Upgrade dilemna, advise needed!

[julianthegypsy]

I've just been offered one, or even two esab mig welders, of about 450-500 amps, with separate wire feeders. One of them has built in water cooling but would need a new water cooled torch as the old one leaked so they just used it air cooled. Having said that, neither of them has been used for ages. Now the dilemna. I have an old Fronius 317 variostar, which has done me pretty well, but if I turn it up and go for it on 5mm plate, the tips sometimes jam, usual air cooled problem I suppose. Problem is I'm skint, as I'm very slowly recovering from the latest bad bout of sciatica. Does anyone have any idea what the Big esabs would be likely to fetch and what my fronius might be worth? The offer on the Esabs is seriously cheap, the company is closing and want rid of just to close the books, but I need to be sure I come out of it without spending any money that I don't have right now. I hope all that makes sense, if it doesn't I blame the drugs. All advice appreciated!

 

[BrokenBiker]

have you had a look on ebay, gumtree etc to see if any are selling on there. usually a good guide as to what they sell for

 

[julianthegypsy]

have you had a look on ebay, gumtree etc to see if any are selling on there. usually a good guide as to what they sell for

Yes, but I can't seem to see anything similar. It's annoying because under normal circumstances I wouldn't think twice, but we are so tight on cash right now that I have to be really careful.

 

[BrokenBiker]

same boat as me really, in order to buy a new machine i have to sell the ones i have etc.

if it is seriously cheap i would take a chance, get them both. Have an hours play and determine which is best for your needs then flog the 2 you have remaining. As long as you can make your money back you haven't lost anything

 

[julianthegypsy]

same boat as me really, in order to buy a new machine i have to sell the ones i have etc.

if it is seriously cheap i would take a chance, get them both. Have an hours play and determine which is best for your needs then flog the 2 you have remaining. As long as you can make your money back you haven't lost anything

That's what I'm thinking. It's actually only a three hundred quid, which is ludicrous on the face of it, or at least, it seems that way to me, but as I said, it all counts. I'd have to spend another hundred to get a water cooled torch for the one I want but I should still come out of it with a really heavy duty water cooled welder without spending any extra. Does anyone know how much power a water cooler uses? I'm getting really freaky about my leccy bills since I've been ill and not getting the work through the shop and it's probably a good habit to get into!