Tooling Around at HGR

An important part of each project or job, is having the right tools to accomplish the task at hand. Sometimes standard tools may work great and be what you need. Other times special tooling is needed. The size and cost of this tooling varies per application and per machine, but buying used tooling may be a way to get what you need for a fraction of the cost. What does HGR sell? Let’s find out. 

No Tool’s Gold Here

Okay, that pun was bad. Borderline offensively bad, but let me dig deeper. See another mining for gold joke there. I will stop now, maybe. Currently HGR has over 800 items in the Tooling category. Tooling is the main category, but it breaks down further to subcategories like; Bearings, Dies, Nutrunners, Linear Slides, Spindles, and Machine Parts. Some parts are individual, while others come in lots that may include multiple tools. This is where the fun begins at HGR. It is like a treasure hunt. You need that one piece of tooling that comes in a lot, so you buy it all. You come to find out the uses for the other pieces and have now diversified your output. That’s why it’s beneficial to routinely browse our inventory. With hundreds of items coming in daily, and the speed in which we sell them, you may miss out on a great deal.  

Tool Be or Not Tool Be

Thou shall broweseth our siteth…”Reign in the Shakespeare young man, you’ve gone too far” (Morgan Freeman voice). Is there something at HGR for you? I’m not sure, but if you are in the manufacturing or industrial sector, I am willing to bet a cold chilly dog that you can find something of use at a cheaper cost than buying new.  You can even let your sales guy know that you are interested in tooling, and we can make sure you get the updates we send out weekly on certain categories. 

Plastic injection molding is a process used in fabricating items from cell phone cases, water bottles, or even automotive parts. Almost all of the plastic items we use currently were made using the plastic injection molding process. Currently, companies have geared their manufacturing efforts to assist in making plastic parts for masks to help battle the COVID-19 outbreak. While they may be a current mainstay in manufacturing, they are nowhere near new and have been around for quite a while. 

A Little History of Injection Molding

The first injection molding machine was patented in 1872 by John Wesley Hyatt and his brother Isaiah. The machine looked different back then and was simplified, resembling a hypodermic needle that used a plunger to inject plastic through heated cylinder into a mold. The progress in the industry was slow at first making collar stays, button, and hair combs. In 1903 they used the first soluble form of cellulose acetate that was less flammable than cellulose nitrate which led to usage in powder form. 

How Does it Work?

An injection machine is made up of three primary components – the feed hopper, the screw and the heated barrel. Plastic granules for the part are fed into the heated barrel by a hopper. Plastic that is placed in the hopper is usually in powder or granular form although some resins, for instance silicone rubber, may be a liquid and might not entail heating. The material is then melted utilizing the frictional action of a reciprocating screw accompanied with heater bands. The molten plastic is then injected through the nozzle and into a mold cavity – it may seem easy, but injection molding is actually a very complex process. While in the mold cavity, the material cools and solidifies to the configuration of the cavity. When the part has hardened, the moveable platen that the mold is mounted opens and the part is ejected using ejector pins.

Buying an Injection Molder

Are you in the market for an injection molder? Buying one used could be a way to keep your output going for less money. HGR has used injection molders for sale like Engel, Cincinnati Milacron, Sumitomo, and more. Browse some our inventory here or see what’s on sale in our upcoming online sales event. 

Band saws are versatile tools that may not be the first thing you purchase for your woodworking shop. Once you get one though, you realize that you can no longer live without it.  All band saws are not created equal and the industrial band saws are bigger and beefier than their end-user counter parts. Band saws have been a staple to multiple industries since conception. 

History of the Band Saw

In 1809, a British patent went to William Newberry, but he had issues with blade durability which delayed the mainstream use until France native, Anne Paulin Crepin devised a welding technique to overcome this hurdle. It was 1846 when she applied for the patent and then sold it to manufacturer A. Perin & Company of Paris. It was here that they combined new steel alloys and her advanced tempering techniques resulting in the fist modern band saw. 

Why Buy Used

Have you ever bought a new car and drove it off the lot?  We all know what happens to the value the moment that happens. This is the same for machinery. Once they get the new equipment, the value has dropped significantly.  Buying used saves that original mark up and your overall costs. There is also how fast you will get the machine. If you were to buy used, and had a method of transportation, you could walk into a place like HGR a buy one today and leave with it. Even if you need help with shipping, it will be no where near the amount of time it takes for a new machine to be manufactured, 

Used Band Saws

HGR has over 150 used band saws available currently. Popular brands like Amada, Takisawa, Bosch, Hyd-Mech, Clausing, DoAll, and more. There are different types of saws available like Horizontal Band Saws, Vertical Band Saws, Up Cut Saws, and too many more to name. You will just have to browse the inventory to see. From industrial grade saws that cost $20,000 down to end-user hobby saws. HGR also carries blades for saws, but are limited to supply. Being a surplus dealer, sometimes you can’t tell what will be coming in stock until it arrives. 

