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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Welder choice question

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Dave (IL)

12-06-2004 18:09:45




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We have a Lincoln Weld-Pak HD. I believe that's 88 amps up to 1/8 material. Works great for much of what we do (my son's the welder) but I'd like to get a reasonable buzz box for the occasional heavier stuff.
Harbor Freight (don't want to start that discussion) has a Chicago Electric 132AC / 200DC on sale for 119, regular 179. Is this junk? Will it work for the occasional heavier stuff? (why didn't I buy that Lincold 225 when they were $100 plus 3 bucks for the wheels)
Comments would be appreciated.

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Dave (IL)

12-07-2004 18:32:12




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to Dave (IL), 12-06-2004 18:09:45  
Thanks to all who responded. T-Bone, I had done some research of this site and some other before I posted. I recognized your name right away! I read even more of your stuff today. Biggest reaction is this has all gotten a lot more complicated in the last 40 years while I wasn't paying attention. Used to understand about 4 choices: gas, buzz box, big engine driven DC, and for the exotic, you found somebody with heliarc.
Now I'm finding out that the welder my son bought (with my credit card) isn't even a MIG, just a flux core wire welder. Seems to explain why he's had better luck welding a trailer than welding up a lawn mower fan shroud. So I'm going to pass on the HF for now (in spite of txblu's recent enthusiasm. I did buy a $15 angle grinder there today)
Now I have two questions for further planning. 1)Would it make more sense to get a big MIG with higher amp capacity or something like the Lincoln 225 with AC/DC. 2) Is there a good overview someplace of all these alternatives and what they are appropriate for. I've perused the Lincoln and Hobart web sites. Thanks again, Dave IL

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chvet73

12-07-2004 09:39:26




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to Dave (IL), 12-06-2004 18:09:45  
Around here Buzz boxes used are $100 all the time. Still a great machine. I paid $75 for mine.



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T_Bone

12-06-2004 23:06:18




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to Dave (IL), 12-06-2004 18:09:45  
Hi Dave,

You'll need about 150a for 1/8" electrodes and 90a for 3/32" electrodes.

I strongly suggest buying a comon brand name, Lincoln or Miller. Easy to get parts and the machine will weld half way decent for a home shop.

The Lincoln AC/DC for about $350. Nice machine with fixed amperage control in 15a steps.

The Miller ThunderBolt AC/DC about $425. Nice machine with infinte amperage control.

Do a search for welding on this website and read for a few days. There's been many great threads on welding.

T_Bone

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wdTom

12-07-2004 17:49:32




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to T_Bone, 12-06-2004 23:06:18  
I have a Lincoln AC buzz box. It is from the mid 60s. It was a farm welder, sat out in the weather sometimes, sat in damp basements for years. I got it about 10 years ago after ithadn't been used for maybe 10 years. Works perfectly, even though it is faded now. Actually it is a Montgomery Ward, but it is obviously a Lincoln. Even though I now have a Lincoln Precision TIG 185 I don't think I will ever sell the buzz box. It is too good and it belong to one of my favorite people, the farmer I worked for as a kid, who is not with us anymore.

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T_Bone

12-08-2004 08:15:46




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to wdTom, 12-07-2004 17:49:32  
Hi Tom,

Yep I still have mine too and is a MW machine, about 58' or so. My Dad bought it new. Geez it's had many pounds of rod burnt.

I'm trying to get my son to take it too his place since I bought the Miller thunderbolt. He wants a Mig machine...lol Of course I bought the Miller for him then he tells me, no he wants Mig.

T_Bone



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Dr.Evil

12-09-2004 08:54:24




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to T_Bone, 12-08-2004 08:15:46  
T-BONE..... My Dad did the same thing..... He had a "WIL-WELD 200A buzzbox",... burnt tons of rod with that thing. Had the three rows of about 7-8 sockets to plug the cables in to change amperage. 100% duty cycle up to 140A, then tapers to 60% at 200A.... and no fan to cool the coils. He bought the Thunderbolt AC/DC and gave Me the Strict Orders that when His new Miller went "Up in Smoke" I had to bring His old Buzzbox back.... no questions asked. I got a MIG 10 yrs later..... a blue one..... and looking to get a new blue TIG this winter tool. If I remember right Dad said He got the buzz box used.... in the early 50's. I don't use it much but it does lay a real nice bead. I've even run 1/8" 7018 with it.

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lucass

12-06-2004 20:44:12




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to Dave (IL), 12-06-2004 18:09:45  
think about gettin the lincoln buzz box , you dont save anything if you buy junk, lucas



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mke brown

12-07-2004 07:36:01




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 Re: Welder choice question in reply to lucass, 12-06-2004 20:44:12  
Yes to brand names as suggested. Check swap sheets for use machines. Last summer I saw a Miller thunderbolt ac machine in nice shape with extra long cables, lots of rod,gloves, helmet for $100 at a garage sale. I didn't need one but somebody got a good box cheap.



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