Author	[Modern View]
sflem849 02-22-2013 11:51:52 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	This it kind of OT, but in the end it has to do with a bunch of metal lathes. As some know I am taking a couple classes on Industrial Maintance at the local tech college. We have been using 6 lathes to turn our projects. There were 8 total but only 6 were good enough to use. Well, the school got some extra money about bought a bunch of new machines. The new machines arrived yesterday and they took the old ones to the scrap yard! So they got $250/ton for the machines when they could have got double for them as working units. Most of the tech colleges put stuff on the www.wisconsinsurplus.com website. Apparently this one likes throwing away money so they just go to the junkyard. I stopped by the scrap yard this morning to see if I could buy a couple of them, but they said no way. Oh well, if anybody knows of a cheap lathe I am still looking. :lol: [Reply]   [No Email]
sflem849 02-24-2013 18:19:45 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Lee called me this afternoon and I will be heading down there this week. He is an awesome guy. [Reply]  [No Email]
BigMarv1085 02-23-2013 12:25:14 74.190.85.60 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Look at how much money is spet on transporting our president around. Limo's for a million a piece. theres 3 helicopters everey time he goes for a ride. If airforce 1 goes out out of country the we pay for an additonal 750 people to go with him for security, cooking, bringing in more fuel, 6 -10 C-5 aircraft to haul in supplies. That is the biggest waste to me. [Reply]  [No Email]
John D Smith 02-23-2013 10:34:46 72.161.141.176 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   The government agencies that get more money than they can spend each year, use the money to buy dupicate stuff and send it to these auction places. The next year they do it all over again so that thier budet won't be cut. Real smart thinking. John [Reply]  [No Email]
dieselade 02-23-2013 04:24:06 70.194.65.81 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   what does your original post have to do with the government? [Reply]  [No Email]
sflem849 02-23-2013 04:45:01 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to dieselade, 02-23-2013 04:24:06   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see If your local tech college isn't the government, who is it? I have to pay taxes to support it every year. [Reply]  [No Email]
Pops1532 02-22-2013 20:44:52 68.58.114.55 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   leej, I can't see your email address. I'm looking for a lathe and would like more info on yours. I'm in NE Illinois. [Reply]  [No Email]
Samuels68 02-22-2013 20:16:00 173.215.11.129 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   IA NE- I am a ff in eastern IA, and our department may be interested in surplus equipment. We currently have a duece and a half that has been converted to a tanker (prolly early VN vintage?) but it is getting tired and is a maintenance nightmare. Shoot me an email at samuels.jess@yahoo.com if you get a chance. Thanks! [Reply]  [No Email]
IOWA NORTHEAST 02-22-2013 19:28:48 166.181.3.165 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Our fire department judt got a Five ton, (16,000) miles on it, a surplus 3,500psi hot water pressure washer (9 hrs) on it. And 99% sure we will get another five ton, all free from Ft. Mc Coy in the last two weeks for free. Probably over two hundred to chose from. But some real smart Government official decided humvies were not suited for fire protection (probably the best brush buggy you could ever dream of) but what do us firemen know about fire fighting equipment? Any way last Friday they got marked (just the humvies) to go to another country...thank you tax payers! Yea about two hundred of them that is! I think the five tons cost the tax payers about $71,000.00 each new. So why keep old ones with rhe high millage ?(remember..16,000 miles) Sorry, you just cant make this stuff up! Any firemen that live in Iowa or maybe outher states need free equipment? I can maybe get you on track. Also their are tool trucks with socket sets with sockets bigger than your mother inlaws ego that are free as well...marked Snap on. We got some big generators on our wish list, as well as those VERY large Snap on tool chests. [Reply]  [No Email]
MSD 02-22-2013 18:10:35 71.209.114.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Son bought a $265,000 CNC machine from a government surplus auction site. He got all the paper work with it and that was what the gov. paid for it. He gave $800 for it. Weighed right at 30,000 lbs. Had to have a crane load and unload it. Worth more for scrap than they got for it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Roger Tomfohrde 02-22-2013 17:38:35 71.51.129.13 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   We took in some newer refrigerators from Sears a few years ago, they had a condition that they were to be scrapped and not resold if repaired when we were done with them. We used to cut as many as 20 refrigerators apart in a day for a couple years. We sure got a lot of parts for labs that way. [Reply]  [No Email]
