need a press

BCFramer

Grumbler
Joined
Jan 17, 2002
Posts
15
Loc
Shrewsbury, PA
okay,

i had a pretty good deal on a 500T worked out verbally with a framer whose reputation was reported to be admirable.

however, the "deal" has since fell through, and long story short, i'm back in the market for a used 500.

anyone have a grapevine lead for me? i'm opening in two months.

-bri.
 
Hi BCFramer

I have a 500 in my back store room under boxes of moulding which I would consider selling as is, if I got the right offer, the offer would have to be way above the $200 that the other ”framer” had offered his 500 for, at $200 I would not consider it worth my while to dig the press out, transport it to a packing company, arrange shipping and all the related hassle that goes with selling second-hand equipment, it’s to bad you did not tell the other “framer” that you would actually buy his press, after all you only indicated to him you might buy, you made no firm commitment and at $200 a $2000 piece of kit was not going to hang around for very long, the reality is that you let the ball drop, the other “framer” is not a mind reader. The $200 he wanted for the press was only to offset his direct expenses and his only motivation in selling the press was to help someone get started in business.

I spent two day’s with the other “framer” in Birmingham England at a trade fair, not only is he admired for his standards in the US he also has a very considerable international following, this I witnessed by the amount of people from all over the world who stopped by to say hello to him and ask his advice on many areas and aspects of framing.

I wish you every good fortune with your new business and I can understand the stress you are under as I to started my business on a very limited budget and had to go the route of second-hand equipment and with second-hand framing equipment you need to take the ball on the hop, for example I bought my Morso Chopper sight unseen it was take it or leave it, in fact I did not even know what one looked like (I has no internet in those days) but I took the advice that I got, that was a framing shop needs a Morso and that with most basic framing equipment is safe to buy second-hand as it is very robustly built.

If I were you I would try and get to know this other “framer” I think when you realise who he is that he could become a very great asset to your business, he is very knowledgeable of the business and is very willing to share his knowledge to all, it’s just a case of asking him and he will share what he knows.

Once again good luck with the business.
 
Well BCframer,
You will get little pity from the framerguy. We all tried to tell you that

1. John Ranes was a straight shooter.

2. The deal on his press was an absolute STEAL!!

3. You wouldn't find a better deal in years.

You waited from the 17th of January until the 28th of January when Dan finally stepped in and bought the press.

I'm sorry but I didn't see through the Grumble any "verbal deal" on that press between you and John. Had John ever made a verbal deal with you, he would not have renigged. You didn't jump when you should have, end of sad tale.

Hard lessons learned are rarely forgotten. Chalk this one up to a learning experience on your part.

Framerguy
 
Sorry. John Ranes is widely reputed to be a man of his word. His press would have been a great deal. We all sometimes let things slip thru the cracks. Better luck next time.
 
okay heres what happened.

i believe i spoke first, to which john gave me the privilege of "first refusal". i thought i had made my interest clear in an email to john on the 18th. he replied in an email that he would be checking on the shipping cost, but that he'd be in Vegas until the 26th. I replied that was fine with me, because i wouldnt be needing the press until march anyway. so i waited. on the 28th, i was at The Grumble and noticed john's post with the price quote, and after that, another post wondering why i hadn't spoken up. ( i was waiting for an email from john, and didn't think to check the grumble) so, i quickly emailed john explaining that i was still interested, to which he replied that dan(?) had gotten to him first, i snoozed, i lost.

i'm not looking for any sympathy here. i always considered john's offer "too good to be true", and in the end, it was. so i'm back to where i started, big deal.

-brian.
shrug.gif
 
Brian,
Wow! What a tought crowd! Albeit a very loyal crowd. I hope you find your press. I actually have a Seal 4468(?) in somebodies basement. But it has runaway heat and who else knows what else. It is actually only 3 years old. For some reason the electronic circuitry kept going out. We had our electrical source checked out. we put in anti static mats and even got a humidifier at the suggestion of the person fixing it. After about the 4th time of fixing it we were given permission to buy a new one. The store manager literally arranged a special pickup with the garbage people. I got about 5 friends to help me and it is now sitting in a friends basement. I'd love to get that up and running and then I'd sell my mechanical press at my own shop. It works great I just prefer the vaccum press. I'll post it if I get the other up and running! Good luck! Kathy
 
hmm,

in order to re-create the events spoken of earlier, i've been rereading the grumble posts from john. he DID say "first person with a serious offer AND PHONE NUMBER and it's yours". i realize that i never sent my phone number in my emails to john.

kathy, (or anyone), do you know what the platen size is on the model you have?

-brian.
 
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by BCFramer:
hmm,

in order to re-create the events spoken of earlier, i've been rereading the grumble posts from john. he DID say "first person with a serious offer AND PHONE NUMBER and it's yours". i realize that i never sent my phone number in my emails to john.

kathy, (or anyone), <font color=red>do you know what the platen size is on the model you have?</font>

-brian.
<hr></blockquote>

Usually on a Seal press the size is given in the Model #. In this case her press would be 44" wide by 68" long.

FGII
 
It is 44x68 Brian. I probably would keep that one if I can determine the problem. I would probably sell the mechanical 500-t. I have to make room for the vaccum press and see what the heck is wrong. I really feel there was some sort of electrical surge problem. I'm hoping to look at it in the next couple of months.Also probably is the key word here! Kathy
 
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Sorry if we seem like a tough crowd in defense of John Ranes. <hr></blockquote>

Hey don't get me wrong. I think it is great. I only wish to have people like that defending me that way! I was feeling a little sorry for Brian. Obviously he is feeling bad himself. Kathy
 
To: emibub

Re: Your Seal 4468 that needs repair.

I have done repair work in the "field" on at least eight Seal 4366 or 4468 presses and have been able to get each one up and working. Sometimes I was able to do in on the first call, but often it would take one on site call to determine what the problem was and another to put the replacement part in. Or often with a 3 way conference call with myself, the shop owner and the SEAL technical support tecnicians, we could focus in on the likely problem, order the part and the customer could install the part or we would do it.

My only electrical training is basic electricity in Grade 8 shop classes, a long time ago!

There are only about three items that fail on the machine:

- the main control board ( under the lower bladder on the right side.

- the heat and temperature control board - which is on the front right sloped side that has the computer pad where you do your selection.

- the relay control that is mounted on the right side of the press, below the bladder and on the inner rail that runs from the front to the back of the press.

All the above parts are easily replaced. Each item would take less than an hour to remove and replace.

Alan Sturgess
 
Alan, It is the main control board that has gone out 4 times. The repairman says he has never had one do that so many times. And within a 2 year period. The only thing we could come up with was there must be some sort of power surges. We had an electrician check it out and he found nothing. Since the day that store opened we would get little static shocks and if your hand was near the control board it would wipe out the machine. People were pulling the cover sheets off of thermal board near the machine and that was turning it off also. We would turn it off and then back on and it would reset itself. I've been told one little static shock could wipe out the whole electronic circuitry. We have tried to figure out the static situation with an antistatic mat and a humidifier but to no avail. But when they were literaly were going to throw the machine in the trash I couldn't let that happen. I really feel it was something in the store. It was Michael's after all. I always felt that store must of been built on some sort of Indian burial ground. The whole store was jinxed. The press is sitting in a friends basement. She has been in California for 6 months and is due back in April. I am definitely going to try to get it up and running. When I'm ready maybe I could call you if need be? Thanks, Kathy
 
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