Originally posted by wmgeorge
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Getting about ready to buy a welder, want some recommendations
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Originally posted by nickel-city-fab View Post
Yeah, but HGR doesn't operate that way: they buy out entire factories that are shutting down, and this is the last stop before they go to scrap. If a machine stays there for more than a month or two, I'll be surprised. You should see what they have in the Lathes and Mills... it would make you cry to see them if you know you can't afford to haul them home for scrap price. Big old Monarch's K&T mills, tons of Bridgeports, and a Pratt & Whitney lathe...Retired - Journeyman Refrigeration Pipefitter - Master Electrician - Fine Line Automation CNC 4x4 Router
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Originally posted by wmgeorge View Post
If they expect you to purchase a machine from that that picture and no idea if it works or not then they need to lower prices a lot. Who wants to travel or pay shipping costs for a machine that may not work and those older ones with electronics may not have any parts available.
For actual machine tools, I would not have a problem driving the 200 miles each way with no testing.
Simply because you are potentially saving thousands.
When you go there in person, you *can* inspect things, just ask the sales guy.
they don't expect you to drive 1000 miles for a line of BS, they'll tell you about any issues on the phone.
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Originally posted by DennisCA View PostMostly these old machines use standard components that can be replaced with modern equivalents
One old ESAB tig I fixed had all sorts of specials, even the fuseholders. I wonder if anything was a commercial part in it. It was a monster, about 1.2 m deep and high, maybe 300mm wide, and used HF start, getting the HF from a spark gap setup that was essentially the same thing as a Tesla coil.
2801 3147 6749 8779 4900 4900 4900
Keep eye on ball.
Hashim Khan
It's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there.
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I'm talking resistors, thyristors, capacitors and the like, they tend to be what breaks most often. Sure they change in size, brand and design but all work the same and a modern equivalent can be found and swapped in. That's usually the kind of stuff that breaks in my experience. Sure the new stuff might not physically fit, a friend had to mill copper adapters to fit new diodes to his 1960s unitor stick welder when the diodes gave up. But diodes of similar (better, actually) specs were easy to get a hold off.
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The machine referenced Power MIG had lots of electronics. Try finding a diagram or circuit board for those older machines. Yes the old Tomestone and the like are easy to fix no issues. But those old commercial machines that sold for $1,000's new, don't think so. As far as depending on a salesman to tell you the truth about a machine, that has never been powered up??Last edited by wmgeorge; 01-17-2021, 10:23 AM.Retired - Journeyman Refrigeration Pipefitter - Master Electrician - Fine Line Automation CNC 4x4 Router
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Originally posted by DennisCA View PostI'm talking resistors, thyristors, capacitors and the like, they tend to be what breaks most often. Sure they change in size, brand and design but all work the same and a modern equivalent can be found and swapped in. That's usually the kind of stuff that breaks in my experience. Sure the new stuff might not physically fit, a friend had to mill copper adapters to fit new diodes to his 1960s unitor stick welder when the diodes gave up. But diodes of similar (better, actually) specs were easy to get a hold off.
And there are details of the gate drive specifications of IGBTs, and even thyristors, that need attention paid to avoid premature failure.
And, there is the issue that many of the boards in welders from the bigger names may be cast into a block of epoxy..... not much chance of fixing whatever is in "the blob".2801 3147 6749 8779 4900 4900 4900
Keep eye on ball.
Hashim Khan
It's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there.
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It got put off in favor of some other things. Still near the top of the list. There are projects waiting for it, but there are other ones in front of them. This happens a lot around here. A person can only do so much.
The good thing is that I can give it more thought and look at the likely projects, so I better know what I really need. That wavers back and forth between a mig and stick. Right now the needle is over on the "stick" side.
I also need to put in an outside outlet for 240V, because there will be no welding inside the shop. Too cold for that now.Last edited by J Tiers; 02-08-2021, 11:50 AM.2801 3147 6749 8779 4900 4900 4900
Keep eye on ball.
Hashim Khan
It's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there.
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Originally posted by jmm03 View PostI hope you don't mind me being so nosy but what made you decide you did not want a TIG machine? It can do stick welding also which is why I ask. Jim2801 3147 6749 8779 4900 4900 4900
Keep eye on ball.
Hashim Khan
It's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there.
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