Welding equipment in the scrap yard.

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Stopped at the local recycling yard today and they had several heavy duty units to scrap. A huge Hobart TIG, a Miller power source, a Lincoln 300 ac/dc TIG single phase, a couple of Plasma cutters and maybe one or two other machines. Lots of parts! I asked, and got my tools and stripped what I could. Big on/off switch, Big Rectifier , gas hose and adapter and a couple of output panel connectors, all for $8.50. I would have tried to buy the Lincoln 300 complete, but they had used the crane on it and partially crunched the case. Interesting to see the end of these noble machines.
Reply:I can see when it's not practical or beyond repair. But that makes me sick to see a welder scrapped because it's just old or too big and electric hungry."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manI can see when it's not practical or beyond repair. But that makes me sick to see a welder scrapped because it's just old or too big and electric hungry.
Reply:must be nice....scrap yards in town here wont let you step foot in the yard.  Im a dumpster diving fool, and love to dig around in junk
Reply:My welding class had to scrap about 10-15 functioning,usable Miller Dialarcs last summer because of school politics, they wouln't even allow the removal of the copper first...now they have removed all of the IdealArcs ( 10 or so ) and I won't be suprised if they are doomed as well...Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Old welders dont go for more than scrap around here . I saved some buzz boxes back they were in the way so I took them to a acution. I got less than scrap for them but you cant keep everthing. I dont like to see them scraped. Right now I have a lincoln portable 400 it hasint run in years.
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederMy welding class had to scrap about 10-15 functioning,usable Miller Dialarcs last summer because of school politics, they wouln't even allow the removal of the copper first...now they have removed all of the IdealArcs ( 10 or so ) and I won't be suprised if they are doomed as well...
Reply:[QUOTE=jarheaddoc;864791]Now why on Earth in this day and age of tight budgets would a school get rid of usable equipment?  What was the reasoning behind doing it?QUOTE]Probly "beurocratic policy"I worked for a concrete co. that poured new walk for a school.  One year later the walk was torn out and the building remodeled.  Apperently schools get federal monies and if not used as appropriated, the funds have to be returned.....Sucks, I agree.  The machines could have at least been donated to a non-profit.  Or in the case of the private scrapper, should have been advertised for sale first.  Some scrappers just don't know what they really have.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:About 8 or 10 years ago the weld shop at the one tech school got a complete make over with new machines. I asked back then what they intended to do with the old ones as I was looking for a nice used AC/DC tig at the time. The instructor told me they were all going to the scrap guy. The school didn't want the liability of selling a machine that might not work properly after the kids got done with them. Welcome to the great world where we need to worry about IF someone MIGHT hurt themselves... I know the other tech school where I help teach scrapped all the machine tools out of the machine shop for the same reason. The weld shop couldn't even keep one mill to mill down welds or a lathe to bevel pipe coupons. They have to pay someone to bevel the pipe coupons now. The weld shop instructor had to cut up all the machines because the school wanted no chance someone might some how obtain one and sue the school if there was a problem..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by Jr_vw2must be nice....scrap yards in town here wont let you step foot in the yard.  Im a dumpster diving fool, and love to dig around in junk
Reply:Honestly used large 3 phase machines are not worth much more than scrap.  even those big old transformer single phase tig machines are not worth much.    They draw so much single phase power wide open that most homes wont support them anyway.   as the price of electricity keeps rising and the use of net metering comes into play more and more serious fabricators and manufactures are junking the larger power hungry machines and going to more efficient inverter type machines.      as much as i would love to hoard everything there comes a time when real estate becomes much to valuable to warehouse obsolete things, especially here in CA.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualieeven those big old transformer single phase tig machines are not worth much.
Reply:My dad bought my first welder in a scrap yard for 10 bucks in 1957.He could take it back for refund if it didnt .work.I put a line cord on it and fixed a poor connection.Its 150 amp and so old its wound with cotton insulated wire.I made money using it and bought a Lincoln 225 in 1965 to handle  low hydogen rods on heavy welding jobs. The 10 buck welder is still working fine,The Lincoln comes out for the big jobs.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinHmmm...tell that to Miller. Looks to me like they're still getting $4000-$6000 for a "big old transformer single phase" Syncrowave.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAbout 8 or 10 years ago the weld shop at the one tech school got a complete make over with new machines. I asked back then what they intended to do with the old ones as I was looking for a nice used AC/DC tig at the time. The instructor told me they were all going to the scrap guy. The school didn't want the liability of selling a machine that might not work properly after the kids got done with them. Welcome to the great world where we need to worry about IF someone MIGHT hurt themselves... I know the other tech school where I help teach scrapped all the machine tools out of the machine shop for the same reason. The weld shop couldn't even keep one mill to mill down welds or a lathe to bevel pipe coupons. They have to pay someone to bevel the pipe coupons now. The weld shop instructor had to cut up all the machines because the school wanted no chance someone might some how obtain one and sue the school if there was a problem.