Buying Machine Tools At Auction?

[confab]

If you buy something like a lathe or a mill at an auction, they all seem to want a million bucks bond against damages you may cause via "motorized removal" Meaning, crashing into shit with your forklift, I guess?

How long do you typically have to remove items from the auction site?

Long enough to physically disassemble them and cart them out?

[Hoghead]

I don't know about the US, but I know there's more than a few people who specialise in removing, transporting and installing machine tools on this side of the Pond. It can get fraught.

[JBinNC]

If you buy something like a lathe or a mill at an auction, they all seem to want a million bucks bond against damages you may cause via "motorized removal" Meaning, crashing into shit with your forklift, I guess?

How long do you typically have to remove items from the auction site?

Long enough to physically disassemble them and cart them out?

They usually have riggers on-site who can load or even deliver, for a fee of course. I bought my lathe at auction, and the company folks loaded it on a trailer for free, but that does not happen often.

Jim

[farmall]

I bring my rigging tool kit which costs less than paying a rigger, stays attached to the machine from purchase to final placement, and is easy to customize on the fly. Self and bro bring cordless tools, jacks, wooden dunnage etc. Overkill is just right.

I don't do machinery skates though. I won't use anything reliant on gravity since lathes and mills are tippy and dangerous. BTW when forking machine tools place plywood etc between tool and forklift tines for traction and don't hesitate to cargo strap (use the big ones, not little bikeshit) loads to the fork assembly (the guard is a good place) to control them. Know where the bolt holes are on machine bases at least approximately. Pilot, intermediate and step drill bits are your friends. If I need a specific corded tool I bring my inverter (many sites have no power) and more than enough cord. Take photos aplenty and bring a measuring tape when you go to inspect.

Most US auctions require shop insurance or similar to drive into the structure so I don't. Instead I brought chains, binders, snatch blocks and used my winch to pull heavy items from outside the building. The auction crew got a kick out out of that and said they rarely saw such forethought. I'm lazy and have a back back so I plan in detail.

Auctions will have pickup times and dates posted. If not visible, ask. Know what stuff weighs. You can rent hydraulic drop-deck trailers which are sweet for everything they fit. Ensure your mobility kit fits the trailer.

If considering something post a pic and I can give specific advice. I can afford riggers but they don't give me the safety and control I require.

[confab]

Thanks for the input. And yeah, some of them advertise riggers. But not a lot

Hate to show up relying on them being on site and end up stuck.

Basically, I'm trying to put together a little Harley Machine Shop for my own personal use. So, it doesn't have to have all the giant stuff you guys have. I don't have the room for it. It would take a service upgrade. I don't even have room for what I got now, to be honest about it. So, it will be small.

...post a pic and I can give specific advice.

Thank you. I appreciate that a lot. I don't have a pic to post yet, or I would happily take advice from experienced people. I can certainly use it. I'm outside my comfort zone here by a good margin.

Basically.. I want to find a good deal on a Sunnen benchtop hone. I want about a 3 (ish) foot lathe, a boring machine, and a small mill. (Like a JET) And that is what I will be moving. All the deals are at auctions, so that's where I'll be shopping for them.

No rush. I am trying to do this on the cheap and I am doing this to satisfy some kind of sick fetish I don't quite understand, as opposed to actually "needing" any of it, anyway. I shouldn't even be buying it. But I'm gonna end up doing it anyway.


I have about a 10' foot long die table to work with, and that's all the space I have in this building.

I don't suppose any of you would happen to have a benchtop hone floating around, would you?

[DoomBuggy]

What I would want, it I was doing it myself, is a Surety Bond for the damages. The bond company agrees to compensate the company if you wreck something. Unlike insurance which will cost you more upfront but pay the full claim, a Surety Bond says once they take care of whatever they are bonding ( you moving the machine), they then come to you to reimburse them for what they paid out, but the bonds are cheap as shit compared to insurance.

I worked for a Surety company that did construction bonds amongst other things. After about 20 years in the industry I manged to retain a few things.

[confab]

What I would want, it I was doing it myself, is a Surety Bond for the damages. The bond company agrees to compensate the company if you wreck something. Unlike insurance which will cost you more upfront but pay the full claim, a Surety Bond says once they take care of whatever they are bonding ( you moving the machine), they then come to you to reimburse them for what they paid out, but the bonds are cheap as shit compared to insurance.

I worked for a Surety company that did construction bonds amongst other things. After about 20 years in the industry I manged to retain a few things.

EXACTLY... And they want a million bucks (seems to be the average) to run motorized crap around to remove your winnings.

But, I don't have a fork lift, anyway? I don't have any big, motorized stuff? I guess I could still do damage and be liable, but everything I want is relatively small. I think I could take most of it apart and carry it?

[confab]

The lathe would probably be something a lot like this:

An ENCO, or similar. (This one is a Grizzley 12x36) Something that does a lot of threading and is extremely versatile.. But not huge. Cause I can't do huge.

[confab]

Oh, and PS.. Each, individual, auction company wants that bond posted with them before the auction..

It's not like you post it once and you're done. They all want to be indemnified in the bond as well, and specifically named.

[confab]

This is fucking stupid.

If you have too much money, you can:

1) Burn it.

2) Get divorced.

3) Buy a Harley Davidson.

[JBinNC]

This is fucking stupid.

If you have too much money, you can:

1) Burn it.

2) Get divorced.

3) Buy a Harley Davidson.

Somebody has gotta do it.

I'm 68, I think D. is the same age, and many other mechanics who know about the old stuff are themselves old as well. Several of the old wrenches in my area have passed in the last decade, and that attrition will continue apace. You younger men are going to have to step up and do what you are planning to do, or there won't be anyone, and soon.

Good luck with it, but beware of what you are getting yourself into. Apparently, the only way out is death.

Jim

[JBinNC]

With the adoption of on-line auctions, a lot of the bargains in industrial equipment have disappeared. You are now essentially bidding against the world. Used to be, prices were determined by who showed up on auction day. I have had some real bargains, mostly small stuff, but the last couple of industrial auctions I attended were a waste of my time. I don't have deep pockets. Local estate auctions of small shops would be your best chance.

Jim

[confab]

Yeah, there's not a lot of estate auctions here with stuff like this. And they're kind of a sport for the locals and get picked over.

But, they may be cheaper and more flexible than the industrial ones? I dunno? I've completely out of my element here.

We'll have to see?

I know I shouldn't be doing this anyway, so I don't want to pay retail.

[JBinNC]

Yeah, there's not a lot of estate auctions here with stuff like this. And they're kind of a sport for the locals and get picked over.

But, they may be cheaper and more flexible than the industrial ones? I dunno? I've completely out of my element here.

We'll have to see?

I know I shouldn't be doing this anyway, so I don't want to pay retail.

Go to an industrial auction and check it out. You need to see how the bidding goes before you jump in. They move fast. I am always exhausted by the end of the day, because you have to think, literally, "on your feet" the whole day. It's hard, but some days are worth it. I have spent an entire day and never made a bid. In that case, you are losing because your own time is valuable.

Jim

[confab]

I probably should.. But I have to take off work to do that. None are really close to me.

I talked to the Mrs. about it last night and she's all for it. More excited about it than I am, actually.

I thought I could do some online auctions and waste very little time and money that way.

If I win? I do.. And then we can turn the trip to pick it up into a mini-adventure.

If I don't? I haven't lost much and I'm not in a particular hurry, anyway.