classiccandle Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I have an opportunity to purchase a 175 lb wax melter with thermal hose. The hose isn't metered but they said it will keep the wax heated from tank to jar. They think it's a CES model they purchased new about 4 years ago and used it for about 4-5 months. It then sat in their home workshop until about 3 months ago when they moved it and a bunch of other candle making supplies to a temperature controlled storage unit. They say it worked fine before they stopped using it. They said they paid $3400 for it and are asking $2250. I could probably offer $2000 and they'd take it. They actually have two of them for sale and I asked why they spent so much money and got out of the business and I'm waiting for a response.I'm really not at a point in my business where I need a melter this large but if it's a good deal I would hate to pass it up and then have to pay two to three times more later. I looked on the waxmelters.com (CES) website but didn't see anything that looked like the melter they're selling. Do wax melters typically last a long time? Is this a good deal? If it is worth buying I would definitely have them sign an agreement that if the unit didn't work once I got it home then they would refund my money.Any advice would be appreciated.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jluper7297 Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Is it simple to test it? I'm not familiar with them, but do the just plug in?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classiccandle Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Yes they're electric but it's in a storage facility with no electrical outlets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Fields Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 We have two 65 lb direct heat melters from CES. Love them!!! One is I think 10 years old and the other is 12, i think. Never have problems with them. We use them six days a weem. We looked at the type of melter you are considering about 3 years ago. As I remember, we decided against it because cleaning was a bitch. You have to basically empty the melter each time you use it because of the waste. That's a lot of jars. And, unless you have the ability to sell hundreds and hundreds of jars a week, it's not cost-effective. So, we stuck with the five pounds/batch method. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jluper7297 Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Yes they're electric but it's in a storage facility with no electrical outlets.Do you have, or know anyone who has a small generator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classiccandle Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks David. It does help but I have one question. If you're sticking to the five pound/batch method why use a 65 lb melter? Couldn't you do almost the same thing with a Presto cooker and a 4 lb pour pot? The reason I'm considering it is because I have the ability to get into one store of a national chain of stores and don't know where it could go from there. I don't want to miss an opportunity to grow because I don't have the production capacity. I'm kind of torn because if I pass on buying the melter and business grows then I'll have to go buy a brand new one at 2-3 times the cost but then again if I buy the melter and business doesn't grow then I've got a $2K machine with no production to justify it.@jlupr7297 - I don't know anyone who has a generator. I've conversed with the owner of the melter and I'm sure they would sign an agreement that if it didn't work then I could get a refund. I have access to attorney's to look over the agreement to make sure it's enforceable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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