What's It worth?

[Jim Brown]

Traders; I have a chance to purchase a 4 year old Leader drop flue 2x8
I was told it needs grates and a small amout of arch tin work. What would a reasonable price be for a rig like this? I know what I paid for my raised flue 2x6 one year old with a S/S steam hood.
Thanks in advance for your input
Jim

[digman_41]

Jim, check the price of a new one from Leader then go from there. Keep in mind Leader no longer produces soldered pans. Something else to keep in mind is that 2x8 with all the bells and whistles will barely evaporate 50 gals. per hour. And in reality without a pre heater and blower your more likely to get about 35 gal per hour. I had a 2x8 and tap about the same number of taps you're doing. I work full time and it just took too much time. I went to a 3x8 and am very pleased with this size for my operation,
also you can probably get a larger evaporator for the same price or possibly less. The differance in price between a used 2x6 and 2x8 is usually small. Your 2x6 seems to be the size everyone wants. Just something to think about. Mark

[ibby458]

It's awful iffy putting a price to something I haven't seen, but based on the evaporators I checked on before I bought mine, I'd say $1500 is a fair price, IF the arch is pretty much usable as is, and the pans are in good shape. 4 years old likely means lead-free solder, so that's OK if they haven't been warped or melted. If the grates really are totally gone, maybe a bit less. Check the base stack, too. Replacing that might cost quite a few extra coins. Lastly, how far away is it? Personally, I'd pay more for a rig next door than one 2 states away. (Although road trips are always fun, $3.00/gallon gas takes some of the fun out of them)

For compaarison, the 2.5 x 8 Waterloo that I just bought cost me $1600, plus $200 to go fetch it. It's 100% usable as is (After rebricking, of course). Any updates or additions that I'm planning are because I want to, or to increase boiling rate, not because they really are needed.

Lastly, consider your future plans, as the previous post mentioned. You seem to be expanding pretty fast, and maybe a bigger rig might make better sense. Of course, if you can get that one cheap enough, fix it up like new, you can resell it for maybe more than you paid for it after a few years of use.

I'd suggest replacing the tin in the arch with sstainless. It would require some basic skills, but the metal is available on eBay pretty reasonable. frigodesign sells 2x4 (and other sizes) of 20 gauge, And I think you could get enough to retin the arch for around $100 or so. That alone would increase the value quite a lot.

[Jim Brown]

Gentlemen thanks for the replies. I will be going to see the unit this weekend. I was told he is asking $2800 for the following items 2x8 rig-5000feet of used tubing-gas tapper-and as he stated we have a pile of other stuff setting around the rig that goes with it.I don't have a clue what that might be!
I'll let you know how I make out
By the way Ibby it is only a 50 minute drive from the house.
One small thing I forgot to mention was I just ordered a new steamaway for my rig last week
May be I can convert it to fit a 2x8?


Thanks Again
Jim

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jim,

The pans may be welded too which would definitely make it worth more! :)

[GregMVT]

Steamaway's are designed for the flue pan. When I ordered mine I had to provide the measurements for my 2x3 pan. I am not sure you could fit on a larger one and still be effecient.

Greg

[ibby458]

I'd say the asking price is definately within the realm of reasonable, combined with the other stuff. A lot depends on your own eyeball inspection. What some might describe as a defect might only be a blemish in your opinion. It's true that an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If you like it and are willing to pay the asking price, then - by definition, it's worth it.

If you've ordered, but have yet to receive the Steamaway, maybe you could call and upsize it. If it's too late for that, I think (But can't say for sure) that you could maybe mount it a bit higher and trim it out to lead all the steam thru it.

50 minutes away is kinda cool. At least it won't break the bank if you go look at it and decide against it.

[Jim Brown]

Thanks Guys for the input will keep you in the loop!
Jim

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jim,

They most certainly wouldn't have started production on the steamaway yet, so you could upsize it. It is very little difference in price for 5' steamaway vs a 4'. :D

[Jim Brown]

Well traders I went and looked at the 2x8 rig. the pans are soldered,the arch is" shot " holes burned through in various places due to not being fire bricked properly. The rest of the stuff is in 'fair' shape I'm going to make an offer on the tubing(600 feet of main line only),one box of Lambs purple tubing,200 taps(7/16) TANKA gas tapper looks new, 5hpB&S homelite pump looks new.3-200 gallon tanks,1-400 gallon tank. and 2-oval open top stock tanks.I'm not intersted in the rig. It is a Leader dropped flue. If any one is I will put you in touch with the owner. The rig is in Northwestern Pa about 25 miles north of Titusville Pa,
Thanks for all the replies!
Jim