cheap HUGE MACHINES or $$$ little ones???

[k5ryanNC]

i've been saving for ever to get a piranha ironworker after using one at school all these years and am almost done with school so i won't have access to one

my problem is i have a 30x30 garage and only have so much space

i've had my eye on the 50 ton ironworker for about 14,000 total with the options i want on it

or do i buy a old old old 50 ton punch press and a 80 ton sheer for around 2000?

any help is appreciated cause i'm going tomm to decide
thanks ryan

[MC]

That is a good question. Keep in mind that machinery if hard to move (and expensive) and you may want to keep the space for other things. Ironworkers rock and are really a nessesary item to a fab shop. This is for home??

[k5ryanNC]

yes this is for home but i pretty much do more work at home than my normal jobs pays :rolleyes:

eventually i'll have my own shop(hopefully)

[Benny]

Why did you decide on the piranha? I was looking at the Edwards Jaws IV 55 ton which starts at $5896.

[k5ryanNC]

i like it for all the stations (nibbler end, shear in the middle, angle shear, soild rod shear, and the punch press/press brake end) also because i've used and learned on the machine and it's been abused by kids and numbnuts and it still works like new after 15 years nothing has ever broken and it's only serviced once ever year
killer machine

[PTSchram]

The pirhana is dead silent and stable. Older bigger machines tend to move around a lot. Is your home shop up to the load?

The Pirhana salesman was in the shop last week. Mine might be here by mid-summer. But, I'm only getting the 35 tonner. $$$

[Ollyota]

Is your home shop up to the load?


this is a really good point. we had to replace the 4" slab under one of the cnc mills at the shop i worked at with a very heavily reinforced 8" slab. i would think a punch press would put much more of a hurting on the floor than the mill we ran. definitely something to consider.

[MC]

at least 6" thick concrete? Where we are at its 14"s....another vote for the pirahna. They are a serious fab tool.

[braxton357]

i've been saving for ever to get a piranha ironworker after using one at school all these years and am almost done with school so i won't have access to one

my problem is i have a 30x30 garage and only have so much space

i've had my eye on the 50 ton ironworker for about 14,000 total with the options i want on it

or do i buy a old old old 50 ton punch press and a 80 ton sheer for around 2000?

any help is appreciated cause i'm going tomm to decide
thanks ryan

Either way you go, I think I'll have a new friend. :flipoff2:

[k5ryanNC]

couldn't get ahold of the guy tonight i'll try again in the morning.....

my slab is 8" high tensile concrete with rebar and wire in it.

the guy i bought the house from was gettin ready to put in some lifts but his brother stole the money out of his safe for his drinkin/drug habit...... :barf:

i have another lead on an ironworker in the area i'll check on monday.

and braxton357 you can never have to many friends huh :flipoff2: if the deal comes through i'm sure we can work something out!!!!!

[k5ryanNC]

the floor is about 11 at the back of the building but that would put the shear up against the wall......not to good for cutting

also can you isolate a punch press with thick rubber or poly under the feet to take the punishment without hurting the operation???

[camo]

for a home shop you should give the 40 ton scotchman a look. small foot print and plenty of muscle. i bought mine with alot of extras for 7k. nothing wrong with a pirhana of course but for 1/2 the $ i would think the scotchman would do 99% of your work.

[maximus]

I agree with camo, I recently bought a scotchman portafab 45. I'm have a mobile welding business so i mounted it on my flatbed truck, only takes up 18"x32". Its an awesome machine for its size. I only wish I had bought it sooner. You can check it out on there web site, www.scotchman.com, they have video of their machines.

[JumpinNRollin]

What does that Portafab 45 cost?

[maximus]

I paid $4390 for the machine. It comes with the 3in1 combo tool, that will shear 3" angle, 6" flat, & 3/4" round. Additional tooling gets expensive, i have $2000 in various hole punches, 12" brake, & rectangular notcher, something to consider before you buy the machine.