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Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Advice on Used Welder Purchase
- - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 14:05
I wanted to ask your guys opinions on a used welder I am looking at, and if you thought it was worth the money. I own two shop welders, and I am familiar with the risks of buying used and what to look for, I wanted advice on the welder since this will be my first engine driven machine. Is it worth the $3,000 he was asking and driving 800 miles to buy (I think it is, hence this topic)? I want to be able to use it in the following industries;

Heavy Equipment Repair (SMAW, FCAW)
Heavy Truck repair - (SMAW, AC-GTAW hi-Freq for alum.)
Restaurant (stainless, GTAW)
General house/farm/ranch (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW)

I also plan on running a Miller Spectrum 625 plasma off the machine as well.

Here is what he emailed me;

Trailblazer 301G, bought in May 2003 - 61 hours
Miller 12VS Suitcase and Ironmate FC-1260 MIG gun - 0 hours
High freq box, 25 ft. of cable, torch and pedal assembly - 10 hours

I am not sure if it is set-up for AC GTAW, and I am not sure if you can run a bottle with the suitcase for GMAW, any thoughts?

Thanks for the input guys, I have pictures but need to figure out how to attach them

Erik Irvine
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Parent - - By jp2welder (**) Date 07-12-2007 16:06
Looks like an expensive setup.

I bought a used machine (Lincoln Ranger 8) a couple of years ago with 380 hrs on it. I have been burning rods on it ever since. I recently even purchased a Ready Welder to use as a Spool Gun on it. The little Ranger works great and fires up every time. I got the unit for about half what I could get it for online.

If you are getting a good buy, why not? You will not have a warranty, but if it is a good product, you won't need it.
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 16:47
Joe,

I think he said he spent $7,000 to buy the equipment new
Parent - By jp2welder (**) Date 07-12-2007 16:58
He won't like it, but I'd start with offering half and go up to maybe $4500. Argue that the equipment is not new anymore, and that if something breaks, you have no warranty ...or is he going to offer you one? A 90-day warranty could bump his price close to those of refurbished units.

Be sure to give yourself some good options, too. Look around on eBay for the same equipment. It will all be used and have different hours listed, but it should give you a good approximation of what a realistic price is.

I'm sure you won't find all three in one listing (Trailblazer 301G, 12VS Suitcase, and HF box), but you should at least find some Trailblazers and other Suitcase welders.

In the end, don't pay more than you'd be satisfied with, and don't find yourself 2 months from now thinking, "Drats! Why didn't I offer $200 more and get that package?"

My 2 cents!
Parent - - By Sourdough (****) Date 07-12-2007 17:08
Get the price down by 500 bucks and it would be worth it. A three hundred amp gas machine is worth 3500.00 usually. The suitcase may make the deal worthwhile since they are both new - BUT, I would try to get a better price.........my 2 sense.
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 17:11
Oops, maybe I was unlcear on the price. He is asking $3,000 for everything and I have to drive 800 miles (Road Trip!)
Parent - - By Sourdough (****) Date 07-12-2007 17:26
I would still try and get the price down, of course.......I'm German/Irish?

800 miles will cost you 2 days, and about........500 bucks right?
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 17:51
Well I tried to negotiate with him, I guess my final price is $3,300 delivered to my house. I can pick it up but I will have to pay the same price. Does this sound like a smoking deal, fair deal, or bad deal?
Parent - - By webbcity (***) Date 07-12-2007 18:13
erik , doesn't sound to bad to me with traffic and more important time to go get it . looks like nice set up should treat you good , it looks like it has been inside and taken care of , most of these little machines have aux. power you can use in case of power outage which can keep a freezer from going bad might be worth more than all the welding you do with it . try to have lifting power to unload . good luck willie 
Parent - - By Sourdough (****) Date 07-12-2007 18:23
WILLIE!!! how are ya? Heard you're having some hot dry weather up there in sunny, tropical Alaska! Mom says she just drags the garden hose around to keep everything alive! Greenhouse affect - who can deny it??

Do you know a guy by the name of Jack Taylor? Says he's from Kasilof, but who knows. He's a shyster for sure. I'm in the process of buying a big40, and 251 from him..........
Parent - By webbcity (***) Date 07-13-2007 11:02
hey sourdough , just got back from anchorage hauled in another feeder for our crushers we have been doing lots of maintenance and moving heavy equipment cats , loaders ,  crushers , bachoes and graders i usually get out early and  in late so don't have time to answer much but glad to see you guys answering on the forum . it's dry at times but lots of rain at portage hasn't flooded much lately but has 3 times this year while we were crushing doesn't bother us we just go home , do other things till the water goes down just have about 2 more weeks over there and be done there this year in mean time setting 2 more crushing operations and 2 sand plants one at 62 mile and one at 42 glad to hear you are doing ok take care of your self and family . good luck . willie
Parent - - By 357max (***) Date 07-12-2007 18:31
You will be getting a fantastic DC 3 phase sma & gma welding arc and single phase AC sma & gta welding arc with the Trailblazer. The feeder has the gas solenoid but the gun doesn't provide for gas shielding. The gun is a self shielded flux core wire only. Buy a new gun for shielding gas and with the 3 phase CV output you have a great short circuit gmaw with the feeder and TB. Feeder was about $1200 new the HF unit about $1000. 3 grand imho is a great price. My last TB 280 went over 4000 hours with no engine work.
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 20:07
Thanks for the input guys! I appreciate your help.
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-12-2007 21:14
Those high freq units allow you to GTAW aluminum correct?
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 07-13-2007 03:44
Yes, that is what You need for aluminum. I think that is a good price. That setup has been on Ebay before, sooner or later somebody will grab it.
Parent - - By Erik Irvine (*) Date 07-13-2007 13:12
It was on Ebay, starting bid of $2,200. Nobody bid on it, and I planned on waiting until the end and low balling the bid. A day before it ended the guy took it off probably because he didn't want to sell it for $2,200.
Parent - - By JA (**) Date 07-18-2007 05:01
thats a good deal for sure , i've got one of those also , 2,200 hrs , no problems  , ran mostly E71T-8 , .072 ....that plus all the goodies , go for it.....
Parent - By wawelder Date 08-01-2007 21:41
I have a ranger 8 I will be selling in WA but it will be a full package/setup let me know if anyone is interested
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Advice on Used Welder Purchase

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