flatlandforge

When I found my flypress it didn't have the cross arm and I ended up forging one. It was a really good size one so it was worth the extra effort to go through the trouble. The top of the screw was a tapered hexagon so the hub had to fit that perfectly(bit of a challenge). For weight I just used some old cast iron flat barbell weights. I stacked a couple tens and fives as I recall and have room for more if needed. I just used what I had and it has been working for over 15 years. Good Luck

This cone could be made in under an hour using the formula frustum of a cone(depending on skill level). You can google it or look in any sheet metal workers book to find it. The beauty is you can make any size cone you need to fit your needs. Forging cones is unnecessary and very time consuming especially this size. If it were smaller I may forge versus fabricate. Dave I am not criticizing your decision to forge, but just giving another quicker option to you and others that may need to make a cone in the future.

I use freightquote.com as they will give you rates from reasonable to outrageous. There are several companies(brokers)like this, but they are the biggest. It costs nothing to start an account and they will sometimes give you some nice new guy discounts. If you don't like the price ask them to sharpen their pencil and most of the time they will. Your best rate is going to be from one business to another business. It would also have to be a legitimate business with 53' truck access and a forklift for loading. You want to be up front about the business as you can get extra charges tacked on if these things aren't present. Also whoever your getting this from needs to palletize it. I suggest you lay it on it's side on a bunch of old tires and have it banded to pallet. I have done this a number of times with success. When it comes to someone else hauling your equipment you want to make it idiot proof. If you don't have that type of business you could have it shipped to a local terminal or if you know a local business that would handle it for you then I would ask them. I would only use Craters & Freighters or Navis if the person selling the hammer can not palletize it and load it. For a third party to palletize an item that size will cost hundreds of dollars so get ready. I use them when I need something delicate picked up and packaged well and when it is cost effective. You can also ask about an LTL shipment where it is put on one truck and not taken off until it reaches you. With this type of shipping it can be shipped upright. When it goes the other way it is moved on and off trucks several times and it will be more likely to get damaged. And yes a Little Giant can be broken if it is knocked over. I have seen things break that you would never believe could be broken. Most things are broken when moved on and off trucks by idiot forklift guys in a hurry and not by the drivers in the truck. Also I recommend insurance as you never know what can happen. Don't let any shipper tell you you are covered as used machinery is only coverd for 10 - 25 cents a pound(do the math). There is some websites where truckers are looking for loads as they make deliveries and don't want to drive home empty. This is called deadheading and no trucker likes to do it. You may have to do some Google searching for this. Try Freightfinders.com. I did a quick quote and it was over 1800.00 with Freightquote, but I am sure I could get that shipped for half that. I am going by other items I have shipped or had shipped to me. The other big thing is that you want to have your weight either correct or over estimated as if they do a reweigh you will get another charge. Also the classification has to be correct as if it is reclassed it will also cost you an extra charge. I think it can go as a 70 or an 85. The lower the # the cheaper the shipping. Use the word trip hammer or forging hammer when discussing it with your broker. The last one I got was 75.00 for wrong weight, but it can go higher. I know this is a lot of info and there is definitely more, but this is enough to get you or whoever else some info to help in shipping any machine they want. Good luck!