used compressor?

[pescador775]

Captain, I added triplex type cans to my 1974 Capitano and to my home built portables. I use steel tanks and have become very touchy about moisture and rust. Of late, the old tumbler is feeling neglected. Nothing personal, heh.

 

[Isaac-1]

There's nothing "wrong" with it. Based on new prices nowadays, I'd pay $800 ish for something that old and of mystery heritage. Parts probably are available, but if you've seen Bauer's prices you'll factor some new ones (eg. 3rd stage valves or a really gunky intercooler that needs replacing) into the purchase price. That knocks some value off IMO.

I certainly agree with the issue that a new/newish JR II is the better compressor, I noted in my orginal reply to this thear about parts being pricey (fibgerlass/plastic fan shroud $300+) of course prices for a newer compressor are high too, and the question of continued long term availability. A known service history is a big plus for any used compressor, Personaly I think I would value a cosmeticly good later model 3.4 cfm purus like this one around $1,000-$1,200 still short of the $2,000 asking price. With a known good service history, recent rebuild I would say it might be worth close to the asking price.

Ike

 

[rjack321]

For me to spend $1200 I'd want more value. Recent overhaul and conversion to a synthetic oil. Known good compression on the engine. Clean intercoolers and valves, stuff like that. I hate to put down decent money for something and then figure out that it needs even more money in repairs and/or parts.

$2000 is not a good price for a potential project compressor. Its way too close to the price of a new Alkins or Coltri ($3-3.5K) for me to consider that viable. I'd value 5-8 yo Juniors and similar in the $2200-2400 range. Those are just my personal valuation which may or may not be similar to the going market.

 

[oxyhacker]

I agree, and think your price comments are spot on.

Only thing is, small compressors are few enough, and demand high enough, that if one doesn't live in a big compressor market like Florida one often ends up having to decide between paying a semi-outrageous price, and having a compressor, or either buying one new or doing without. Still, for $2000 I'd want sometime fairly recent with a good filter, and even for $1200 I'd expect a good running machine if older machine with modern filtration.

When I was looking for a small compressor, it seemed they were all over the place - except where I was. The local dive shop told me "Oh, too bad we didn't know, we had a guy in here trying to sell a little Bauer a week or two ago for $400. Knew I should have gotten his name." Another shop told me they had just given one away because it needed too much work for them to bother with. Sometimes it seems like buying a bad deal is the best way to flush the good deals out of hiding. I finally paid too much for a very used Nautica/Coltri, just because it was bird in the hand, then in the next few months all sorts of good deals seemed to be turning up all around me. Bought a Bauer for $500 which made selling the Coltri for $200 less than I paid for it bearable.

For me to spend $1200 I'd want more value. Recent overhaul and conversion to a synthetic oil. Known good compression on the engine. Clean intercoolers and valves, stuff like that. I hate to put down decent money for something and then figure out that it needs even more money in repairs and/or parts.

$2000 is not a good price for a potential project compressor. Its way too close to the price of a new Alkins or Coltri ($3-3.5K) for me to consider that viable. I'd value 5-8 yo Juniors and similar in the $2200-2400 range. Those are just my personal valuation which may or may not be similar to the going market.

 

[rjack321]

Thanks, I've seen the ads and pricing on TDS and elsewhere so I figure I'm semi-knowledgable about the current market for Makos/Bauers and similar. Oddly enough I rarely see used Coltris on the market. Maybe they haven't been marketed in the US long enough, maybe they last a good long time, maybe they die and aren't worth repairing/selling I dunno. Just seems like an odd gap in the used market.

I had the same used issues when I started looking 2 years ago. Anything other than a 95% rebuild was not near me. I wasn't comfortable buying used off ebay from 1,000+ miles away. I mean a $20 used O2 reg sure. But not several thousand dollars in compressor. As a new compressor owner I also wasn't super comfortable having my first purchase be a potential overhaul as well, ugh.

So I ended up with a new Alkins W31. Good machine, very happy I bought from my local dealer. His price was $100 more than online, but I have since gotten a number of deals from him on parts and bank bottles. So I've come out ahead.