Thread: Few things I have seen for sale ATM

I wonder how much of the price is the Deckel (or Qantas) premium.
Of course it is an excellent machine and appears in good condition but no tooling or other accessories and no universal table (although the rotary table looks good). Would be big dollars to tool up.
The total weight of the machine also seems low at 1450kg from what I have read (say compared to my SHW at 2500kg). Freight to Canberra won't be a trifle either.
There seems to be a building gap between the increasingly sort after Deckel and the rest of pack which can be just/nearly as good.

Weight is correct - with either the fixed or circular table mounted, old FP4 minus the M is much beefier. FP1 is about half the weight in comparison.

Premium for Q, who knows, although contact mentioned previously didn't have a lot of good to say about LAMEs turned machinists at Sydney at least, can't imagine it being used for a huge workload at any rate.

Price of the thing bare was ~ 80k back in the late 80s, boring head 10k, pivotable circular table, no listing, but I'd expect 20/25k, and you get an additional 12mm of Z! So what, 15% of original cost, maybe not too bad a deal after all.

I agree guys (although not the part about the Qantas engineers). Obviously I have some reasonably good inside experience there, and the machines at Qantas are very well looked after. Whether they guys themselves make good machinists after leaving I can't say, and it's really beside the point anyway.

I just bought some things from another Grays' auction, and the contrast between the two is chalk and cheese. Most of the machines coming on to the market through auction sites like Grays are because the company has gone belly up. The pattern of the company leading up to it is typically very similar, with decreasing maintenance on machines that have been flogged to death until the doors are finally closed by employees who couldn't give a toss whether the machines are maintained or not. I've yet to see a Qantas machine that hasn't been in excellent condition, well maintained, by employees who's whole work ethic revolves around near enough NOT being good enough. You're definitely going to be paying a premium for that. Mark IIRC you're the proud owner of just one such fine example.

One thing I've learnt is, the price tag, even if it hurts at the time, is sooner or later forgotten, and sometimes it's worth gritting one's teeth and jumping at opportunities as they arise if you're able. Life is too short to frustrate yourself by surrounding yourself with crap and then constantly struggling to get said crap to work!

I totally agree Pete, the auction here at the ANU had well looked after machines too, and whilst the Blohm was not really that expensive it still hurt at the time! However i have spend the last 2 days solid grinding parts (with a 2" wide wheel too, oh how i like a wide wheel now-i can actually make her sound like she is loading up!). I'm so glad i spent the money now.

There are 2 FP4's "fully tooled" (not sure what that really means) coming up for sale locally. They re asking 20k each, i was told one was sold and the same guy would buy the other if no one else wanted it. The demand is certainly there, and that 17k is looking pretty good (depending on what fully tooled really means of course)

Ew

Think mine was mentioned as comprehensively tooled too, which amounted to a load of worn out hss end mills, so would be interesting to see what anu come up with!

There was a vast array of stuff available from carrying rods, a couple of different microscopes, the array of tables and heads, cabinets, vices, yada, yada. Probably would have cost more than 300 large back in the day. Fer 'nstance, never seen the 160,000 rpm grinding head for a 4, but if that alone was 20k today, let alone the machine, definitely would be a bargain.

Originally Posted by Ueee

However i have spend the last 2 days solid grinding parts (with a 2" wide wheel too, oh how i like a wide wheel now-i can actually make her sound like she is loading up!). I'm so glad i spent the money now.

Pictures or it didn't happen..

Just thought of a bloke down in Melbourne who did have a 4M and a 4MK for sale a little while back too. Doubt he'd sell for tuppence if he's still got them, have an email if anyone's serious though.

Interesting thread, I had spotted the Qantas FP4 on Grays, but didn't see this thread until someone mentioned it at the weekend scraping course. Since moving this forum from the main metalwork section, I hardly ever look at it anymore, and I know I'm not alone in that regard. The final price for the FP4 was higher than I thought, but I'd put that down to the classic auction situation of two bidders going at it hammer and tong, the third bidder was out of the picture at half the final price.

I think the Qantas factor played a part in the bidding, and of course being a FP4M doesn't hurt.. although, I'd have knocked a few thousand off for the blue colour....

By the time the buyer get's it installed and running with a bit of tooling, it's going to be $20K or so, still not a bad price for a highly desirable machine.

Ray

www.ebay.com.au/itm/111469364895

I do not consider that overpriced if in good condition...

ROFLMAO at the description of this one

cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251659249312

Would suit someone who is a professional welder not for beginners.

hmmmmm..

Compressor needs repairs. the electric motor starts but wont turn.

Electric motors do something else other then turn when they start?

Such a bargain at only $1000...

I seriously wonder what planet some of these sellers orbit around sometimes, as it sure as heck doesn't seem to be our dear planet earth!

You're in luck however RC, as he's dropped the price to $800. Quite the bargain I'd say, and I'm surprised there's still a big fat zero bidders.

Someone here better get this.. Has the horizontal support as well.. better then a Dickel...

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0009-...an-osaka-japan