These are unprecedented times we face as humans, let alone as businesses. We have more knowledge and technology available than ever, but our economy has been crippled by a widespread virus. Finding new ways to keep your business going while keeping cost low has never been more important than right now. Surplus supplies provide savings for companies HGR is an essential suppler of surplus supplies and used machinery to do just that.

What Do You Mean Surplus?
As manufacturers become more fluid and changing in what they produce, they may have left over supplies form a previous run. Ideally they would like to recoup any cost possible from this. I don’t mean a few half-empty cans of paint. I am talking pallets of obsolete media, or truckloads of equipment that no longer serve their purpose. A lot of cost may have been recovered in production, so that means whatever leftovers that are sitting in your warehouse become profit. Instead of paying to have someone remove it, a company like HGR will come, inspect it, and make an offer. This includes removal.

What Does HGR Do With The Surplus?
After purchasing, HGR has it brought into their warehouse in Euclid, Ohio where they inventory it, take pictures, and post it to their website. That is when the customers can browse online to view the inventory, or come into the 12-acre showroom to inspect the items themselves. This is where the savings come in. HGR resells all of that surplus to you at pennies on the dollar. Leftover supplies from one company, could be the thing that pushes another company into profit on a job. It could be something like nitrile safety gloves, safety glasses, or other MRO. Why pay the high prices for new, when HGR may have new, in-the-box items that simply were no longer needed, for prices that can’t be beat.

Does the Machinery Run?
HGR also sells used machinery that was purchased from companies similar to surplus. One of the questions we always get is, “Does it run?” And the answer is, we don’t know. One of the reasons HGR is able to offer such great prices, is the unknown running condition. There is a 30-day return policy if it doesn’t, although HGR does not cover shipping for obvious reasons. You may get a machine for a percentage of the costs and it runs great. Winner winner chicken dinner for you, bud. But what if it doesn’t? Even with the cost of repair, you may most likely still be significantly under the cost of a certified used machine, yet alone a new one. Not testing the machinery allows HGR to keep the cost to our customers as low as possible.

How Can I See What HGR Has?
Easy! Just visit us online at hgrinc.com and browse through the categories. If you have any questions, please use our live chat option in the top left of the screen. If you would like to purchase an item, submit a purchase request to one of our sales staff and they will contact you for shipping and payment info. HGR does not accept payment online. Cash, Check, Credit over the phone, or Wire Transfer (not Western Union) are all methods of payment that are acceptable. Surplus Supplies Provide Savings for Companies.

COVID-19 Respiratory masks are being 3D printed to help meet the current demand. 3D printing is a rising field of additive manufacturing that  has opened the doors for creative minds to find creative solutions. The Chilean-based team over at Copper3D has a global initiative in place called Hack the Pandemic. They use a nano-copper additive in the production of it. This nano copper helps work as an antimicrobial agent, as well as blocking out 95% of small particles. 

Who is Copper3D?

A startup company from Chile that specializes in antimicrobial nano-composites that are used to “hack” the materials and eliminate microorganisms. One of their first products was called PLACTIVE, a high quality PLA polymer. They also created a medical-grade material called NANOCLEAN, a PETG polymer with additive concentration of 1% aimed at more specific purposes in medical devices. PLACTIVE was also clinically tested in 3D printed prosthetics for U.S. war veterans and currently is tested by NASA for 3D printed applications in long term space missions. Now COVID-19 Respiratory masks are being 3D printed

What is 3D Printing?

The term additive manufacturing is currently buzzing around and it pertains to 3D printing different materials. The history of 3D printing is fairly recent, with the earliest record of it being used was in 1981. Hideo Kodoma was a Japanese inventor credited with creating a product that used ultraviolet lights to harden polymers and create solid objects. This is a stepping stone to stereolithography (SLA). From there the story leads us to today’s important use in the creation of devices like N95 respirators to help battle the outbreak of COVID-19 or the coronavirus.

Who can use 3D Printers?

Anyone with the right computer and software can purchase a 3D printer and use it for multiple applications. There are smaller consumer-aimed models and large scale manufacturing models that make airline parts. A few popular companies using 3D printers are General Electric, Boeing, Ford, Nike, and many others. While GE makes airplane fuel nozzles for Leap jet engines, Nile was making 3D printers cleats for the 2014 Super Bowl to help get exposure for this rising technology. They also released a line with 3D printed uppers. 

