Welder opinion?
 

Had a guy drop this off for a friend to use for the day, see if he wants to buy it.

https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/...combo160-1.jpg

Comes with Tweco MIG gun, nearly new Miller TIG torch with flow control on the handle, regulator, HF start box (on top), etc. MIG, stick, AC and DC TIG.

Any opinions on th fair price of the unit? It's a dinosaur but it's supposed to work well.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

I think the price would depend on how well it actually works and what you intend on using it for. I guess that is the picture you sent to my phone that I couldn't get.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

Yup.

I'm assuming it works better on mild and stainless than a Smiley box. Still waiting for the breaker for the compressor to be hijacked so we can test fire it.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

If the 160 is for the amp out put, It will be a little light on the amps for Aluminum AC TIG, and depending on the fab that you do, could be kinda light for the MIG on steel or SS.

Compared to a smiley well, it obviously lasts longer, but on the TIG side I don't know if any of that will be much better. Mig side should be noticeably better feed then anything cdm.

For an old 160amp machine I wouldn't pay more then $250

Re: Welder opinion?
 

$200:
No marked outputs.
No way to verrify outputs on the machine itself
Not hot enough to be a useful wire welder for someone with welding xp. It will not do spray, not to what I like even for for short-circuit -180-190amps. Bearly runs hot enough to run a 3/32 6010/6011 electrode. Not hot enough for 3/32 7018 electrodes.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

It has marked outputs. Look closely.


The HF start box is junk, have to scratch start. Welds mild well, guess it would do a great job for HMT exhaust and charge pipe if you don't mind a hair of contamination on the electrode. Not a TIG, pass.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

The interesting thing about scratch start is, one of the best welders on this site, uses scratch start everyday for sanitary stainless work. It's not a bad thing, just not as convenient.

+1 on the pass with the new info.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

no LCD panels show you what you're outputting. the marked values VS what the dials actually do at any age, let alone an OLD machine have little worth.
picture is trash so you can't make out if amps are even marked. you can obviously make out that voltage is not marked.

tigging on machines that are not constant current is a sure fire quick way to trashyness.


i would say itd make someone an okay stick box, but it doesn't have the amps for it.

put it on craigslist in the next town over for $350, let some noob buy it for $300.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

Seeing as my background is, if I had to sum it up as any one thing, that of a combo of instrumentation and embedded systems engineer, I'm going to have to burst your bubble. I strongly doubt the veracity of anything you read on a welder LCD. Expect +/-20% variance on anything displayed. However, good equipment will be repeatable, which for an end user is all that matters.

Re: Welder opinion?
 

ill take an LCD panel reading the output over mass sprayed paint jobs with numbers with on pot/rheostats that are mass produced to the same varryable & mass screwed into the machine over the same thing without even having any numbers


any day of the week.