Opinions please - stick welder

[jfk92]

Hey all,

Your thoughts please - beginner learning stick. This in craigslist:

Hobart Stickmate LX235 ac/dc includes helmet, brush, hammer, some rods. Mainly interested in the unit. Not sure if it's a "160" but suspect it is. I need to get the model I guess to get a gauge for which one/retail cost.

But the unit - any opinions - what would you pay used? in northern jersey.
thx,
john

[Diversion180beads]

I just bought 1 for the dc and I paid 500 new. just depends on how much it was used and how old it is... Good luck

[jfk92]

I just bought 1 for the dc and I paid 500 new. just depends on how much it was used and how old it is... Good luck

Thanks. I think it's 20 or 30 hrs...no more. I think I may pull the trigger on this...thx.

[ihctractor]

The Hobart and the Miller Thunderbolt are the exact same welder except for color and decals. Great welders with very little that can go wrong with them. They run around 500.00 to 600.00 new. I got lucky recently and scored a like new Miller AC/DC on Craigslist for $150.00 but that's not the norm. If you can get it for $300.00 or less that would be a good deal. Make sure it's an AC/DC unit, I wouldn't waste money on an AC only welder.

[jfk92]

The Hobart and the Miller Thunderbolt are the exact same welder except for color and decals. Great welders with very little that can go wrong with them. They run around 500.00 to 600.00 new. I got lucky recently and scored a like new Miller AC/DC on Craigslist for $150.00 but that's not the norm. If you can get it for $300.00 or less that would be a good deal. Make sure it's an AC/DC unit, I wouldn't waste money on an AC only welder.

Thanks. Ad says ac/dc unit. $400 is the lowest he'll go. comes with helmet, gloves, some sticks, chipping hammer and brush...could gloves/helmet for maybe....$40 as I don't need em...and some 25' cord to use with it.....so...I don't know. I do know he wouldn't go down to $300 though......was going to go for it...now back in the air! lol

[ihctractor]

If it's like new, local and you were going to buy a new one soon anyway then $400.00 is still a decent price, however if your not in a hurry you could probably save some money if you keep checking Craigslist and wait for another one to come along. Having said that, these welders never break and people seldom part with them, so the wait time or the travel time to get one may be quite long. It's all about how bad you want it and how soon.

While your looking don't discount the Lincoln AC/DC tombstone welders. Not as nice as a Miller/Hobart but still a heck of a good welder and they sell used for cheap.

[weister72]

We have old lincoln arc welders at my school about 10 of them and they have been going on 20 years now #marshfield metal tech

[gnforge]

I hv a older big Lincoln A/C D/C welder
TM 500. 500 amp. Welds great. I'm 2nd owner. I used it for carbon arc but just don't use much anymore and could really use the space. I'd sell it for $300.00 I'm in western Pa.

[Drf255]

I'd wait. He will come down when no one buys it in a month. I watch overpriced units sit on CL forever.

fWIW, I'm on LI and have a Lincoln Idealarc 250 with leads I wanna part with. Runs perfectly.

AC/DC 300/250 unit.

[MMW]

With any transformer unit they are power hungry. Make sure you have the input power to run whatever you buy. For instance a Lincoln tombstone or a Miller/Hobart buzz box needs 50 amps of 230v to run properly. Any larger machines require more input power. These buzz boxes will usually give you outputs of 225 amps ac & 125 amps dc.

I thought you wanted a mig?