Where Can I Get One? 

The answer depends on what type you are looking for and the uses. HGR Industrial Surplus is your number one source for used machinery and currently have different makes and models available for purchase at a discounted rate. Click here to see a few of them. Quantity may vary so please reach out to sales staff for inquires. Currently there are multiple Envisiontec available if needed, so please inquire. Smaller, new consumer models can be purchased in person at places like Microcenter or online with sources like Amazon.  

Be sure to check out our online options if you’re a business that uses these to help with crisis management, like respirators or parts, please reach out to HGR and see if we have anything in stock to help in this time of need. There may be some other categories you find useful on our site as well like; Chemical Processing, Plastics, Packaging, Ultrasonic Welders, or our home page for more options. 

Most people don’t think about the craft of welding in everyday life. The fact of the matter is, no matter where you are in the developed world, you are always within 50 feet of something that has been welded together. This expanse of welded objects includes items like sewer pipes, street lights, electrical transformers, ductwork etc… Gowelding.com puts it simply when they point out, “Did you know that welding is done everywhere ranging from the bottom of the ocean to outer space and everywhere in between!” Lincoln Electric, with its headquarters down the street from HGR, is a fantastic example of a company that puts tremendous focus on welding.

There are a few different categories of welding that use different techniques. Among these different types is Ultrasonic Welding which was popularized in the 1960s. Wikipedia notes that, “Ultrasonic welding is an industrial technique whereby high-frequency ultrasonic acoustic vibrations are locally applied to workpieces being held together under pressure to create a solid-state weld. It is commonly used for plastics and metals, and especially for joining dissimilar materials.” The applications for ultrasonic welding are vast and include uses in many industries. Computer and electrical industries, for example, use ultrasonic welding to help create semiconductor devices, transistors and diodes. Tiny microcircuits can be bonded together with thin aluminum wires using this specialized type of welding. Working on such a small scale requires extreme precision and sensitivity that can be provided by ultrasonic welding technology.

Coincidentally, another major sector that benefits from the use of ultrasonic welding is in the medical industry. The major benefit for the medical industry is that ultrasonic welding does not produce contaminants like traditional welding machines do. An environment that needs to be sterile, such as an operating room, cannot risk having contaminating particles floating around. A traditional welding machine that uses heat is almost guaranteed to release unwanted particulates that will create an unsafe hospital environment. Ultrasonic welding is commonly used in the production of medical items like dialysis tubes, blood filters and IV catheters. One medical item that is in particular demand right now, the facemask, is another commodity that can be safely manufactured with ultrasonic welding.

HGR is fortunate to have a wide array of ultrasonic welding machines in our general inventory here. Check our website for new item arrivals every day.

What can you do with a 3D printer? An engineer will probably answer: Almost anything you can possibly imagine. While it may seem like a stretch, it’s actually true to say that when you have the right technical blueprints, you can print anything from carbon atoms to galaxies. The era of 3D printing is still relatively new although the roots of this technology date back to 1983. The 3Dinsider website explains, “Stereolithography (SLA), commonly known as 3D printing, has been around since the 1980s. Those early pioneers called it Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies. That’s a bit of a mouthful for most of us—hence the term 3D printing was born.” Read the full article here. During the 1990s it was common for most households to have a paper printer. Eventually, 3D printers will be ubiquitous in the same way.

3D printing enables you to produce complicated objects (with or without moving parts) using less material than traditional manufacturing methods. To help understand the capabilities of an industrial 3D printer, image a scaled down operation that includes massive fabrication equipment. HGR is proud to carry some 3D printers among our vast inventory of machines. Recently, we acquired this EnvisionTEC DSP 3 SXGA Printer in our inventory of printing machines. In less than 24 hours we were delighted, but not very surprised, to get purchase offers for this unique item.

EnvisionTEC is a leader in 3D printing technology. Wikipedia notes that, “EnvisionTEC is a privately held global company that develops, manufactures and sells more than 40 configurations of desktop and production 3D printers based on seven several distinct process technologies that build objects from digital design files.” Check out the full wikipedia page for more info on EnvisionTEC and 3D printing technologies.

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is a system of creating three dimensional solid objects from a digitally-coded blueprint file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes where the architect creates successive layers of material until the object is complete. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal plane of the eventual object. 3D printing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which is cutting out / hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with, for instance, a milling machine.

