Opinions on this craigslist used Miller welder?

[beppington]

Is this something you'd have to see in person & test/ try before offering an opinion? (which concerns me since I have such limited welding experience (aka comm ed class only) & know no welders)

Is $750 fair, or what you would offer him?

(I pasted the ad below, but here's the link it's from: Millermatic 140 MIG Welder)



Millermatic 140 MIG Welder - $750

Date: 2011-01-11, 5:25PM EST
Reply to: sale-gzsym-2155544891@craigslist.org

I am selling my Millermatic 140 MIG welder and mixed gas tank. I have only used this unit for approximately less than 1 hour. This welder sells for $837 and I spent over $900 with the mixed gas tank. I hate to sell this welder but I am in a bit of a financial bind and must sell ASAP! $750 for both the full tank of mixed gas and the millermatic along with the original box/ manuals/ and even instructional DVD. Give me a call and you can even try it out before you buy. Call Alex (904) 303-4673

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

make sure the tank is customer owned, or he is selling you something he doesn't own.

 

[k0ua]

it is about like getting the tank for free. Check the hydro date on the tank, and make sure who is the rightful owner of the tank, (not leased) then what about the warranty, still good for the second owner of the welder? if so than I think it might be a good deal.
James K0UA

 

[Scooby074]

Its a good unit, but you may want to look for something bigger like a MM180 minimum. A bit of searching could get you a new 180 fr not much more but youd still have to buy a tank.

His prices are near what i paid. I think my tank was ~200 and the welder was about the same.

Make sure he owns the tank, I think you could get it for less from him but i wouldnt wait too long.

 

[beppington]

Well ... I've budgeted $1,000 for a welder. If this isn't a really good deal, & it sounds like it's not, I guess I'll just get a new one & avoid possible used equipment problems, dealing with somebody I don't know, & all that.

Tks for the opinions.

 

[LD1]

By his #'s, it looks like ho only has about $63 invested in the tank. It sure sounds like he is trying to sell you a leased tank. Unless he can provide ownership papers for the tank to prove it is his, it isn't really a great deal. Personally, I'd look for something a little larger as well. So I vote to pass on this one for now.

 

[Scooby074]

Well ... I've budgeted $1,000 for a welder. If this isn't a really good deal, & it sounds like it's not, I guess I'll just get a new one & avoid possible used equipment problems, dealing with somebody I don't know, & all that.

Tks for the opinions.

I wouldnt say hes giving it away, but there is some savings there you could try for more.

The machine itself is a great runner. Id have no worries about the machine being defective (plus **** let you test).

Only thing is this " You can never have too large a mig welder". It was told to me when i bought mine, and i didnt heed. Learn from my mistakes lol.

As an example heres a MM180 for $879 and thats here in canada where we pay way more than you guys in the states Miller Millermatic 180 American-Made Mig Welder [MEM-907312] - $879.99 : KMS Tools

A MM140 for $759 http://www.kmstools.com/miller-millermatic-140-auto-set-mig-welder-3444

and a 212 for $1749 http://www.kmstools.com/miller-millermatic-212-mig-welder-3448

Also at around 1k give or take you could find a used 251 (if you get lucky) or 210 Both much better welders than the 2 compacts above. the 212 is the new 210

 

[beppington]

Will skip it ... & it looks like I can get a new Millermatic 211 (115V / 230V auto-switchable; A big plus for me since I'm not sure I'll have access to 230V anytime soon) for about $900 including shipping on eBay.

Then I'd just need gas, which my local Airgas place said is about $260 to buy a filled tank.

 

[LD1]

Will skip it ... & it looks like I can get a new Millermatic 211 (115V / 230V auto-switchable; A big plus for me since I'm not sure I'll have access to 230V anytime soon) for about $900 including shipping on eBay.

Then I'd just need gas, which my local Airgas place said is about $260 to buy a filled tank.

I am sure their are differing opinions, but I would look into leasing a tank. Especially if you are not going to be doing a ton of welding. The place where we get tanks from, it is $50 per year. And that is good for up to like 5 tanks.

For example, you open a lease for $50 and get a tank. Then pay whatever it cost for the contents. I 2 months you buy a set of thrches and need oxy and acete tanks. Lease is alreeady paid. They "give" you the two tank and you are only charged for contents.

Plus you never have to worry about tanks being out of date, re-inspections, ownership papers, etc.

Not saying it is right for you, I am just saying to look into it.

