Buying a used welder

[SMOKEEATERFF]

Recently a very close friend to me passed away, he was a father figure to me. Anyways I’m helping his wife clean up around their house and in his shop. He has a Vulcan 215 mig welder with HF welding cart and a pile of wire and tips etc. and a gas cylinder. I’m very interested in the setup. How do I price out the bigger stuff like the welder and cart? He also had some type of tig attachment with it. I want to give her a fair deal but not screw myself either.

The cart looks like it’s the one for around $170

 

[driftpin]

Ask her if she would accept an offer of $400 for everything. Trying to buy everything new would cost well-over $1K. Is it the HFT Vulcan OmniPro 220, with the extra-cost MIG spool gun? Or is it the MIGMax 215 120/240 volt welder?

The OmniPro 220 multiprocess welder is a couple hundred bucks more than the MIGMax dual-voltage welder. It does stick, MIG and TIG (MIG welding of aluminum with the optional spool gun).

https://www.harborfreight.com/migmax-215-industrial-welder-with-120240-volt-input-63617.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/omnip...cess-welder-with-120240-volt-input-63621.html

She doesn't have to deal with strangers, she gets some decent $ out of the equipment, and you have well-cared-for equipment.

 

[zkling]

Ask her if she would accept an offer of $400 for everything. Trying to buy everything new would cost well-over $1K. Is it the HFT Vulcan OmniPro 220, with the extra-cost MIG spool gun? Or is it the MIGMax 215 120/240 volt welder?

The OmniPro 220 multiprocess welder is a couple hundred bucks more than the MIGMax dual-voltage welder. It does stick, MIG and TIG (MIG welding of aluminum with the optional spool gun).

https://www.harborfreight.com/migmax-215-industrial-welder-with-120240-volt-input-63617.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/omnip...cess-welder-with-120240-volt-input-63621.html

She doesn't have to deal with strangers, she gets some decent $ out of the equipment, and you have well-cared-for equipment.

Off brand welding equipment has limited value on the used market. May want to check on the tank, in that you can actually get it filled and or swapped. He may have had it under lease. Some weld shops do not allow tanks to change hands.

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

The welder is the 215 but it had tig attachment not sure the brand. Not really sure how he had it attached either. The gas cylinder was leased I’m sure, I’ve got another friend that works for the gas company who would probably let me take over the lease on it. I figured half on the welder and cart. Same for all the wire and tips etc?

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Half is a fair deal for both sides. I have that exact welder. It is excellent.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The welder is the 215 but it had tig attachment not sure the brand. Not really sure how he had it attached either. The gas cylinder was leased I’m sure, I’ve got another friend that works for the gas company who would probably let me take over the lease on it. I figured half on the welder and cart. Same for all the wire and tips etc?

You could probably get it for less than half but if you're willing to go half, then make that offer.

If she balks, then walk. If you feel that he was a father figure to you and she knows the relationship, you might find that she may do you one better.

 

[finn]

25% since you are trying to help her out.

Less if you didn’t know her.

Off brand stuff hasn’t got much value.

Where do you get parts when it fails?

 

[dogdog]

father figure to you... ??? I would take it at 60% to 70% of the retail value, if money is not tight on your part, or the widow just doesn't needed the money type.

anybody else... 30% no more than 50%.....

The valcan line is not bad.. omni pro is better of cause.. still DC tig only I think... doesn't matter too much , if you are not picking bones out of the egg, it still weld better than the $700 lincoln Sp135T I have from years ago.. I have used DC Tigs on off brand China Cut512D and it works fine, except early China welding stuff ****, fricking thing died from sitting in storage.... different story on the OmniPro and Valcan stuff.

 

[mitusa]

father figure to you... ??? I would take it at 60% to 70% of the retail value, if money is not tight on your part, or the widow just doesn't needed the money type.

anybody else... 30% no more than 50%.....

The valcan line is not bad.. omni pro is better of cause.. still DC tig only I think... doesn't matter too much , if you are not picking bones out of the egg, it still weld better than the $700 lincoln Sp135T I have from years ago.. I have used DC Tigs on off brand China Cut512D and it works fine, except early China welding stuff ****, fricking thing died from sitting in storage.... different story on the OmniPro and Valcan stuff.

This^^^^ Give her a good deal and feel good about it!!

Most widows don't want strange men around.....save her the worry if you can.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

Good for you for helping her out.

 

[f121]

Check the wire feed is consistent before you buy it. Lots of used migs have a bad wire feed or damaged hose that make them a nightmare to weld with.

One of the few things I always buy new.