Check out HGR’s website to see our full inventory

Do you have any machinery that is no longer useful or needed? Chances are you will be able to sell it for scrap metal – and only get scraps in return. HGR has a much better plan for you to help recoup costs and clear up floor space: sell your surplus machinery to us! HGR buys over 4,000 truckloads of surplus a year from companies like yours. Whether you are trying to sell one item or an entire warehouse of items, HGR is eager to work with you. Watch this video for more details. If you need to reach one of our buyers to sell your surplus, please fill out the form on our website here, and we will get back to you a fast as possible.

The buying process at HGR is simple, quick and efficient. It takes about 30 seconds to fill out the inquiry form and get in touch with one of our regional buyers across the country. Within our serviced regions, we can have a buyer at your door for items both large and small. Once we are connected, we will plan an inspection date to view your surplus inventory and construct a bid offer. After you accept our bid offer, a check will be cut and sent overnight to your preferred address. It does not matter if you need your surplus moved immediately or shipped at a later date – HGR can help accommodate your needs. We have over 20 years of experience buying thousands upon thousands of surplus items from companies each year.

So before you think about paying to have any old units disposed of, invest a little time into researching the value of letting HGR purchase your surplus. When you sell your old equipment, the money you receive will boost your bottom line or help pay for an upgrade. Furthermore, we help give big machines and equipment a second lease on life to help other companies thrive as well. The net benefits are great for saving money and creating a better environment, literally and figuratively, for our planet. Head over to HGR’s website and see how easy the process of selling your surplus really is.

View our inventory here

You may have noticed some changes around HGR lately. We have been closely watching the global outbreak of COVID-19 and we are very serious about helping to stop this pandemic. Our highest priority is to ensure the health and safety of our customers, staff and families.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a variety of steps that we are implementing to help reduce the potential for the virus, protect ourselves and help prevent the spread throughout the community. To that end, and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, we are implementing a number of actions intended to slow the spread of the virus.

One of our actions, unfortunately, is temporarily suspending Free Lunch Wednesday. We will definitely let you know when we’re back on for lunch! We will have to suspend our coffee and pastry offerings for the time being. We are also asking to avoid shaking hands between customers and employees at this time. HGR is encouraging you to wash your hands when you arrive and when you leave – we are providing hand sanitizer for your convenience. HGR’s common areas are routinely cleaned.

Customers who have traveled on a Cruise Ship, UK and Ireland, Europe, China, Iran and South Korea within the last 21 days will not be permitted in the building at this time. For our customers shopping we recommend shopping online as an alternative, specifically when you are ill and whenever else it is feasible. When you visit please utilize our hand sanitizing stations. For those customers our Buyers will be visiting, please note that our Buy Team is also following the above protocols, and are open to working with you in any way possible.  This includes the use of technology in replacement of a personal visit if necessary.

Visit HGR’s site for updates on our response to COVID-19

CDC Info On COVID-19

HGR has high quality used machine tools that you can easily purchase with substantial savings. Machine tools are components for cutting and shaping metal – this may include grinding machines, milling machines, lathes, shearing equipment and more. These machines are absolutely vital in manufacturing and fabrication – it’s no surprise that major corporations like Amada, Haas, Komatsu and Mori Seiki are all deeply invested in creating machine tool equipment. The machine tool industry shows no sign of slowing down as the necessity for metal cutting, precision machining and mass production of goods for global commerce is steadily increasing year over year.

Lathe machines, for example, are a specific type of machine tool used mostly for shaping metal or other source materials. While the lathe category is vast and popular, there are other machine tool items that are also in wide circulation. Milling machines, hobbing machines and gear shapers are also basic types of machine tools you will find in shops. All of these machine tools, and more, can be found at HGR’s public showroom. HGR receives used machines by the truckload every week – a good portion of these items fall into the category of machine tools. Within this category, HGR splits up the used machine tools among grinders, lathes, mills and electrical discharge machining items. Shaping metal with a used machine from HGR has never been easier or more affordable.

What kind of tools do you use on a daily basis? If you regularly need to shape metal or ceramics, then you will absolutely need certain cutting tools like the ones described here. Encyclopedia Britannica’s website notes, “Hundreds of varieties of metal machine tools, ranging in size from small machines mounted on workbenches to huge production machines weighing several hundred tons, are used in modern industry.” In other words, modern industry is rather dependent on the use and maintenance of these machines tools. HGR is proud to be the conduit for giving machines a second life and saving resources for our customers.

Our 12 acre public showroom in Euclid, Ohio is brimming with all kinds of machine tools for sale. With several truckloads of used machines coming in every week, you never know what kind of special deal may be available. Check out HGR’s website for new arrivals, markdowns and last chance closeout items in the wide world of machine tools.