 

[Scooby074]

Will skip it ... & it looks like I can get a new Millermatic 211 (115V / 230V auto-switchable; A big plus for me since I'm not sure I'll have access to 230V anytime soon) for about $900 including shipping on eBay.

Then I'd just need gas, which my local Airgas place said is about $260 to buy a filled tank.

I was going to suggest the 211 as well. Its also heaver than the 140 and 180 but still compact.

around 1k at cyberweld. 900 is a steal

Owning a tank is a good thing. At least here. The leases are killers. Plus its a walk in exchange so i always get one thats currently tested

 

[SandburRanch]

it is about like getting the tank for free. Check the hydro date on the tank, and make sure who is the rightful owner of the tank, (not leased) then what about the warranty, still good for the second owner of the welder? if so than I think it might be a good deal.
James K0UA

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Plus, with all the theft in today's society he would have to show me proof of purchase.

 

[Chilly807]

The price on the welder itself is so-so. It's a good welder, but not a great deal used for that price.

As far as tanks go, I have two, one is owned (Argon-Co2 mix) and one is leased (Argon only). To me, if you don't weld much, buy the tank.

The bought ones here from Praxair are a smaller size, so there's no question as to whether it's owned or leased. They don't lease the small ones. The tank I leased I rarely use, so I'm paying the lease fee every year whether I use any gas or not.

I don't worry about hydro testing the tank, even the owned tank is a simple exchange. You walk into the shop with an empty, pay the fee for the gas and walk away with a different full tank. They don't refill "your tank" while you wait. It may be different where you are, I don't know.

Sounds like a good deal on the 211.

Sean

 

[lostcause]

this welder is all over ebay for $665.99 new with free shipping, so just on the welder alone you should be looking at $500 or less since it's used. i have checked craigslist for welders, and i have seen a lot of people selling for a certain amount when i can buy a new one for the same or less. either they are trying to get as much as they can by hoping you don't shop around or else they didn't shop around and just went out and paid retail.

as far as the tank goes, if he indicated that he paid $65-$75 for the tank, then that is exactly the cost of a one year lease on an empty tank, plus the cost of the ar/co2 inside. if i cut a deal with him on the welder, i'd just say keep the tank and let him deal with that. leases here range from $25 to $45 a year per bottle, depending on dealer and length of contract. a fill will be $30-$45.

around here (i assume it's the same everywhere) leased bottles have the name of the dealer stamped into the ring on the top of the bottle. if you look right under the large threads (about 3" diameter) where the safety cap screws on, there is a raised ring about an inch wide. if this ring is completely smooth and has no markings on it, you should be looking at a customer owned cylinder. if the ring has a name stamped into it, then it belongs to whoever has their name is on it. i can't gauge the size of that bottle - it looks to be close to 3' tall? around here the standard sizes are 20cf, 60cf, 120cf, and 280cf - sizes vary slightly depending on what gas is inside. the 120cf and 280cf are considered commercial sizes and are very rarely customer owned. the 20cf and 60cf are quite often customer owned. yours may be an 80cf? i'm not familiar with them, so i can't say where they fall. i do know that a 60cf will generally cost $100-$150 for the bottle.

as far as other issues when buying a used cylinder, if the identification ring indicates a customer owned cylinder, you also want to make sure they have the transportation cap that protects the valve. if not, deduct $10 to $15, because you will have to pay that to get a new one when you turn in/refill the tank. one other poster mentioned the tank date. i've used gases for years, and i still have never been able to decipher all the stampings on tanks. if the tank has no physical damage to it (welding arc marks will instantly void a tank) and it still has gas in it, then it is likely to pass a test. i believe the test is $10 for 10 years, so it's not a huge cost to have it recertified. if you own a tank, you're going to have to pay those fees eventually.

around here people/places don't generally have their own tanks refilled anyways, they swap their empty non-lease bottles for full non-lease bottles. some places break down the $10 recert fee into each tank exchange and others will just bill you every 10 years if you stay with them as a customer.

 

[radman1]

I think you can find one cheaper for used price. A 140v IMHO, can't weld heavier stuff without multiple passes and I can't get multiple pass to look good. :laughing: I would try to find a used 180 or 210. I paid $1000 for my Miller 250 including large bottle Ar/CO2 (customer owned) and extras. My brother bought his new miller 251 from by the internet from TX. Much cheaper than local and that was several years ago. A good welder lasts a very long time when used on an occassional basis. A very good used one will probably maintain its value forever. I think I could sell mine for what I paid and I bought it years ago. Get one that can do nearly everything you want.