Instantron Blendtone on ebay

What a little gem. Makes me think of a simpler time. The Instantron Blendtone. Maybe it'll find a good home, maybe get taken away to the Texas Electrology Supply Orphanage. I just hope it gets a good meal and a clean warm bed. It is stout little happy machines like this that can put a $50,000 laser machine to shame in terms of effective PERMANENT hair removal. With it's little cute knobs, it's happy blinking eyes, and it's smiling ampere level guage, it wags its needle at the sight of a customer that wants to take it home. All of you kicking around the idea of DIY or Co-DIY ...definitely bid on it.

Mantaray

Here's another newer model by Instantron.
e-bay: SS-99 Electrolysis Machine
Item number: 260229193216
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260229193216&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D260229193216%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Here is another Instantron, an Elite Spectrum
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=120248960445
High opening price and the seller only has 3 feedbacks though.

I have been watching eBay for a machine for a while, and have just started looking into buying a used or refurbished machine from a supplier or manufacturer. At the risk of asking a dumb question, is it possible to find a good DIYer machine from a supplier for $400-600? Or is eBay (or classifieds like craigslist) the only place to find a suitable machine at that price range?

Another dumb question if I may. I was considering asking my electrologist if she had an old machine or if she knew someone who had a machine for sale; I have read previous posts where pros here have sold their old machines to DIYers. However, I was worried she might be somehow offended, or get angry at me and give me a lecture for thinking about doing some of my own electro. Would it be considered a breach of professional etiquette to ask her questions like that about DIY electro? I don't want to offend her, she is doing a fantastic job and I do not intend to replace her. I just have so much unwanted hair I could never afford to have her do my whole body.

You may be able to get a refurbished machine from Texas Electrolysis Supply in that price range. Other than that, your best bet is Ebay, and what ever info on other available machines gets posted here in this thread.

I found this one on craigslist after a lot of searching, probably have to be local to Phoenix to pick it up though. Too far away and too expensive for me, but figured maybe someone might find it useful. A "like-new" Gentronics mc160d-c.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ele/650724417.html

That's a fair price, but if it's without a multiple needle rack and the air desensitizer, I would think $800-$900 would be a better price. It's a nice product and would be easy for you to understand, but may be more than you need.

Call Texas ELectrolysis as James recommended and see if they have a nice Clareblend, with knobs, for the price range you want.

I have the Gentronic's MC-160D-C and I'm willing to sell it with the multi-needle rack and air desensitizer, so I know the price range having asked several people that know what they are talking about.

If you can get a good Ultra Clareblend for $400-$600, then that might be better than the MC-160D-C which is computerized and does microflash thermolysis, blend and straight up galvanic, unless you really want the microflash component.

Dee

A nice Instantron Elite Spectrum
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electrolysis-Machine...1QQcmdZViewItem

Start with galvainic, work your way up to blend, and if you dare, try thermolysis once you get good at those.

Hurry up! This seller has stated a $300.00 USD Buy It Now price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Elite-Electrolysis-a...1QQcmdZViewItem

Nice Instantron with galvanic, thermolysis and blend.

Here is another cheap one! An Instantron Blendtone.
Hairtell readers know that the missing parts are available from Texas Electrolysis Supply, as well as any repair it may need.
You should be able to get a red and black bananna clip cord at Radio Shack, and test the unit with a flashlight bulb with the red on the side of the bulb and the black on the black bottom of the bulb. If that lights, you should not need to invest the $80 to have Texas Electrolysis refurbish it. You will need to buy from them a new probe/needle holder cord, however.
At any rate, it does galvanic, blend, and thermolysis.



http://cgi.ebay.com/Blendtone-Epilator-P...1QQcmdZViewItem

I am glad James mentioned testing a used unit. I was just wondering how I could tell if a unit worked up to spec or not (without having the requisite electronics skills to open the machine and test everything, maybe this would be a good thread on its own?) Is there a way to tell if the RF end works up to spec as well? Given the age of the machines listed I figured I might have to send the to texas electro for calibrating/refurbishing/etc.

Also, I assume of the Instantron machines the Elite is one step up from the Blendtone, and is the same or easier for a DIYer to use?