View our entire inventory and sign up for update on our home page here.

HGR is prone to receive hundreds of new items every day. Luckily for our customers, it’s all grist for the mill. In other words, HGR can make any item useful for somebody. One item that consistently stays in high demand is vertical mill machines. Milling is the process of cutting or shaping metal using a rotating tool. Vertical milling is a popular type of machine in this class. With these mills, the spindle is oriented vertically so it can easily move up and done while rotating. You will also find horizontal mills that work by moving the spindle from side to side on the alternate axis. These are predominantly used to create larger items with high precision parts such as a manufacturing jig. There are many different tools used with a milling machine to create the type of shape you are going for. There is a large description of milling machine varieties and uses on the dedicated Wikipedia page for milling.

HGR is proud to offer a wide selection of used vertical mill machines. We carry machines from top line brand names like Bridgeport, Sharp, Cincinnati, Southwestern Industries and many more. A machining center operation is not quite complete without a dependable milling machines. The term “machining center” describes a wide array of CNC milling and drilling machines that include an automatic tool changer and a table that clamps the workpiece in place. CNC Mills are able to quicken production and set up time. With a CNC mill you can program your job well in advance – the control memory saves the information for later use; this helps reduce the possibility for operator error.

Milling machines are quite versatile and can be used in several different applications. While they are normally used to create smooth surfaces, they can also produce oddly shaped surfaces with patterns, grooves or specialized curves. A vertical mill can also be used to drill, cut gears, produce slots or create interlocking components that provide structural support to larger items. Machined parts can be found in many common household items today, including dryers, toasters and ovens. You can find a lot of cool items that milling machines create on Pinterest to get a sense of their output capacity. Vertical mills are perfect for technical vocation schools, small parts production, shop classes, and maintenance crews. The only potential downside is the cost of a new vertical mill – they can be rather expensive depending on the model. Luckily, we are here to offer a reasonably priced solution for a used vertical mill. Head over to HGR’s website to view our vast inventory of used machines, including some spectacular vertical mills. You can also find some great vertical mill projects on Pinterest here.

Batman isn’t the only superhero who uses a grappling hook. First responders, firefighters and police departments across the world also need them from time to time. Our modern day heroes aren’t the first people to use grappling hooks – the need for line throwing equipment goes back thousands of years. According to Wikipedia, the earliest example of a grappling hook can be found in ancient Roman times. Soldiers would use hooks to latch onto ships and then wrangle them with rope. Evidence of these grappling hooks can also be found in ancient China. The use of line throwing would continue to evolve from crude humble beginnings into high powered pneumatic technology today. One amazing innovation is called the gravity hook – a type of retractable grappling hook that can open and close to pick up heavy items in hard to reach places. Today, grappling hooks are commonplace and can be found all over pop culture in areas like video games and comic books.

Traditionally, most people think about a grappling hook as a tool to help scale a wall. Rock climbing, mountain climbing and tree climbing are other activities that may require a grappling hook. However there are several additional uses for a grappling hook that may not seem obvious at first. For example, the coast guard has been known to use a grappling hook in order to hold and contain a speedboat fleeing into open waters. The grappling hook can also be used below the water’s surface in rescue operations. Other branches of the military have used grappling hooks to assist with mountain warfare and urban building entry. Navy Seals, especially, have been known to use this technology as Wired Magazine points out in this article about grappling hook technologies.

Line throwing equipment, and especially grappling hooks, aren’t always readily available to purchase at your local hardware store. That is why HGR is excited to offer a new selection of line thrower grappling hooks at our warehouse in Cleveland. These particular throwers are made by ResQmax, a company that makes line deployment and water rescue equipment in Portland, Oregon. The ResQMax website points out that, “The Tactical ResQmax is a pneumatic line thrower specifically designed to deploy a line only, a grappling hook and climbing line, or a grappling hook and ascending ladder to an otherwise inaccessible point in both land-based and maritime environments without putting the operator at risk.” Operator safety is paramount and you will be safer by using a product that relies on air compression power rather than on pyrotechnic firepower to function. Head over to the ResQmax website to get more details on this item and other products.

Head over to the HGR Website to browse our line throwing equipment. We have a few ResQmax throwers in stock but they won’t last very long. Happy Hooking!

