Man moving from US to UK

I've been lurking on here for several months now and need some help.  I'm moving from central Montana to Devon now that my UK girlfriend and I are married. 

Being middle aged (58) I've collect many things (too much I'm sure) and need help deciding what I should get rid of and what I should move with me.  I'm a finish carpenter/cabinet maker and have many tools I am thinking of moving over with me.  I also have an old 1961 VW panel van that is worth much more in UK then in US so am filling it up with my possessions and moving it to UK to sell later on. It will hold about half of what I think I want to bring. 

Any lists of what a guy should bring and what a guy shouldn't bring will be helpful.  It's kinda hard casting off a lifetime of possessions by fitting what I can bring into one small room. :\\\'(

Thanks in advance.

Lloyd

Congratulations on your move!

If you haven't already, check out the sticky threads at the top of this section: "Things you SHOULD Have Brought With You" and "Things You Wish You HADN'T Brought."

Hey, Lloyd, welcome to the UK from another person in middle age.  I moved to Sweden at the age of 50 for love and now am moving on to the UK for a job (with Swedish husband near retirement who is moving once I'm settled in).  I love it when it's not always these youngsters making the huge leap.  And I think you'll find there is always a space anywhere in the world for a craftsman.

Hello Lloyd,

I also have an old 1961 VW panel van that is worth much more in UK then in US so am filling it up with my possessions and moving it to UK to sell later on.

You may already know this, but one advantage you'll have there is that pre-1973 vehicles are exempt from the annual vehicle license fee. 

I'm a finish carpenter/cabinet maker and have many tools I am thinking of moving over with me.

Good quality chisels, spokeshaves etc. are certainly worth bringing if you plan on continuing your work with them.  It's quite frightening to realize just how much it would cost at today's prices to replace a set of tools acquired over many years.

If you have a collection of handheld power tools -- drills, sanders, planers, etc. -- then you would be able to use them here via a suitable transformer. 

Welcome to UKY, Lloyd!

Sorry for delay in replying.  Haven't been online much.

Scarlett, I did check the threads and found very little in regard to man things.  Hence the "Man" in thread title   Lots about cosmetics, kitchen, etc.    Appears most are women and white collar men.  Nothing wrong with that, just an observation.

IdahoSwede, I think you are right.   I've already got remodel jobs lined up.

Paul, that's pretty much what I've decided.  Will possible bring table saw, thickness planer as well.  Did find that most EU table saws are 30mm arbors while US ons are 5/8" and my collection of blades and dado sets are 5/8" arbor.  Hand held power tools are definately coming with me.  Transformers to reduce 240 to 120 in US are reasonable priced:   http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/step-down-transformer-2.html   Thinking of 3000w model.  Will have to use adapter plug or change it to UK plug.
I know the 20 year thing.   Nice bonus, but plan to sell van.  Might be buying a newer vw T3/vanagon to put rest of my stuff in for shipping. 

Thanks Meg.

Hi & Welcome to UKY    

Lloyd - I'm detecting from your posts that you are thinking of packing your things into your vehicle when you ship it over to the UK.  Is this correct?  If so, I would really think hard about NOT shipping anything in a vehicle unless you want to chance it being gone through and possibly stolen.  I know there are companies that ship vehicles and allow you to put household items/tools, etc, but it's really taking a big risk.  Just wanting to add my 2 cents to your thoughts.  As for your power tools running off transformers - yes they will, but they can still get burned out easily that way too.  FYI - to find some inexpensive tools in the UK - try watching the auction houses.  We had a great auction house in Birmingham (Biddle and Webb) and they continually had 220v power tools on auction on Tuesdays.  Good luck with your move

Hi, good luck with your move. 

shugga, Thanks!

debinator, I'm shipping loaded vehicle inside of container, not roll on/roll off.  Hope that's what you mean.  RINKENS INTERNATIONAL is shipping agent and said everything is kept in their secure areas.  Have check with UK customs (friend of a friend) and they normally don't open anything there.  Sometimes do spot check, but is usually only x-ray and only opened if something questionable shows up on x-ray. 

kdvirgo, Thanks!

Thinking of 3000w model.  Will have to use adapter plug or change it to UK plug.

Just chop off the European plug and replace it with a British plug.  It will be far more secure than an adapter and cheaper too. 

Depending upon the size of things like the table saw, you might want to go for a slightly larger transformer.  Motors tend to have a substantial switch-on surge which you need to allow for, and the larger the motor the more significant that becomes.  Also, for the extra few dollars it's nice to have some power in reserve.   A good 3kVA transformer should be adequate for motors of up to about 1-1/2 h.p. or so.

Thanks Paul. Will do that.  I've found a portable table saw to bring.  A Craftsman 21829  http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Bench+Power+Tools&pid=00921829000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Table+Saws&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
Hope that works.  The one I got is used, but in good shape.  Is same saw as Ryobi BT3000/3100 and they have been around for years with good reviews. 

Now I'm thinking of possible bringing my 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee over too, as it gets about 20mpg here which would be 25mpg Imp Gal.  Not sure what it would take/cost to pass MOT and register it in UK.  Any ideas?

Thanks all for your replys and support. 

