A local auction house will put it up on sale in a couple of weeks. I looked at the manual from millerwelds.com, and realized that I really want that machine, provided that it is in a good shape.
It needs 44 amps at 230V, which is fine for me as I have a good 60 or
75A subpanel in the garage.
My question is, when I go there, what should I pay attention to? I do not think that they will power it up.
Also, tey will be selling several clausing production floor drills. Are those much better than a inexpensive home improvement store drill press, for a unsophisticated user like myself?
That's a good machine, worth having. If they won't power it up it sure seems I'd not make the same bid I'd make if I could try it out..
To me, the whip affects the value a bit- a 6' Tweco whip is worth $50 or so less than a 12' Barnard. But that's just me..
Open the side of the enclosure, take a few good whiffs in there. The aroma of burned insulation lasts quite a while and it's pretty distinctive.
If there's a recepticle where the welder sits, plug 'er in and see what happens (preferably when nobody is looking, don't want someone else to get good news too)- if it don't fire up, make sure others see that- if it goes cheap enough it's worth repairing. I don't hesitate to act like the place belongs to me at an auction, I'll monkey with anything that hasn't sold yet..
I believe that is a good choice. I bought one recently.
That machine came with a regulator/flowmeter and a hose. Check to see if it's there. If it doesn't, be prepared to spend about $75 to replace it, or more. If it doesn't have the MIG gun, be prepared to spend $125 or more to replace it. If it doesn't have the ground lead, that will cost too.
You can tell really a lot by just looking at it. Open the side panel where the wire is installed, and look at the rollers and just look at it. It wouldn't hurt to find your local welding repair place and call the guy up and ask him what goes wrong on these, and check out whatever he suggests.
On the front panel (the one the leads go through, that has the dial on it) look to see if there is a spoolgun module installed. If so, it's worth quite a bit more than if there isn't one. If it actually comes with a spoolgun, it'd be worth maybe $300-600 more than if it doesn't, believe it or not.
Ernie recommends you pitch the gun it comes with and buy a Tregaskis "Tough Gun". I don't know where to get those and won't be following his advice yet, not until this machine earns its keep for a bit. I did add the spoolgun module, though. It was not easy to find.
Stick welding sure is cheaper.
If those are the standard Clausing variable speed DPs, in good shape, they are a better drill press, yes. But stuff coming out of industry can be beat to death, so let the buyer beware.
Lift the cover or if they are low..look down into the vari drive mechanism. and grab the pulleys and wiggle them up and down. The more movement..the more wear.
Btw..these drills are NOT quiet when running. The clanking is normal.
Gunner
"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.
Think of it as having your older brother knock the shit out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner
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