Tips for buying a welder you can't try...

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Hey yall!!So, a little while back, someone made me an offer on my bike that I couldn't resist, and I took it. I loved that thing, but I need something a little bigger, my 250 was great in town, and up to 45 or so, but if you were keeping up on the backroads, that poor little thumper was shaking like crazy and begging for mercy, and, nevermind...Anyway, today I stumbled upon a Precision Tig 225 for $1k. I called the guy, and he says its in good shape mechanically, but its been used. Looks a little dented and scratched up, but hey, id be worried if it wasn't.His story is that he got it from his work and never set it up at his place, and thats the problem. I can't try it out. He seems honest (but people always kiss ya' before they screw ya'), but still. Its nothing personal, its not that I don't trust him, its just that... I dont trust anyone lol.He says he has everything for it, and $1k used seems fair for a machine that sells for ~$2200 new. If I play my cards right, I can probably talk him down $100 or something.My concern is, the not being able to try it. He said he'd give me his drivers license number and all, and I'm meeting him at his house when he gets off of work. Mind you,I never asked for that information, he offered it to me.So, does anyone have any pointers here? Anything to look at? Its a transformer-based machine, so thats a plus, I wouldn't even consider this if it were an inverter... If it checks out, it sounds like a good deal, and this is the only way I'm going to get into a decent tig machine in the somewhat near future. But if it all goes bad and I never see the guy again, what can I get for this machine if I part it out? How old COULD it be? I dont think they've made Precision Tigs for decades or anything, but I could be wrong... Thanks in advance...[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:How far away does the guy live? could you offer him some extra cash to bring it to your place so you could test it? i have done that in the past and the added cost was well worth the piece of mind IMHOGood Luck Ryan_______________________OF COURSE I DON'T LOOK BUSY... I DID IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
Reply:Could you make a jumper with a NEMA 6-50 receptacle at one end, and a dryer plug at the other? Then plug it into his dryer? At 30 amps it would be underpowered but at least you could see if the lights come on, and strike an arc.
Reply:how far does he live from you? offer to take him and the welder home to test it..if it works pay him if not drop em both off where you picked em up..if he is reluctant then mabe he knows the machine doesnt work....if you are going to start parting out a bad investment and spend time doing it..just splurge and get a new machine with a warranty and be the first to use and care for it..it will be much cheaper in the long run...if your going to keep the machine for 10 years its only $200.00 a year for a brand new machine thats going to make you money...no brainer..I buy lots of used stuf and fix it up..but the price has tobe right....Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:if your going to keep the machine for 10 years its only $200.00 a year for a brand new machine thats going to make you money
Reply:Make up a simple bill of sale/contract that says you have the opportunity to try it or return it within n-days and get your money back.  Obviously there's a bit of mutual trust involved, as you could screw it up or even rob a board or component and stick him with it.We bought an old Syncrowave 250 that we couldn't test for $850.  I had to make a judgement call based on the guy's location/setup and demeanor, and the unit was an ex-college machine in good cosmetic shape.  Worked fine and ended up buying a Wells-Index milling machine he had.  Maybe it was because he adopted many of the stray cats in the neighborhood and had a kitten with multiple extra toes.   I couldn't talk him out of the cat."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Show up with a generator!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:I bought mine about the same way. It didn't look like a homeless orphan, the guy was nice enough, I calculated repair costs into the equation, but I went home with it untried. I couldn't have been happier with it.
Reply:About 12 years ago a little kid in front of Wal Mart made me an offer - a kitten who he said "already killed a mouse, Sir".  Well, we took him up on the free offer.  Best damn cat I ever had, killed more squirrels, mice, rabbits and voles than you can shake a stick at.  Ate them, too, after showing them around the house.  Sometime you luck into a gem in the rough."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Trust in God; Test all welders.
Reply:I have bought many untested esp from auctions... basically I calculate scrap/ accessory value into can I get most or all of my money back....I have taken plugs with me.  I even tapped into the guys breaker panel on a miller vintage I bought...  just popped out the dryer breaker and hooked up the wires.   Good to go and machine tested fine so I bought it....At that price I would not buy un tested.   Agree on getting to a power source .Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I ran into a similar situation a few years ago when I bought a Lincoln Invertec V-250s stick/TIG.  I'd noticed it had been posted on Craig's List a couple of times, but the price was higher than wanted to pay.  Nevertheless, I called the guy and made an offer, and he accepted.  Of course, same situation, he had no 220v plug in his apartment (and no way for me to test it out).  So, we worked out a deal where I gave him half in cash, and wrote a check for the remaining amount (with the understanding being that the check would be cancelled if the Lincoln had problems).  I picked it up on a Saturday or Sunday, which gave me enough time to get it home and test before the check could be cashed.  Turned out the machine worked great, and I still use it today (and was able to get it for a fraction of what it cost new).
Reply:I buy lots of used stuf and fix it up..but the price has tobe right
Reply:Would you let your doctor install a pacemaker that could not be tested prior to you taking it home?Lincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.