Lloyd

A Craftsman 21829 

That's quite a substantial motor.  15 amps @ 120 volts would make it somewhere around 2 to 2.5 h.p., so be prepared to use a fairly hefty transformer to run from 240V.   You might get away with a 3kVA unit depending upon the motor design, but to be honest I'd feel much more comfortable going for a larger transformer.  If you're going to have multiple 120V power tools you might just as well invest in one large transformer which can do for all of them.

Now I'm thinking of possible bringing my 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee over too, as it gets about 20mpg here which would be 25mpg Imp Gal.  Not sure what it would take/cost to pass MOT and register it in UK. 

At over 10 years old you'll escape the SVA (Single Vehicle Approval), which removes all the hassle about type approval etc.   In practical terms, the main problem you might hit with the MoT inspection will be the lights, although as I've mentioned elsewhere this can be very dependent upon the individual inspector you use.

Does a '97 Cherokee have separate amber turn signals on the rear or combined red turn/brake lights?  All vehicles made for the U.K. market since 1965 have been fitted with amber, and that's what the MoT inspector's manual says you should have on a post-1965 vehicle.   Similarly, the MoT manual and lighting regulations specify that front parking lights should be white (or yellow if inside the headlight), and also that from 1981 onward you must have at least one rear fog light.

There is something of a gray area on private imports though that I've never been able to track down the legislation for properly, and some inspectors will let some or all of these lighting differences slide.  The local MoT place I use, for example, just passed my '87 Bronco II a few months ago with everything original on the lights: Amber parking lights, red rear turn signals, no rear fog light.  But some inspectors are strictly the "My book says....." type and make no allowance for imports.

One thing you'll definitely have to alter is the headlights to avoid dazzle for driving on the opposite side of the road.  You can either semi-permanently affix beam deflectors or replace the headlights completely so that low beam is directed down and to the left instead of down and to the right.

Thanks Paul.  15 amp 120 volt is 1800 watts, so 3000 watt transformer would seem to be enough.  I'm under the impression that ring main sockets are 13 amp 240 which is 3120 watt.  If this is true, then the 3000 watt transformer will be maxing out the socket. Ring main is 30 or 32 amp fused so 2 3000 watt transformers max out the ring main.  All of above is only what I can find online, so who knows how true it is.

Grand Cherokee has amber rear turn signals and white fronts.. but might have amber bulbs in front.  No rear fog light, but might be able to put one in. 

Can I drive her from dock home and to MOT if she is insured in UK? 

Was reading here:  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_10014623


"Temporarily importing a vehicle:

There are international agreements which provide for the temporary use of a vehicle in a foreign country for a limited time, usually six months in a 12 month period. A visitor to the UK may use a vehicle displaying foreign plates, provided that all taxes (including vehicle excise duty) are paid in their country of origin.

If a vehicle bearing foreign plates is stopped by the police, it is the responsibility of the keeper to demonstrate that he or she is eligible to use the vehicle in the UK without registering and taxing it.

Non European Union (EU) vehicles:

The drivers of vehicles from outside the EU will need to demonstrate via HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that they are eligible to use the vehicle here on a temporary basis. If this is achieved a HMRC Notice 3 is issued, which will be date stamped with the date the vehicle should leave the country. The decision lies with HMRC whether a visiting vehicle, from outside the EU can be granted visitor status. HMRC will decide whether an extension to the six month period can be granted, if not they will issue status certificates (forms C&E 386 or C&E 388). The vehicle must then be registered at a DVLA local office."


Wonder if this would apply and how soon after arrival this has to be done?

Thanks again for all the help.

Lloyd

15 amp 120 volt is 1800 watts, so 3000 watt transformer would seem to be enough. 

The problem here is not the running current of the motor, but the fact that it draws a brief, but considerably larger surge of current when you switch on (it's all to do with the interaction of the magnetic fields until the armature starts to rotate).  As a general rule, the larger the motor the more significant this becomes.  A 2 h.p. or larger motor can easily have a switch-on surge which is two to three times its normal operating current.  You've probably noticed sometimes that lights dim briefly when starting a heavy power tool, especially if both are on the same branch circuit or you're running them through an extension cord. 

As I said, a good 3kVA transformer may well be sufficient, but transformers vary in construction and while any 3kVA unit should be able to supply that much power for normal operating, some will handle the switch-on surges better than others.   A larger transformer will help to keep the voltage up during the surge and maintain full starting torque for the motor.   You do have the advantage on something like this in that you don't start a table saw under load though, so that may not be too much of an issue.

I'm under the impression that ring main sockets are 13 amp 240 which is 3120 watt.  If this is true, then the 3000 watt transformer will be maxing out the socket. Ring main is 30 or 32 amp fused so 2 3000 watt transformers max out the ring main.  All of above is only what I can find online, so who knows how true it is.

You're correct on the 13A and 30/32A ring parts, but a 3000VA transformer doesn't actually draw that much power from the supply all the time it's connected.  The actual power taken from the wall outlet depends upon how much power you're pulling from the transformer (plus just a little extra for losses in the transformer itself, but larger types are pretty efficient devices, generally well over 90%).