Buy big spindle moulder for next to nothing with VERY limited shop space?

Ingebrigt

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So there's a guy not far from where I live that's trying to get rid of some old machines used to produce furniture. All the machines seem to be very big industrial specialty machines, and the only one I'm remotely interested in is an old spindle moulder. I am only a beginner/hobbyist, and have a very limited space and budget. I've never even used a spindle moulder before, but I think I could see myself using it some (?). So if I get this machine for next to nothing - should I buy it (it's gone cost me some money + time and money to transport it)? I was thinking that a worst-case scenario is scraping it, and keeping the motor and cast iron table.
 

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Another picture of the machine. I don't realy have any more information about it.
 

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If its cheap enough, you could buy it, clean it up and resell it for a profit?  Probably more trouble than its worth.  Or maybe you could turn it into a router table or spindle sander? 
 
Might be three phase electric? Most homes only have single phase. Although there are two wires dangling down.

 
I also have limited shop space and a huge machine like what the picture shows would use much more space than my usage would justify. I've been a serious hobby woodworker for over 30 years and have never needed a machine like that.
 
Ingebrigt said:
Another picture of the machine. I don't realy have any more information about it.

Thats what I was thinking when I mentioned salvageing the cast iron table and motor. I don't even have a router table now, but I bet it's gone be hard getting this to fit.

Peter_C said:
Might be three phase electric? Most homes only have single phase. Although there are two wires dangling down.

I will have three phase when the wireing in my shop is done (3 phase 230v 25a) :)

Birdhunter said:
I also have limited shop space and a huge machine like what the picture shows would use much more space than my usage would justify. I've been a serious hobby woodworker for over 30 years and have never needed a machine like that.

That's exactly what I'm thinking to, when being reasonable. But I like being unreasonable too much. So i posted this here hoping you guys could talk some sense into me (or was it the other way around? I'm not sure...)
 
These big old machines need a lot of respect .. they were typically built to last forever, with pretty much everything that could wear out being replaceable or rebuildable.

A large spindle moulder wouldn't take up a lot more space than a decent router table, but the puppy you're looking at won't be something you'll be moving about - so your location of choice would have to have all the access you need!

You need a bit of engineering skill if you get something like this and it needs some work .. and if you have that and a passion for this stuff ( like [member=3891]WarnerConstCo.[/member] ) you'll probably love it!

If you don't have the patience to refurbish and/or maintain it .. walk away [wink]
 
I'm not sure what tooling you guys use in the states these days, guessing its one and a quarter bore, so the spindle looks nothing like that dia, so it may use outdated/unsafe tooling
 
Festoolfootstool said:
I'm not sure what tooling you guys use in the states these days, guessing its one and a quarter bore, so the spindle looks nothing like that dia, so it may use outdated/unsafe tooling

It's not in the US, it's in Norway. Theres very few machines like this around here, and very long distances. This is only a couple of hours drive away + two ferries, so it's quite close.

I'm waiting on some more pictures of the machine, and information about it, and what bits/irons (?) I will get with it. I don't have much engineering skills, but that's something I want to learn (recently changed a wheel bearing, rotors etc on my car for the same reason).
 
Ah ok could be for  French type tooling if it is, its no way up to current spec But I know next to nothing about old moulders.
 
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