It’s always nice to give back! A group of employees from HGR helped to pack 200 lunches for people in need on Friday, February 21. HGR partnered up with Ricky Smith and his organization RAKE – Random Acts Of Kindness – to coordinate the charity event. Over 20 employees, along with Ricky and his representatives from RAKE, spent a part of the afternoon assembling peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with other goodies to pass out. These bagged lunches were supplemented with other helpful items like new socks and toothbrushes. The goal of the event, and the main objective of RAKE, is to help spread kindness around the world.

Having Ricky Smith at HGR’s warehouse was a great experience. A native of Cleveland, Ricky built up the RAKE Organization from humble grassroots efforts. The RAKE website tells the story, “Raised in the Cleveland suburbs of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Ricky possessed a need to excite the world with his off-kilter wit and eagerness to help the needy any way he could.  Through his routine charitable actions, Ricky possessed a sense of randomness.” It only seemed natural to connect Ricky’s random personality with his warm charitable disposition to create RAKE.

RAKE operates in a lot of other cities beyond Cleveland. In fact, Ricky has taken his charitable operations to several different places on tour. Like a proper touring act, RAKE has gone so far as to hit 50 cities in 30 days! From Atlanta to Denver to San Francisco and everything in between, RAKE goes on the road to collect donations and set up charity events all across America.

RAKE is an organization that does amazing work for less fortunate people whenever they can. HGR is proud to help support such a wonderful cause. We would encourage you to explore what the RAKE Organization has to offer for yourself. Please do yourself a favor and get on board with Ricky Smith and RAKE at the next opportunity you have. Follow Ricky and RAKE on his social media channels below!

RAKE Facebook

RAKE Twitter

RAKE IG

The machine industry is big business. Depending on what kind of machine is needed, it is not uncommon to spend six figures, if not more, on a single item for your company. It may be necessary to buy a brand new expensive machine from time to time, however, what if you need a fleet of machines for your operation? Alternatively, you may be a lone practitioner or a hobbyist who needs a sophisticated machine for personal projects. Putting your personal project on Hobby Machinist becomes infinitely easier when you don’t have to spend a fortune to acquire the machine.

Funding for new machinery could be an issue, especially if you don’t want to accumulate massive debt. It’s an issue of time as well. The amount of time put into research and discovery on a new machine does not happen overnight. It could take several weeks, if not longer, to have all of your ducks in a row for this type of major purchase. Most shoppers don’t have the luxury of extra time and money to be frivolous in these matters. Luckily, there is a simple and elegant solution to this type of problem: buying used machinery.

Most people know that when you purchase a new car, the value of that car instantly drops the moment you drive if off the dealership lot. Cars are mobile machines after all – and they can still be sold after 80,000 miles are racked up on the odometer. The same principle holds true for machine tools, lathes, press brakes and other items after they are purchased and run for hundreds of hours. Once your new machine is fired up and operational, that machine is unlikely to command a higher value if resold. This is a double edged sword to be sure. While the new machine investment is sometimes unavoidable, the opportunity to purchase a used machine is ever present and growing all the time. You will be able to see firsthand accounts of these stories on a forum like Chaski’s Home Machinist.

Used machinery is well suited to be resold in a variety of ways. One popular way to sell a used machine is via full service equipment auction. While recognizable names like Christie’s or Sotheby’s may deal in fine art, heirlooms and real estate, other companies like Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers will put a specific focus on selling used machinery. HGR partners up with CIA – who works with BidSpotter – to run several machine auction events each year. Participating in a machine auction is super simple. It doesn’t involve much more than registering for an account, locating an auction and placing bids online. The auction will always have an inspection day if you need to spend some time with the item, or receive customer service information, before committing. The machine auction process may seem intimidating on the surface, but really, it’s not much different from buying an item from Ebay.

In addition to the auction model, a company such as HGR can help facilitate the transaction of selling used machines in a more traditional way. Our 12 Acre Public Showroom is open during regular business hours to browse thousands of used machines in our inventory. The benefits of buying used machinery extend beyond immediate monetary savings. Short term savings may seem like the best reason to purchase a used machine. However, the long term economic advantage is also worth noting. Saving a mere 10% of overhead costs can lead to tremendous positive changes in a company’s bottom line. When these savings are extended over several years it can lead to a tremendous increase in company profits. HGR is proud to help create a marketplace for selling used machinery that gives people (and machines) an extra opportunity to create more potential for less capital investment.

Check HGR’s website for more details on auctions, used machinery and special sales.

