WIW - Miller welder

[Tynee]

Hope I’m in the right spot for a WIW. An older gentleman at church has offered to sell me his welder and torch, and we need to come to a fair price.

It’s a Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC CC 220V machine he bought new in 1990 and has used very little since then. He essentially welded one sizable project, then stored in his climate controlled basement since then. Stock number 902775 if that helps any.

Any ideas what would be a fair price both ways?

 

[jrsavoie]

Those are awesome little welders. I've had several.
Price depends on how much welding lead and condition/quality of the torch.
Maybe $600 for the bundle

 

[tyyost]

In my neck of the woods the welder would be $250 or so, but AC/DC aren't as common as the AC only. The torches vary, look on FB marketplace or Craigslist for comparable sets. Tank size drives cost local here as well, but they also come up often in $250 range with tanks.

 

[jrsavoie]

In my neck of the woods the welder would be $250 or so, but AC/DC aren't as common as the AC only. The torches vary, look on FB marketplace or Craigslist for comparable sets. Tank size drives cost local here as well, but they also come up often in $250 range with tanks.

The AC only welders are only worth about $50 unless scrap price is up. The leads are valuable.

Torch tanks have to have ownership verified. A lot of them were leased or rented

Years ago, companies didn't care who's tank they swapped out.
I ended up with a tank from a different supplier than where I bought the original.

 

[CraigStu]

Tanks are weird as heck. 15 yrs ago I bought a tig welder in Md and got a Roberts Oxy tank w/ it. 4 years ago we moved to Va and my first refill I checked the 2 closest places. Neither would exchange the tank. I now drive 35 minutes to the closest Roberts dealer. Took the rig last summer to a friend to do a bunch of welding for him in NC. Mid job needed an exchange tank. Closest was a major brand that I don't remember right now. After a bunch of half friendly discussion w/ 3 different employees they 'didn't have any of those small tanks right now' but luckily there was a Roberts 5 miles away.

 

[unslow1]

My grandfather gave me his Miller 110 and torch setup. I checked with the local welding shop. They turned out to be rented tanks so they took them back. The torch setup was old enough that they would have to have adapters for the newer style tanks. Once I priced the adapters and newer style tanks it was cheaper to buy the smaller setup and have them filled. They have them at all the home improvement stores. I'm glad it turned out that way because those full-sized tanks take up a lot of space.

 

[matt_i]

Oxyacet tanks would likely need a re-cert fee if the bottles surpassed the 10 year mark from last re-cert (very very likely) Around here that's $25.00 each.

I would also think around $600 for the set would be fair.

Another way to price would be to spec out current/new equivalent capability and go 50% of that.

 

[Tynee]

Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen.

 

[jrsavoie]

Oxyacet tanks would likely need a re-cert fee if the bottles surpassed the 10 year mark from last re-cert (very very likely) Around here that's $25.00 each.

I would also think around $600 for the set would be fair.

Another way to price would be to spec out current/new equivalent capability and go 50% of that.

Around here almost everyone swapped tanks instead of having them filled.
I have a large Argon tank that finally ran out. I just happened to find the sales ticket.
When I took it in the kid told me that it was not a customer owned tank as they had never sold that size. Only rented or leased them .
I showed him the paper. He said, Well that's from 1994.
Ya. Apparently that was sometime before never.

 

[NC Fabricator25]

You have described the welder, but not the torch, so it’s hard to put a value on that part of the deal. Is it an oxygen / acetylene torch? With tanks? How old and what size? Brand, etc?

I’d say the welder is worth $200 to $400, depending on condition and if it has cables, and if so what condition they are in. With copper prices today new cable can easily be a few bucks, or more, per foot and can add up quickly for both the ground and work leads.

 

[Tynee]

You have described the welder, but not the torch, so it’s hard to put a value on that part of the deal. Is it an oxygen / acetylene torch? With tanks? How old and what size? Brand, etc?

I’d say the welder is worth $200 to $400, depending on condition and if it has cables, and if so what condition they are in. With copper prices today new cable can easily be a few bucks, or more, per foot and can add up quickly for both the ground and work leads.

Yeah, I didn’t really come looking for opinions on the torch value, and don’t know any specifics on it yet anyway. Should have been more clear above I just need a little input on the welder part of the package.

Thanks all for the feedback.

 

[brownbagg]

thunderbolt $200-400, dont be scared to pay the $400, awesome machine, if it was mint well, new they run about $600, in 1990 they was $200, but its a very goood machine better than the licoln because the adjustable amps is a better system. torch, new $150, bottles, $300

 

[TractorJeff]

thunderbolt $200-400, don't be scared to pay the $400, awesome machine, if it was mint well, new they run about $600, in 1990 they was $200, but its a very good machine better than the lincoln because the adjustable amps is a better system. torch, new $150, bottles, $300

USED Thunderbolts run $200 to $300 at auction around here.

 

[brownbagg]

the thing about cracker boxes, people dont sell them till its estate time, they just sit in the garage for ever, and then when someone moving or estate time, its usually a yard sale $100 item, but the thunderbolt is a very good machine, and i feel worth more than people sell them for

 

[NC Fabricator25]

Did you decide to make a deal on this? If so, post up some pictures so we can drool a bit over your new tool!

 

[jrsavoie]

Used Construction, Agricultural Equip., Trucks, Trailers & more

Used equipment for sale: Online auctions of heavy equipment for construction, farm, fleet, transportation, government and other industries.

www.purplewave.com

 

[2mJps]

I had 3 of those welders they are a good machine . I went to a school sell and bought them for under $50.00 a welder. I gave 2 away kept 1 till. Stick welders will not bring scrap value here. My fare price would be a insult but if you want them and he is a friend its worth paying a good price .

 

[Tynee]

Did you decide to make a deal on this? If so, post up some pictures so we can drool a bit over your new tool!

I’ve already brought the welder home. Will settle on a price with him this week, then go get the torch set. Pics to come.

 

[PoorUB]

I’ve already brought the welder home. Will settle on a price with him this week, then go get the torch set. Pics to come.

How do you do a deal like that with no price? He might want $500 and it is worth $200.

I understand this is a stick welder? I have a MIG and haven't used a stick in 50 years. Personally, it is not worth much to me any way.

 

[Tynee]

How do you do a deal like that with no price? He might want $500 and it is worth $200.

This is one of those deals with a friend where he doesn’t care if I ever pay him anything, but I wouldn’t feel right taking something for nothing. He asked if I wanted it, I asked what he wanted for it, and he told me to pay him “25% of what it’s worth.”

 

[PoorUB]

This is one of those deals with a friend where he doesn’t care if I ever pay him anything, but I wouldn’t feel right taking something for nothing. He asked if I wanted it, I asked what he wanted for it, and he told me to pay him “25% of what it’s worth.”

OK, that make sense! I have had "deals" in the past where someone wants to sell me something and give me a good deal on it. Then I come over, look at it and decide to take it, then he wanted some ridiculous amount for it. Almost like yours, but he thought a great deal was a lot more than I could buy it from most any where. Like he wanted $700 for your welder that is worth $300 and he said he would give me a "deal" on it!

 

[brownbagg]

give him 300 for everything, that a good fair everyday price, its fair not cheater either of you.

 

[jrsavoie]

the thing about cracker boxes, people dont sell them till its estate time, they just sit in the garage for ever, and then when someone moving or estate time, its usually a yard sale $100 item, but the thunderbolt is a very good machine, and i feel worth more than people sell them for

I never see them for sale around here.
I'd have spares.