metal garage framing is not strong enough to support more than about 300-400 lbs. So my entire setup is only to be used in case something goes wrong with getting it off the pallet. And even then, it won't hold the weight.

One problem with the IR compressor, is that they don't provide any lifting points at all, and creating one is very difficult.

My best plan right now is to support each of the three pads on the compressor from under the pallet, then cut the $%#$@#$ pallet away, and gradually reduce the height on my shims until I'm at ground level. Seems safe enough...If you don't hear how it went, then I guess it went badly...

-Kevin

Well, professionals that set huge presses use ice. It just melts away and leaves them on the floor.

Redneck all the way...tie a rope to the pallet and floor your truck. I bet the pallet pops right out. Just make sure you put it right where you want it first.:thumbsup::D Seriously how about building a gradual ramp and pulling it off with some power. Or just a few tough guys.

Use a 4x4 or bigger to span 2 or more of your trusses then hang your come along to that. It will distribute the weight so you don't just stress the one truss.

Humm....I have a 60 gallon. I left the pallet on mine as well for extra stability and vibration control. Mine was loaded in the back of my truck and I had to unload it by myself. I ended up lowering in on it's side, backed my truck in the ditch by my driveway, and slid it off the tail gate and then stood it upright. There I just had to "shimmy" it into the garage.

Seems like your plan of attack would be the best with eliminating a layer of the block at a time. Keep us in the loop how it goes.

Did this a construction site. Get a buddy, slide two 2X4's under the motor mount and between the tank and pick it up! It's a tall tank I suppose so use your shoulders!

I just took my 60 gal vertical off the pallet using an engine hoist. Have you tried it, you may be surprised how high they go..

I rented a peske moving truck with a lift gate, it cost me $60.00, backed my truck up to it and transfered the unit, lowere it down and rocked it back and forth into place, it was an 80 gallon eaton.

My engine hoist would not go that high. What I wound up doing was putting multi-layer supports under the legs while on the pallet, then I cut the pallet away, just leaving the supports. I then removed individual layers of the supports under each leg, one-by-one, until it was at ground level.

-Kevin

My engine hoist would not go that high. What I wound up doing was putting multi-layer supports under the legs while on the pallet, then I cut the pallet away, just leaving the supports. I then removed individual layers of the supports under each leg, one-by-one, until it was at ground level.

-Kevin

There's always a way to do it, if you want it bad enough. :beers:

Probably not the safest, but I put the engine hoist in the bed of my truck. Backed the truck into the garage and lifted my 80 gal IR compressor off the pallet. For mounting to the floor, I set anchors in the floor with 1/2" bolts, then drilled 1/2" holes in hockey pucks. Set the pucks over the bolts, then set the compressor on the pucks and bolted down. The pucks provide excellent vibration control.