Metal Base Alteration?

[matman]

I am in the process of moving to a new location and will have to rearrange a few machines. I have several Dexter T-400's that are all on metal bases and hold 4 units per base. I will need 2 sets of bases that only hold 2 units per base.

Will I be able to take 1 of my existing bases to a metal shop and have it cut and rebuilt to size?

Thanks.

[William]

My gut instinct says yes, but only the fabricator can tell you for sure.

[shon@themoneyco]

Check with a laundromat equiptment dealer close to you...they will have connections of companies that make these bases. I'm getting ready to open a mat, and the Dexter dealer will install all of my 8 inch risers during the install.

[pete f]

Check with a laundromat equiptment dealer close to you...they will have connections of companies that make these bases. I'm getting ready to open a mat, and the Dexter dealer will install all of my 8 inch risers during the install.

what are you putting 8inch bases under? The customers will not be able to reach the top!

[fishmanz]

A new base is only $200 and it gets delivered. Man are they heavy! I say leave the old one.

[MichaelCa]

Specialty base mfr.s are very rare & only exist in some areas.

I've had very good luck w/ a much more commonly found business:
Metal fabricators /Welders (look them up in your local yellow pages)

You'll have to find the 'right' one: i.e. one who does custom orders ALL the time & bases his charges simply on time & matls.
My fabricator does everything from Building "Moment" frames to railcar bogies - but he & his crew were just tickled to do my (what to him were very tiny) bases.

A simple drawing suffices - more important than the drawing, is VERY precise dimensioning - of *everything*. If you don't know it, he certainly won't.

Hole placement was critical - & there are no refunds :) ... so he had me present when they drilled using their $ 10,000 drillpress. Tolerance down to the micron, except my dimensions came from a tape-measure :)
Wanna guess how many times & ways I measured ?

Total cost came to $ 180 per base (per machine). And these are WAAAY heavy - much heavier than what you'll find from laundry specialists/dealers.

BUt as my installer said to me: You could run a train on those.

As for re-cutting, re-sizing, etc. - yes, thats a breeze for them & cheap.