finally an excuse to buy a real welder

[Soundguy]

I noticed yesterday after mowing that one of the hinges on the right side of my batwing mower has a crack between the wing and the hinge ( section of pipe welded to the wing base.. ).

It's 3/8 metal.. and was onviously an old crack I missed when i was fixing it up a couple months ago.. Finally a job that my little 70A buzzbox couldn't handle.

After looking all the models over.. considering price.. etc.. I got a hobart stickmate lx 235 AC buzzbox. TSC had them on sale for 231$.. hard to resist that price.

I only had time to unlad it from my truck before work.. so now that I'm home.. I'me gonna go attach the electrode holder and work clamp.

The guy at the TSC store mumbled somehting like.. "yeah.. I think that one will weld 5/16 or so"... Well.. at 235A.. I HOPE so!!

soundguy

 

[ovrszd]

I noticed yesterday after mowing that one of the hinges on the right side of my batwing mower has a crack between the wing and the hinge ( section of pipe welded to the wing base.. ).

It's 3/8 metal.. and was onviously an old crack I missed when i was fixing it up a couple months ago.. Finally a job that my little 70A buzzbox couldn't handle.

After looking all the models over.. considering price.. etc.. I got a hobart stickmate lx 235 AC buzzbox. TSC had them on sale for 231$.. hard to resist that price.

I only had time to unlad it from my truck before work.. so now that I'm home.. I'me gonna go attach the electrode holder and work clamp.

The guy at the TSC store mumbled somehting like.. "yeah.. I think that one will weld 5/16 or so"... Well.. at 235A.. I HOPE so!!

soundguy

Isn't it odd how a job that is so dirty, hot and always burns the "h" out of ya can be so satisfying!!! I've welded all my life and although not always technically correct, can build almost anything I need, such as boxblades, tote boxes, trailers, etc. I have a Lincoln 225A stick welder and a Miller 175A MIG welder. Also have an O.A. torch and a Miller Plasma Cutter. I'm like Tim Taylor when I get out that equipment. My wife sits back in the old barber chair we have in the shop with a big cup of coffee and asks "What are we building now?" I can entertain myself for days with a welder, a cutter and my imagination!!! Let me know how the Hobart works, I've never owned one of those.

 

[slowrev]

Gread news Soundguy. I have been lusting over the AC/DC model stickmate, so let us know how yours turns out. Was just helping my friend repair the wing hinges on his batwing a couple of weeks ago. And yeah the welder should burn deep when you crank it up
Ben

 

[Dargo]

I have one of those exact machines and, I got it at TSC as well a couple of years ago. Only, I paid more than that for mine.

I don't see where you can beat it for the price. Heck, I have one stick welder that is considerably more expensive and, unless you are welding 1" material, I can't tell a difference.

 

[michiman]

Sounds like a good excuse to me! I am always trying to find reasons to buy new tools.

 

[Soundguy]

Ok, guys.. welding was a dream. i had to keep turning down power to prevent excessive splatter and burn thru.

One thing.. I have a 70a CH welder, and it is nothing compaired to a 70a setting on this hobart. I can burn a 3/32 rod on 70a witht he hopart and eat up a 3/8 piece of cold rolled when joing it to base metal.. then the tie in pass comsumes the rest of it.

That ch 70a welder has problems on 1/4 metal and a 5/64 rod.. go figure.

I deffinately love the hobart.

90a on a 1/8 rod was making a glue stick out of a piece of 3/8 cold rolled, and 110a made a glue stick out of a 1/2" cold rolled stock..

I couldn't believe the price.

I really wanted a lincoln.. but the cheapes t i could find them was lowes/Home depot.. and they had been 250$.. but just went to 269$. I walk in TSC.. who has the hobart in the catalog at 239, and this one had a 'daily sale special' of 231 stuck on the box... that made the decision for me.. I figure the hobart should serve me well.

Soundguy

 

[AlanB]

I am sure that will be a fine machine..... One problem though

I am supposed to have a reason to buy my welders?

 

[Soundguy]

Since I'm married.. It helps to have a compelling reason when i want to spend hundreds of dollars.

And saying something like: " well it's too far away to drive the tractor to 'work' to use their welder.. and it would cost me as much to buy a welder as to have someone come out here and weld this.. so i might as well buy one, so i will have it when the next thing breaks.. and then we will be 'saving money'.

I almost said that with a straight face too.

Soundguy

 

[ovrszd]

Since I'm married.. It helps to have a compelling reason when i want to spend hundreds of dollars.

And saying something like: " well it's too far away to drive the tractor to 'work' to use their welder.. and it would cost me as much to buy a welder as to have someone come out here and weld this.. so i might as well buy one, so i will have it when the next thing breaks.. and then we will be 'saving money'.

I almost said that with a straight face too.

Soundguy

The straight face,,,,,, that's the hard part!!!

 

[Dargo]

I figure the hobart should serve me well.

Soundguy

Uh, yeah! ....duh!