Any Reason I Should Keep My Vintage Buzz Box?

[Mark in Indiana]

All,
I won a late model Hobart 235/160 AC/DC welder at an auction yesterday (first picture). It works fine. I plan to keep it, clean it up and make a caster cart for it.

I also have a 1972 Airco Stinger AC 250 welder that works fine (second picture). I even used it to repair my trailer last fall.

My problem is that I'd hate to sell the Airco, but I don't need a separate AC welder. I also doubt that I would have to have 250 amps of power. The best thing about this welder is how it stores (third picture).

What are your opinions?

 

[jakemac]

Wait until you see which one you use the most. You can always sell one later, but if you sell it and want to switch back, you'll end up paying more.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Balance the resale value with what it is worth to You to keep around.. I still have My old Lincoln Tombstone AC that was bought new in 1975 for $99.99... It sits beside my Miller 250 and Lincoln 255 wire feeds, and still sees it's share of use amongst these three.

Hindsight leads Me to believe I would vote to keep it around for a while and see if it gets used.

 

[sberry]

The AC/DC unit replaces it, it will take up space, if that is not an issue then its up to you. The Hobart is very very good. I am a career welder, got them all, a similar one is what I use for sticks in my shop and there is a 300 synch sitting next to it. The work ground is connected to the building and benches, the stinger has a Y, i9t connects a stinger local to the benches and welding booth then another to the door and floor area, can reach out on the apron in nice weather which I do use a lot and the ground works with the plasma.
The tig is hooked in to all of this but used so little not worth mentioning as being part of the system.

 

[Rory Bellows]

I'd ditch the Airco right away. No need for an old second AC only machine. I would also use the Airco wheeled cart on the new Hobart.

 

[zkling]

Keep the hobart for sure.

 

[Fretters]

It costs nowt to keep, and you always have a backup if you do.

 

[anndel]

Keep both. I sold stuff before only to find I really needed it and wish I didn't sell it. You'll find use for it down the line someday and at that time will regret selling it. And at that one time is a most important time according to Murphy's law.

 

[zkling]

It costs nowt to keep, and you always have a backup if you do.

Except for the floor space.

 

[crab]

I've got an Esab 250 migmaster, great machine. I sold a century stick machine and a Lincoln 125 mig with gas, wish I hadn't sold either one. The Lincoln was better with 023 wire for sheet metal and the stick machine would weld about anything, dirty, paint, rust, didn't matter, can't do that with a mig.

 

[CNGsaves]

Unless you're just crammed into a 1-car garage, I'd keep the vintage buzz box welder.

Also, consider Pay It Forward to give the old welder to son, friend or younger guy starting out that could get some use from the old welder. That keeps the "door open" to use in emergency if your Hobart craps out at inopportune time, or tornado wipes out your garage !!

 

[rsanter]

Sell,it,when you can
It took forever to sell my miller AC only unit

Bob

 

[PugetDude]

I gave away my old Lincoln 225 Tombstone when I bought my wirefeed...really wish I had it back.

Hard to beat a stick welder for heavier plate. It's not as pretty as a mig, but easier to get good penetration on thicker sections. The GJ welding purists will cringe, but I even used to crank mine up to 225 and cut plate with old 7018 rod- I bought a 50# box at a garage sale for a few bucks....didn't have a torch, I got pretty good at cutting with it.

 

[maxpower_hd]

The old machine doesn't have much resale value anyway. Give it to a friend and you can always borrow it back if you need to.

 

[iajonesy]

I sold my Lincoln Tombstone when I bought my mig. Many times it would have been useful to have still had it. Hind sight always 20/20.

Mike

 

[Fretters]

Except for the floor space.

True, but that's a point he can address if it ever becomes necessary. As the old saying goes: "Better to have and not need, than to need and not have".

 

[DBendr]

LOL. I'd keep the old one and sell the Hobart if you got it for cheap.Those things are everywhere.
Put a good set of cables,quick releases, ground and stinger clamps on the old Airco.
It'll do all you need to do around the multi-shop.It might have more Duty cycle than the Hobart(not that it would matter).
I like cool ****.
The Hobarts come with Ginzu knives and free pizza coupons.