Thread: Disgusting

They might have purchasing/disposals/OHS regulations that they are not allowed to sell equipment without some hugely complicated and expensive stack of paperwork certifying that it is safe, or some 'whole of campus' agreement that all working machinery must be sold to blah-blah-blah industrial machinery pty ltd who are only too happy to destroy 'old' equipment to keep it off the second hand market so that they can sell more new stuff.

I've seen second hand furniture places buy entire floors worth of government desks and chairs - for under $100 for the lot - and take it straight to the tip where it is crushed under their supervision...keeping it off the market so that they can keep second hand prices nice and high.

I've seen this before and don't think there is anything sinister behind it with regards the second hand market value etc. I was amazed at the chair story though! In this instance, whether it's for legal reasons (ie they don't want the liability) or tax reasons (it's been devalued to scrap value on their books) I have no idea. Pffft, I'd be more than happy to sign something saying it was going to be used as "parts" .... and wow, look what happened, all the "parts" came back together and formed a complete machine again. Who would have thought

[ It is in good working order but has had the 3 phase power cord cut

I think that is the simplest explanation.

- Either the building it was installed is to be taken down, and they did not want to spend extra money upfront for a licensed electrician to disconnect it properly and attach an expensive 3-phase plug just for selling......

- Or there is a problem with the electrical system (switch or wires or motor) and that is why someone cut the cord, to prevent anybody unaware to reattach it before it has all ben repaired and tested by a licensed electrician. It is common practice at schools and uni's to cut the power cords of dodgy appliances.

I personally would not care. Whoever buys this lathe will either convert it to single phase, or to 3-phase variable speed VFD. In either case, the electrics will have to be redone. It is a rare occasion that such a fine 260 becomes available out in the bush. I am sure someone will find in it the dream lathe he was searching for many years......

Originally Posted by .RC.

This Hercus 2060 Lathe is surplus to our needs at our Wagga Campus. It is in good working order but has had the 3 phase power cord cut as it is to be sold as scrap or spare parts only. The purchaser must sign an agreement to confirm this.

It is an OHS/liability thing. I've done similar when disposing of equipment at work. Unless I have all the manuals and all the service records and I can absolutely confirm the equipment is in 100% working order, it is sold as 'scrap' and I ask the purchaser to sign a document to confirm that they are buying it on that basis.

What they do with it after they buy it is up to them, but the selling organisation is off the hook (and has signed paperwork to prove it).

Although I have bought a lot of machines in this way with a promise to only use them for parts I feel as you do about the criminal waste of a fully working machine. My only consolation is knowing at least they aren't going to the scrap merchant. When I approached the scrap merchants about saving them they would have no part of doing anything but mincing them up, as you say a discusting waste.
Fortunately not all of the teaching institutions tow the oh&s line.
Mal

I recently purchased a 260 ATMH from TAFE NSW with a similar clause. The head of dept assured me it was to prevent any liability problems associated with selling such a machine. They even gave me the cord that had been cut off.

I am more than happy with the scrap I purchased.

Originally Posted by Muzza 260

I recently purchased a 260 ATMH from TAFE NSW with a similar clause. The head of dept assured me it was to prevent any liability problems associated with selling such a machine. They even gave me the cord that had been cut off.

I am more than happy with the scrap I purchased.

That's the attitude!

As I posted earlier, it is mostly a OH&S thing. I'd rather sell 'scrap' to someone who'll use all its parts it to make a working machine than have to sell it to a scrap yard who'll mince it.

Think of it as a win-win (with some paperwork attached)!

The lathe sold for $1625. A bargain I reckon.

Ken