Late Night Lathe Loading From A Tight Garage Using Skates.

Patriot Lifting
4d
2 min read

Some of the most challenging lifts don’t happen in daylight or in wide-open spaces.

Patriot Lifting was recently called in for a late-night lathe loading, where a heavy piece of equipment had to be removed from a small, confined garage and loaded for transport. With limited clearance and no room for traditional movement, the job required patience, planning, and the right tools to get it done safely.

The Challenge: Heavy Equipment in a Tight Space

Lathes are dense, top-heavy machines that demand careful handling. In this case, the garage offered very little room to maneuver.

Key challenges included:

Extremely limited space inside the garage
Heavy, sensitive equipment that couldn’t be shifted abruptly
The need to maintain control at all times
Working efficiently during late-night hours

The solution wasn’t force it was finesse.

The Plan: Skates, Control, and Clear Communication

To safely move the lathe out of the garage, our crew used machinery skates, allowing the equipment to be rolled slowly and precisely into position. This approach minimized risk and gave the team full control over every inch of movement.

Before the move began, the crew:

Evaluated weight and center of gravity
Planned the skate placement and travel path
Coordinated hand signals and communication
Prepared for a smooth transition from ground movement to crane loading

Every step was planned before the first move was made.

The Move: Slow, Steady, and Intentional

Using skates, the lathe was carefully guided out of the garage and into a position where it could be safely rigged. Once clear, the crane took the load and lifted it smoothly onto the trailer.

Throughout the process:

Movements were deliberate and controlled
Adjustments were made gradually
Communication stayed constant
Safety remained the top priority

Late-night conditions didn’t change the standard everything was done by the book.

The Result: Equipment Loaded and Ready for Transport

The lathe was successfully removed from the garage and loaded without damage, delay, or incident. The late-night timing helped avoid disruptions, and the careful use of skates ensured the equipment was handled with precision from start to finish.

Jobs like this highlight the importance of experience and adaptability—especially when conditions aren’t ideal.

Why Contractors Trust Patriot Lifting for Tight & After-Hours Moves