Mike Cruz
01-04-2011, 6:52 PM
First of all, yeah, I'm writing about the weekend I had...and it is TUESDAY!
There was an auction in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday the 1st. I had really been looking forward to it. It had 3 pieces of equipment that I was really interested in. And judging by the last auction I went to, I was hoping for decent deals, and brought the cash for all three. The auctioneer was kind enough to tell me that the equipment wouldn't be going until after lunch, which was very helpful because I had a 2 hour drive to get to it. It started at 9am, but I left my house at 8:30, so I could take my time and get there in plenty of time for the 3 tools I was interested in, but also see if there were any little things that peaked my interest, too.
Got there, took a look around and realized that, nope, there was nothing little I wanted, so, the wait began. However, a bright side to the day was that a fellow Creeker, Stephen Cherry (who I have not only met before, but he has helped me out quite a bit with my lathe...3 phase conversion and stuff) and I met up there. So, I got to pass the time with good company.
Well, around 1:30 or so, they got to the first piece of machinery. Not anything I was interested in, but I knew it would set the tone. An 16/32 or a 18/36 Delta surfacer...went for something like $750! (Just saw one in great condition today on CL for $400.) Then, the same guy wins a Grizzly 1.5hp shaper for like $625! You can buy it NEW for $550. Then the same guy wins a planer/moulder for something like $585. Okay, not a horrible price, but when I asked him what he got it for, he tells me, then basically asks me what it does!!!!!!!! I knew at this point that I wasn't going to get any deals and I should have just left, but I stuck around anyway.
One thing I saw there that I wasn't aware of before showing up was a 3 year old Oliver 10" jointer. Did some quick research (thanks Tony) and found out that it goes for $3500 new. Hey, if I could get that for what I could sell my DJ-20 with Byrd head...:rolleyes: No chance, it went for $1850.
So, on to the three things I went there for. First was a Grizzly edge sander. New= $600. In good condition, I would have spent up to $300. But it had a tracking problem. So, I bowed out around $240 and it went for $275 or $285. Next was a Bridgewood mortiser. New= $1,500. I could only afford $550, it went for $675 (and that didn't include the chisels, they went for well over $100). Lastly, the Delta 20" band saw, New=?, two have sold recently for about $800, a birdie told me that this one had vibration issues and was preeeeety old, I would have paid $400 (with the issue, $550 without), it went for $750.
I stayed for one more item...to see what it would go for. A 14 x 40 or 48 Holtzmann copy lathe. Minor issues, but looked nice. Went for $1500 something.
So, to sum it up, I spent 4 hours driving and 5 hours standing around to go home empty handed. The equipment was far from deals. They were CL prices at best. This stuff was all used in a cabinet shop, so not lightly used either. I'll just call it a learning experience.
If you want to see how Sunday turned out (much better), go to the Turner's Forum.
There was an auction in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday the 1st. I had really been looking forward to it. It had 3 pieces of equipment that I was really interested in. And judging by the last auction I went to, I was hoping for decent deals, and brought the cash for all three. The auctioneer was kind enough to tell me that the equipment wouldn't be going until after lunch, which was very helpful because I had a 2 hour drive to get to it. It started at 9am, but I left my house at 8:30, so I could take my time and get there in plenty of time for the 3 tools I was interested in, but also see if there were any little things that peaked my interest, too.
Got there, took a look around and realized that, nope, there was nothing little I wanted, so, the wait began. However, a bright side to the day was that a fellow Creeker, Stephen Cherry (who I have not only met before, but he has helped me out quite a bit with my lathe...3 phase conversion and stuff) and I met up there. So, I got to pass the time with good company.
Well, around 1:30 or so, they got to the first piece of machinery. Not anything I was interested in, but I knew it would set the tone. An 16/32 or a 18/36 Delta surfacer...went for something like $750! (Just saw one in great condition today on CL for $400.) Then, the same guy wins a Grizzly 1.5hp shaper for like $625! You can buy it NEW for $550. Then the same guy wins a planer/moulder for something like $585. Okay, not a horrible price, but when I asked him what he got it for, he tells me, then basically asks me what it does!!!!!!!! I knew at this point that I wasn't going to get any deals and I should have just left, but I stuck around anyway.
One thing I saw there that I wasn't aware of before showing up was a 3 year old Oliver 10" jointer. Did some quick research (thanks Tony) and found out that it goes for $3500 new. Hey, if I could get that for what I could sell my DJ-20 with Byrd head...:rolleyes: No chance, it went for $1850.
So, on to the three things I went there for. First was a Grizzly edge sander. New= $600. In good condition, I would have spent up to $300. But it had a tracking problem. So, I bowed out around $240 and it went for $275 or $285. Next was a Bridgewood mortiser. New= $1,500. I could only afford $550, it went for $675 (and that didn't include the chisels, they went for well over $100). Lastly, the Delta 20" band saw, New=?, two have sold recently for about $800, a birdie told me that this one had vibration issues and was preeeeety old, I would have paid $400 (with the issue, $550 without), it went for $750.
I stayed for one more item...to see what it would go for. A 14 x 40 or 48 Holtzmann copy lathe. Minor issues, but looked nice. Went for $1500 something.
So, to sum it up, I spent 4 hours driving and 5 hours standing around to go home empty handed. The equipment was far from deals. They were CL prices at best. This stuff was all used in a cabinet shop, so not lightly used either. I'll just call it a learning experience.
If you want to see how Sunday turned out (much better), go to the Turner's Forum.