Arc welder

Fat Cant

I bought a big awkward air cooled arc welder that is on wheels to pull around 20 years ago . Was thinking of selling it for an inverter arc welder which would be easy to carry around .
There was a man in my yard doing a job and he was using my welder and asked me to sell it to him so i asked him the price i bought it for which he was ok with.
I have been hearing bad storys about inverters welders that they break easily and find it hard to burn a big rod??
I have a mig welder which does 90% of my welding but there is the odd time I use the stick and do not want to be muling a big ald arc around.
Should I sell my old welder ?
What my should I buy?

blue5000

What make is it? I keep 2. Arc air cooled (30 yrs old) stays in the workshop, lighter inverter for portable jobs, inverter is handy, but isn't a patch on the old arc (250amp) welder. It's your call, but I wouldn't part with mine.

dzer2

You would only get my old welder over my dead body. I have an air cooled one I bought in 84 and an inverter one given to me 4 yrs ago. I use the old one 90% of the time

patsy_mccabe

God, I thought the invertor welders were the bee's knees. My old welder here just hums when I'm working it. Does that mean it is oil cooled? Can never hear a fan coming on. Don't want to open it as would probably jinx it some way.

_Brian

Our air cooled is 20yo and could never see a reason to sell it.

Do plan on putting it on pneumatic wheels though to make it more portable, saw one last year and it was a savage job, very easy moved.

Nekarsulm

I'd keep it, you'll probably not find as good again, bar you haunt the auctions looking for an old Triangle .

9935452

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I'd keep it, you'll probably not find as good again, bar you haunt the auctions looking for an old Triangle .

The Crypton triangles do come up on ebay a good bit and can be bought for handy money .

Captainaxiom

Looking at getting a cheap arc welder for the odd job around the yard. Would only really be used for 50mm box or the odd bit of 6/7mm plate.
Was looking at this one on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F382145673804

Any thoughts or recommendations.

Nekarsulm

You get what you pay for, it will do a turn for smaller jobs.
The earth clamp will need replacing sooner rather than later, as it's very low quality.
Leads are short at 10 foot.
The mask is cardboard shyte.
They specify the welder as being suitable for 2.5 mm rods, but it'll burn 3.2 I'd say.
Check the postage/courier cost before buying, the 10.00 pounds is for UK mainland only.
You won't be building transport boxes or silage trailers, but it'll do for light jobs.
A new earth clamp, good mask and perhaps longer stronger leads will cost as much again as the welder.
If it burns out, you'll be dumping it, as the cost of returning it to the UK will be prohibitive.

Captainaxiom

Can you recommend anything in that price range. I checked the postage it’s £q10 to Ireland.
I’m looking for something that’ll be used 3/4 times a year max and probably used as a step or door stop the rest of the year and whatever I do weld I’d be too embarrassed to show to the public anyway. It’s more to get me out of a hole from time to time.

Nekarsulm

If you can get it delivered for the 10 pounds then you're up and running for about 90 euro.
You wont get any cheaper , I think.
( unless a car boot sale / Sunday market, and all their stuff is probably stolen).

9935452

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I'd keep it, you'll probably not find as good again, bar you haunt the auctions looking for an old Triangle .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crypton-Triangle-180-amp-Ark-Welder-Heavy-Duty-Oil-Cooled-For-Mild-Alloy-Steel/312216549544?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

9935452

Nekarsulm wrote: »

If you can get it delivered for the 10 pounds then you're up and running for about 90 euro.
You wont get any cheaper , I think.
( unless a car boot sale / Sunday market, and all their stuff is probably stolen).

Aldi had arc welders a few years ago for 60 euro.

They were specced to run up to 4 mm rods .

Crap . they would burn 4 3.2mm rods and overheat , then burn one and overheat.

Captainaxiom

Captainaxiom wrote: »

Looking at getting a cheap arc welder for the odd job around the yard. Would only really be used for 50mm box or the odd bit of 6/7mm plate.
Was looking at this one on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F382145673804

Any thoughts or recommendations.

I bit the bullet and got this, time will tell if it’s any good.

Say my name

Well ... is it any good?

Captainaxiom

9935452 wrote: »

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crypton-Triangle-180-amp-Ark-Welder-Heavy-Duty-Oil-Cooled-For-Mild-Alloy-Steel/312216549544?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Collection only, the cost of the flight or ferry over might make it expensive.

Nekarsulm

Captainaxiom wrote: »

Collection only, the cost of the flight or ferry over might make it expensive.

He states that he'll strap it on a pallet for your courier, however.
All down to what quote you can get from the couriers.

9935452

Captainaxiom wrote: »

9935452 wrote: »

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crypton-Triangle-180-amp-Ark-Welder-Heavy-Duty-Oil-Cooled-For-Mild-Alloy-Steel/312216549544?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Collection only, the cost of the flight or ferry over might make it expensive.

You would get it home on a pallet for 120 euros with palletways or if you were lucky to know someone who was going over.
Ive seen a few of them for that price and some look a lot tidier.
They are a great welder to be fair. I have one at home . Never overheated with me and ive burned 4.0 mm rod after rod for the day with it .

cjpm

Captainaxiom wrote: »

I bit the bullet and got this, time will tell if it’s any good.

My dad did years of welding around here with one of them. Still going strong