RN 02-22-2013 16:35:24 68.190.81.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Sequestoring 10% or more of budget civil and military seems like a good idea now- the odd wastefull procedures that take up 10% now maybe end. If a government department REALLY needs the funds- they can always ask the politicians campaign fund for some extra. Might find some other cost saving things before "furloughs" take effect. Ross Perot made some comments about the waste in government and General Motors- GM bought his stock share at double market price so they could kick him off board of directors, presidental run had a little-(OK, not so little campaign problem)- but the NAFTA job loss was foretold by Ross, the GM debacle also noted well in advance. Greece salary/budget cut for their civil service may be needed here, and sequestoring will give bipartisan excuse. Some government equipment does find it's way to outside users- just the paperwork doesn't catch up awhile. Like the Class 3 amnesty period before stop new tax stamps- 4000 M14s show up to get papered. Marines that had about 1/2 them seem to have been charged cost of M14 on last paycheck before end of service for not returning them to depot- Corps said the books are closed, no other discipline, etc contemplated since 'lost' equipment was paid for- but if the ex-marine was called back up from inactive reserve the Gunnies expected some of the rifles to come back with the called up reservist. RN [Reply]  [No Email]
TomH in PA 02-23-2013 15:40:34 67.235.10.94 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to RN, 02-22-2013 16:35:24   "Sequestoring 10% or more of budget civil and military seems like a good idea now- the odd wastefull procedures that take up 10% now maybe end." Maybe next election we won"t have a million or so government employees spending most of their time getting the boss re-elected as we did this time around. [Reply]  [No Email]
sflem849 02-23-2013 17:38:00 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to TomH in PA, 02-23-2013 15:40:34   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I was watching a news program this morning and they were making fun of Obama & Co for pulling another "world is ending" scenario. They said the military would get 2.5% less funding. There is no way they would really notice that small of a cut. I thought this was pretty impressive for the liberal news media. [Reply]  [No Email]
tomturkey 02-22-2013 16:29:58 216.81.211.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Government agencies,all, have a lot of hoops to jump thru to sell anything. It must be sold thru an auction or a public bidding process. A lot of manhours getting these all set up. All to make sure no one can be accused of corruption. Most agencies do take advantage of surplus auction sites like the one mentioned. But sometimes stuff just goes in the dumpster. gobble [Reply]  [No Email]
tractor300 02-22-2013 15:51:30 74.36.167.13 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Quite a few year's back the head guy at the ASCS office said they got a set amount of money each year to replace their aged office equipment or anything that needed replaced. He said that if he got everything new he couldn't spend it all. And if you didn't spend it they would cut you way back, and if you did need something you didn't have enough money to buy it. Our educated government at work. [Reply]  [No Email]
dr sportser 02-22-2013 14:41:02 68.196.138.71 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   What is with scrap yards lately . Some in western New Jersey told my friend they are not allowed to sell him a piece of metal and the ones near me never have any billet stock at all. [Reply]  [No Email]
s.crum 02-22-2013 13:52:15 67.142.181.23 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   I remember Barney our neighbor and a korean war vet telling of being ordered to dump hundreds of "excess" jeeps, tanks, aircraft, tools etc. off transport ships into the pacific on the way home. He said 'you did not seek an explaination. [Reply]  [No Email]
NCWayne 02-22-2013 13:51:44 69.40.232.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   All I can say is I saw so much pure, governmental WASTE when I was in the military it makes me want to puke. Nowdays it's almost as bad looking at these government auction sites selling "surplus" products. Granted I can understand machine tools,industrial equipment being upgraded as they get older and then sold as surplus (vs acrapping them, that's actually good business), but explain to me, how do things like wrenches, sockets, and other small hand tools that are brand new become "surplus". I can ask this with the experience of someone who spend over 4 years working in shipboard engine rooms where having a personal pair of vice-grips and an adjustible wrench was allmost manditory if you wanted to get anything done....All the while money that should have been spent on tools for us was wasted on things like rebuilding pumps that had no problems so an inspection crew could see how good out equipment was while the pump having the problems was left to be a problem child....and then, because of the idiots rebuidling it, the one that never gave problems became a problem too........ [Reply]  [No Email]
Billy Shafer 02-23-2013 12:15:28 173.184.46.120 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to NCWayne, 02-22-2013 13:51:44   One year when I was a fuel chief in the guard. I received two real fuel tankers. Brand new straight from the factory. After one summer camp. They took them away from me and sent them to Brazil. Gave me two wore out duce and halfs. Then told me to go to the salvage yard and piece together two fuel trucks. Still upsets me to this day. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ken-Pa 02-22-2013 13:26:48 75.179.46.144 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   I hate hearing such American stupidity like your story . My feelings are that its a sin to literally scrap something good & that could be usable to someone else . [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 02-22-2013 13:32:05 66.188.56.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to Ken-Pa, 02-22-2013 13:26:48   Amen........The waste is sickening. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 02-22-2013 13:20:38 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   depends on how the gov excesses stuff in your area.sometimes stuff HAS to go to junk yard, sometimes it can be sold,sometimes it has to be even sent to hazardous waste sites. and then sometimes its just got rid of in the way easiest for the place. no telling really what happened in your case. might be someones kinfolk! [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 02-22-2013 13:18:10 66.188.56.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Back in the 80s an old buddy of mine had worked at a GM plant in the tool room and maintenance department. Well after he retired he was told that this plant through 3 indexing tables for a boring mill in the garbage, no even for scrap. He went and picked one out just before it hit the dumpster. And look at GM now, riding high on OUR money. [Reply]  [No Email]
