All in one machine (ironworker)

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This thing looks handy and sized about right.  I'm waiting to hear back on a price.What do you guys think?http://www.steelfab123.com/All_One_S...PunchCombo.aspMy name's not Jim....
Reply:youve got my curiousity !MM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:It's a neat design. Interestingly I was looking at these the other day myself. Is 36 ton enough for what you do? My current press is 35 ton and I wish it at least twice that. If your doing gauge materials... it looks great. Let us know the price.
Reply:Most of what I do is in the 1/8" range.  Which is what this machine is rated for.  I would guess that I could bend 3/16" or maybe even 1/4" by using a wider lower die.The main reason that this got my attention is the 48" width.  I have a hard time justifying an iron worker limited to 12" or 18".  It would work for most situations, but there are many times it would be too small.  So I looked at big machines and they are a lot more expensive for a capacity I would rarely need.48" would cover prolly 99% of what I do and I could farm out the rest.If the machine is priced to fit in the market like their 50 ton 60" brake ($8995), I think it will be a good buy.It looks like they are located about an hour and a half from me so I also asked if they could hook me up with a tour.My name's not Jim....
Reply:We had a 50ton ironworker in highschool and that thing was awesome, until someone would bind up the punch and shatter a die, then it got scary but for shearing plate up to 1/4" among other functions it worked really well.
Reply:Well, we're off to a rough start.  Sales requested my phone # so a tech could call and answer my very simple "what is included" tooling questions.  No response on price.I replied back that we at least need to start with price before going any further.  If this thing is priced too high, there's no reason to keep looking at it.My name's not Jim....
Reply:you might take some nitro before looking at the email response.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Originally Posted by bruceryou might take some nitro before looking at the email response.
Reply:We have one at the highschool I went to but it looked nothing like that. Had all of the same things, but it was big and green. Really comes in handy for a whole lot of things."If you ain't making mistakes, it means you aren't learning anything."
Reply:Always wanted a iron worker just another tool I done have room forMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Wondereing if the punch is limited to 11ga.
Reply:I'm wondering the price of that beast ! It looks good.
Reply:Originally Posted by Ray C.Wondereing if the punch is limited to 11ga.
Reply:That's all they have listed on the website.  Most likely because that's the biggest size the retaining nut will slip over.  Those sizes would meet my needs, but if they don't, "other custom sizes are available".I've used punches bigger than the retaining nut in the past.  You have to slip the nut on from the backside and then the C-clip.They sure aren't trying too hard to make a sale.  No price yet.My name's not Jim....
Reply:I used to make parts for the piranha ironworkers. Amazing machines. This one looks kind of light weight. but I guess if you are doing lighter gage steel maybe its ok. The cylinder looks kind of small too.Lincolin Power Wave 450, Lincoln Powermig 255, Lincoln Pro Mig 140, Lincoln Squarewave Tig 275, Miller Big 40 G(with Hobart Hefty suitcase), Thermal Arc 95S and Esab PCM875 in an already full machine shop.
Reply:As Mick said the moving bottom die on the press brake is not common.  I ran a Promacam that used that arrangement.  I got used to it eventually.   A combo machine is never as good as the separate shear, brake and ironworker but it might fit your needs.   Notice that the shear is rated for 11 Gauge.  That means if you want to cut 1/4 inch flat bar you are out of luck.
Reply:No price yet? Seems like they don't want to make a sale or don't have it together.
Reply:No price yet.  I could call them, but I hate to do so unless I have cash in hand.  Somebody else good try asking....My name's not Jim....
Reply:I tried calling 3 times. No answer, no message, Just ring ring ring.
Reply:Originally Posted by Ray C.I tried calling 3 times. No answer, no message, Just ring ring ring.
Reply:I bought a similar machine a while back from "universal tools" or "mecca ironworker" I think I got the 1 and only one the ever made.  I Thought I was ripped off, as they did have a deposit.  It finally came, but I have to make my own replacement parts, dies etc.  The press brake on mine is not very accurate, the one you are showing looks better. The brake also bends to about 110 degrees, so it is hard to get a perfect 90.  Mine actually has a tubing bender on the side which will do 2"' square.  Again, I have to make any dies. punch dies I can get from clevland punch and die, although the light bars that pull up the rame wear out fast.  The shear on mine looks like universal one that northern sells, but I have cracked the blade on it, again I had to custom make a new one.  The machine you show looks very similar, so just be careful they look like they will stay in business.  Mine was rated at 60 tons, but I don't think it is anywhere near that.  That being said, I have learned it's limits, made extra parts and get work out of it.  I think it was close to $5000 at least 10 years ago. I will post a pic soon because I am curious if anyone else has one, or has extra dies for it, especially the tube dies.  It sure looks like this is the same company.
