[TheForge] Welding gear. [lincoln]

Sat May 3 13:31:01 2003

Gabriel:

I've ownded a Hobart 120 Handler for better than 10 years and am more than
pleased with it with the caveat that it's a limited machine. It too is 120v
and not suitable for welding more than 1/4" mild steel. I can weld heavier
steel with a serious preheat, dull red or better but this is a hassle. I'd
be hesitant to try the Lincoln SP 100 on much more than 3/16". Still, these
are really handy little machines for light work on household current.
They're perfect for household fixit projects, you don't have to go to the
hassle of packing something back to the shop to weld. A couple layers of
damp news paper is more than enough to keep spatter from damaging house
interiors if you're using 75/25 GMAW. (75% argon / 25% CO2 Gas Metal Arc
Welding) Flux core wire spatters just like any stick welder.

I've been a "Lincoln man" for maybe 40 years but have been underwhelmed with
the 120v Lincoln wire machines. Hobart offers up to 135a wirefeed welders
for about the same money $375-450 and as I said my 120 Handler has been a
real workhorse within it's range.

Checking with the Lincoln, Miller, Hobart dealers for demonstration, school
and repo welders is a real good idea, you can pick up excellent deals. My
order of preference for meter time and abuse is: demo, school then repo.
Though sometimes the repos are low hour and school machines see lots of use,
Lincoln does what amounts to a factory overhaul so they're all good for the
money.  The big three all have these machines available as they do demos,
supply and hold schools and there are of course repos and returns.

I have personal experience buying a factory overhaul. About 8 years ago I
was in the market for a portable welder and had my sights set on a Lincoln
Ranger 9 a sweet machine and the smallest portable Lincoln make's I consider
professional grade. The asking price for the machine alone was around $6,000
without my discount(s). Regardless of my druthers I looked at and considered
Miller and Hobart as well.

My buddy Roger at the local Big Three Lincoln distributor told me I didn't
want the one on the floor and took me behind the counter to check out the
computer. There were 6, Ranger 9s available in town as demos and school
machines. I chose a demo with 27 hours on it for $2,800 (my discounts put it
under $2,000) in addition I walked out with: 100' of 00 leads, connectors,
clamps (ground/stinger) LN-25 wire feed (used), 200 lbs of flux core wire,
100 lbs of 3/16" 7018, a couple pairs of gloves, welding shield, chipping
hammer,couple brushes, a fist full of soapstone and a couple more things I
don't remember for . . . $5,700 total. Retail even with discounts would've
been close to 10k.

So . . . YEAH! . . . Go talk to your local dealers, buddy up with them if
possible. You're much more likely to get a HOT deal from a live person than
a website. You can NEVER underestimate the PR value of a box of donuts, or
getting together after work for a beer. <grin>

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gabriel Cain" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 10:36 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Welding gear. [lincoln]

>
> Right, so I'm moving into a house soon (rented), and I'm broke.  So I go
> to centralwelding.com, since I live in the pacific north west.  And I
> see this:
>
>
http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=W
D&Product_Code=U1474-2
>
> Thoughts?  Good deal?  I'd like to know if I should be more broke or not.
:)
>
> Gabriel
>
>
>
> --
> Gabriel Cain Systems Administrator and
> (425) 774-4879 Chief Artifacer
> [email protected] Dreaming Crow Forge
> GnuPG Public Key ID: 4C181E6A
>
> http://www.dreamingcrowforge.com - Take a look =)
>
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