Spook 02-22-2013 14:34:23 99.29.145.250 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to Wile E, 02-22-2013 13:18:10   I know at our GM plant any excess tooling was offered up to other GM sites and local schools. Never seen any schools take much, just engine stuff, for automotive programs. As far as pulling a indexing table for a boring mill out of the garbage, he must have been pretty strong. I've seen some that weighed over a ton. [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 02-22-2013 14:42:23 66.188.56.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to Spook, 02-22-2013 14:34:23   It was loaded in his pickup with a hi-lo. It was actually perfect timing he said. [Reply]  [No Email]
leej 02-22-2013 13:10:57 216.73.235.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   If you are interested I am ready to sell my large lathe. 3 phase, but may be able to change motors. It is not a modern cnc type but rather a gear type, but automatic. 2 chucks and some necessary tooling. Im sure my email is open. Located central northern Illinois. [Reply]  [No Email]
sflem849 02-22-2013 19:13:24 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to leej, 02-22-2013 13:10:57   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I would be interested in a reasonably priced unit. It was mostly just the lost opportunity that bothered me the most. I got a surface grinder and milling machine from my dads work for scrap price and figured a lathe would really complete my machine shop. In classic view your post says "no email" so I'm not sure how to get ahold of you. [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M 02-22-2013 13:08:01 24.140.0.120 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Well that kinda bites. I'm guessing the new ones are made overseas and the old ones were made in USA ? also be like our gov. to keep supporting our enemies too. [Reply]  [No Email]
Animal 02-22-2013 12:48:26 71.51.222.31 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Where are you? [Reply]  [No Email]
sflem849 02-22-2013 19:04:52 69.197.84.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to Animal, 02-22-2013 12:48:26   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Rock County, WI The school is Blackhawk Tech. Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Actually the "old" ones were from Brasil and Italy. They replaced the 30ish year old lathes, but they still have the Korean era surplus mills. :roll: The other crappy part is the new ones CAN NOT be ran in manual. They can only be CNC operated. I know that is the big buzz word right now, but people also need to learn how to run a manual machine. ESPECIALLY if they are in the maintance department. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bob - MI 02-22-2013 12:36:07 24.236.144.170 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   Call around to the schools in your area and ask if any of them will be moving old inventory. Sometimes if you get the teacher on the line you can get first shot. [Reply]  [No Email]
David G 02-22-2013 12:12:23 205.215.206.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to sflem849, 02-22-2013 11:51:52   I would bet it has to do with lawyers and liability. [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike (WA) 02-22-2013 14:09:29 69.10.199.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to David G, 02-22-2013 12:12:23   Bingo. Any governmental agency is seen as a "deep pocket"- the lathes were used, who knows how they would be abused by a new owner, but you can bet that if somebody gets hurt, they're going after the agency that sold that allegedly defective piece of cr@p to them. The other thing is the process for selling surplus items- offer to other agencies, put up for bids, etc., etc.- easier in the long run to just chuck it. I talked to a woman at local recorder's office once about the procedure for disposing of an old mobile home. She launches into this incredibly complicated process- apply for lost title, apply for permit, get it inspected for asbestos, submit eleventeen things to the Dept. of Licensing, etc. I finally said "How about if it just quietly disappears?" She said "I couldn't tell you to do that, but will admit that that's how most of them are handled." [Reply]  [No Email]
da.bees 02-22-2013 22:06:53 72.181.183.240 Report to Moderator	Re: Angry post - I guess this is why our government is broke in reply to Mike (WA), 02-22-2013 14:09:29   Come to think of it,can anyone name a single case where government handles money responsably even after spend more researching than it's worth to begin with? Ask anyone working in a child care facility recieving federal support of thier food program how much milk and fruit the USDA thinks a child needs per meal. It is painful for low paid workers to throw out food daily because the are shipped enough for each child to feed a 200 pound hog. Here is a clear indicator of city government's ability to handle money. The majority of large citys hire private companies to pick garbage up because it's cheaper eventhough the city doesn't need to make a profit. [Reply]  [No Email]