Reply:Lets see if this works. Here are pics of an "all in 1" iron worker I bought. It does everything but nothing perfectly. Attached Images
Reply:Nope, that was a pic of the tube bending die. I'll try again. This is the "60 ton" machine. Attached Images
Reply:Here is the punch section. I have had to modify the ram pull-up straps many times. I also had to build the strip guard because thinner sections would bend instead of releasing. I punch 3/8 all the time with it. I have no idea what the limits are. No instructions came with the machine. Attached ImagesLast edited by blackbart; 02-02-2013 at 05:16 PM.
Reply:And last pic of the tube bender. It seems to work well but I have other machines I use instead, so I don't have a lot of experience with it. I would like to find a supplier of similar dies so I can make it more versatile. Attached ImagesSo, sorry for so many posts. I couldn't seem to add all the pics to just one. Anyway, I have never seen another one of these iron workers. I think I bought the first and last one. I never had a phone call answered from the mfg. I just experiment carefully with the limits. It does look a lot like the one you're looking at. Their web page looked very similar. The machine is not bad, it just has no support, parts etc. has anyone seen one similar?
Reply:The machines don't look anything alike to me.I'd bet your's is 60T on the punch due to leverage, but by the time you get down to that brake you're only looking at the tonnage the cylinder will put out.My name's not Jim....
Reply:yeah,I just see similarity in their web page, phone service, punch design, stickers and finish.  I might be wrong, just warning you to "buyer beware". The custom shear blade I had to replace was expensive .I machined a couple of my own tube dies, but I am hopeing there is a similar design that has dies that might work, including the web page your machine was on. They had a good idea on the one I bought, but they didn't know how to finish or market it.
Reply:The other thing I didn't like about my punch design was there was no way to index the punches.   So even though I have sq carraige bolt punches and oblong ones, they seem useless unless used by an extremely careful operator. I hope you are right and this is a different MFG, it looks like a tempting machine.  I would want them to show me that bending angles were equal on a full width, full capacity bend.  It does look like they have equalizing cylinders, so hopefully that would be OK. Show them my pictures and see if their faces turn white.
Reply:Now, just going off some experience with machine sales.....Man, sounds fishy to me. I can see the attractive features, etc but the fact no one will even pick up a,phone says something. Even as a one man show & out in the shop a lot, I always call ppl back.Blackbarts experiences sound scary, hate to see you go thru the same if its a dodgy operation.If you call Scotchman, you'll get a knowledgable rep on the phone & they sell parts for every machine they have made. Of course, you'll  pay for that kind of service too, but it is what it is.After this amount of time & no response from the "manufacturer" I don't think I would be very comfortable buying anything from them.IMHO of courseExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:I won't be taking any risks here.  Like I said earlier, they're about an hour and a half from me.  I can hook on to the dump trailer and go pay/pickup in person if it gets that far.  I still don't know what the price is so it's a non issue right now.  It may be well out of my budget.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI won't be taking any risks here.  Like I said earlier, they're about an hour and a half from me.  I can hook on to the dump trailer and go pay/pickup in person if it gets that far.  I still don't know what the price is so it's a non issue right now.  It may be well out of my budget.
Reply:I have used the heck out of mine, so I can't say it was a waste of money.  Whoever designed it was on the right track, but never perfected the design.  I have modified lots of parts of it. If I have any more problems with the shear I might buy the replacement from MEATALpro, their shear is similar.  Most of the parts are off the shelf, like McMaster Carr, so I can keep it going. The brake has many nicks in it, I don't think it is hardened enough.  It was 1/4 the price of anything comparable on the market.  It is kind of like the old shopsmith for woodworkers.  Could do everything, but none of them was as good as a comparable dedicated machine.     If anyone has seen my machine, or know where to get parts, especially for the shear, please let me know.    It might be worth the hour and half drive to test drive their design.
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbart It might be worth the hour and half drive to test drive their design.