HGR is your best source for used CNC machines. Computer Numerical Control – better known as CNC – is the main architecture behind programming machine movements. The programming of CNC movements creates a structure and blueprints for machines to follow when using CAM or CAD software. Rather than manually adjusting every millimeter of movement in advance, the CNC allows machinists to create a coding diagram that will let a machine work in auto pilot until the objective is complete. The machine can be a milling machine, lathe, router, welder, grinder, laser or waterjet cutter, sheet metal stamping machine, robot, or many others. For larger industrial machines, the computer is generally an on-board dedicated controller. However, the CNC can also be an external computer which communicates with the larger machine for the coding instructions.

The HGR warehouse occupies over 500,000 square feet of floorspace in Euclid, Ohio. Among that massive space is an entire fleet of different used CNC machines. At any given time, it is not uncommon for HGR to have over 100 CNC machines available to browse and purchase. New CNC items arrive every week and get sold rather quickly. When a category of machine has a high demand, combined with a wide versatility of uses, they usually don’t sit around for long before being bought. While it can be intricate to program and run a proper CNC schematic, HGR is happy to simplify the process of acquiring the machine with a significant price reduction. It’s even easier to keep an eye on the new CNC arrivals at our warehouse by checking this page.

HGR is proud to carry top line name brands in the world of CNC machining. You will find items manufactured by major brands like Falcon Chevalier, Okuma, Hardinge, Cincinnati, Tree and others. Many of the machine brands are domestic but we also carry famous international brands from countries like Korea and Japan. There is practically no limit on the potential of uses for a CNC machine that can be purchased from HGR. Whatever your project may be, HGR is confident you will find a proper solution with our selection of CNC machines. Our warehouse is open to the public during regular business hours on weekdays. Of course, you can also browse our entire inventory of machines on HGR’s website here.

In addition to searching on our website, the HGR Facebook page will post information on new CNC machines from time to time.

Before Ebay was even a possibility, a traditional auction was an event that had an aristocratic audience and was usually hidden from the general public. Early auction houses date back to the 1700s when aristocrats would gather to bid on a variety of hugely valuable items. Artwork, jewelry, books and furniture were common items featured in auction houses. When items are sold to the highest bidder, the experience becomes something closer to a sporting event more than just a sale of goods. In the early days of auctions, names like Sotheby’s and Christie’s were the only game in town. A couple hundred years later, the entire paradigm of an auction would shift into a digital world of unlimited potential.

In the old days, an auctioneer would swing a gavel to indicate that a lot has sold at auction. In today’s world of auctions, the auctioneer has been replaced by a massive media server that runs millions of auctions every month. Ebay has, of course, become the most dominant auction house in history. And while Ebay gets the lion’s share of all modern auction transactions, it certainly doesn’t get to handle everything.

While Ebay can deal with most general items, it’s a different story when it comes to machinery and specialized industrial equipment. There are too many moving parts, literally and figuratively, when it comes to putting heavy machinery up for online auction. The online auction process becomes a bit more sensitive when the lot costs $10,000 or weighs 10,000 pounds. This is where a company like Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers can jump in and take the lead when it comes to putting heavy machines up for auction.

HGR Industrial Surplus partners with Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers – who works with BidSpotter – to hold a handful of online auctions each year. These auctions feature dozens of items and span the spectrum from basic machine tools to jib cranes that weigh over 10,000 pounds. Each auction has an inspection day built in so bidders have a chance to get up close and personal with the items they bid on. The inspection day is normally held one day before the auction ends.

HGR is proud to add a lot of items up for online auction including tooling, extruders, air compressors, forklifts and much more. Get details on HGR’s current auction, which runs through March 10, with Cincinnati Industrial Auctioneers here: https://get.hgrinc.com/westech-aution-via-hgr/

And of course, you can always browse our 12 acre showroom which is open to the public and see our inventory online at our website: https://hgrinc.com/

Once a month, HGR is proud to host a massive machine sale that features big discounts on hundreds of items. Our sales are held on the second Saturday of each month. People have been known to line up outside the front entrance as the doors open at 7:30am to begin the sale. Once inside, our customers are eager to browse HGR’s 12 acre showroom which contains hundreds of discounted machines and items.

Products are discounted anywhere from 10% to 40% and include a variety of items like dust collectors, air handlers, welding equipment, motors, pumps, desks, hardware and many more. We have a dedicated team of salesmen here to help assist and answer any questions you may have about the items on sale. From time to time, we will also host special events during the sale such as a raffle giveaway. During our Saturday Sale in January 2020, we gave away 3 tool chests to 3 participating customers during our raffle. Below is an image of one of the winners in January.

You can view all the details for our Saturday Sale in February – including times and discount information – on our sale splash page here.

As an added bonus, we bring in complimentary breakfast at 8:00am from Rascal House Pizza in Euclid. Supplies are limited so make sure to arrive early so you can have a couple slices before they are gone! Our Saturday Sales run from 7:30am to 1:00pm on the second Saturday of each month. And as always, our 12 acre showroom is open to the public on weekdays from 8:00am to 5:00pm if you want to browse our full inventory.

We are happy to host this sale, and others, throughout the year. View our inventory and stay up to date with HGR’s promotions on our home page. 

Lathes are in high demand and it’s no surprise as to why. These versatile machines can handle a lot of different functions. Whether you are drilling a piece of metal or sanding a piece of wood, the main objective can be achieved by using a lathe. Every kind of major industry that produces physical goods will probably have a need for a lathe at some point – from furniture companies to automotive and aerospace giants.

A recent report by The Insight Partners shines a light on the limitless potential of this dynamic machine industry. The report gives a detailed analysis of several global territories and companies that manufacture lathes such as Yamazaki, Doosan, Dailan and more. A synopsis of the study notes that, “The lathe machine market is experiencing high demand due to rise in the demand from manufacturing and automotive sector. The company’s manufacturing these machines are focusing on the development of more efficient and less energy consuming machines to stay competitive in the market and subsequently attract more customers.” Read the full article here. 

HGR is proud to feature a wide assortment of used Lathe machines from many different manufacturers. These machines range from $1,000 to $100,000 and fall into many different categories of use. Our warehouse is open to the public on weekdays from 8am to 5pm and our stock of lathes is available to see in person. Alternatively, HGR will also buy previously owned lathes if you have any available to sell. See the process of buying and selling on our home page.

Here is a recent addition to our lathe machine family below:

Woodworking fanatics from around the country will convene in Arlington, Texas for the Cabinets & Closets Expo on March 11, 2020. The annual event – which features a full-day conference, plant tour, and exposition – is dedicated to home remodeling professionals specializing in building kitchen cabinets, closets, and other home storage designs. The scope and creativity of the exhibits are a testament to the continued intrigue of woodworking. Get more details on the Expo here.

In addition to viewing impressive woodworking pieces for improving your home, the conference will feature speeches from woodworking veterans who can offer unique insights. Will Sampson, a lifelong woodworker and entrepreneur, will be giving a speech about pricing trends in the wood market. Bill Esler of Woodworking Network writes, “Woodworkers also tend to be craftsmen first and business operators second. Another recipe for disaster.” He goes on to note that Sampson says, “It is too easy to overlook business fundamentals while scrambling to get work out the door. But just as no amount of finish will cover up bad preparation on woodwork, there can’t be any profit if your system isn’t in place to build that into the price.” Read the full article here. 

In addition to checking out all the new woodworking innovations and business trends, this Expo will also look to the future generations in woodworking. Most people don’t think of going to college for a major in woodworking. However, there are several ways to open up a career as a woodworker as a sole practitioner or part of a design firm. Young entrepreneurs will get plenty of insight and tips about the best ways to start the journey of a woodworking career. 

This conference helps prove that the interest in woodworking is strong in our modern times. Machines that assist with woodworking, of course, will go hand in hand with this strong interest.  

View some of HGR’s woodworking inventory here

The modern science of fusing metals together has been around for over a century. Depending on how far back in history we want to go, one could find evidence of primitive welding in the Bronze Age when common metals were used to create tools, weapons and even currency. In the intervening millennia, welding has grown from humble beginnings into an industry unto itself. Welding is used by many organizations, and in many disparate ways, to create all sorts of unique commodities.

Welding machines can have a long lifespan. In many cases, a welding machine will outlive the factory where it operated. The used machines are highly prized and can be used to benefit in other areas of commerce, such as farming. Agriculture Magazine recently listed some used welders on their website including an ESAB Rebel and a Millermatic 255.

While there is a science to metalworking, there is also an artistic and educational side. The next generation is eager to learn the foundations of what welding is and how it works. The Augusta Chronicle recently reported a story about scrap metal being donated to local schools near Savannah, GA to help train welding students. “Welding programs at high schools and technical colleges in the region surrounding the Savannah River Site (SRS) each received 2,000 lbs. of stainless steel from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at SRS for use in training future welders.” Read the full article here.

If you are in the market for a welder, you’re in luck! There is no shortage of used machines to check in HGR’s inventory. 

If you are relatively new to welding, our friends at Welding Supplies from IOC have you covered! They breakdown “The Secrets of Buying Your First Welder” on this article here.

And of course, you can be very creative with old welding machines too. Get some inspiration from this video showing a custom welder build on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVt7jnfQCxg