Any reason to keep this welder?

[zendriver]

Other than “just because”?

Picked it up at an estate auction to flip, haven’t got around to listing it. Thought I try it yesterday on some thin scrap metal, my first stick welding in 40 years.

Puts a bead down that’s about it. Looked like ****, likely my lack of skills. I already have a MiG unit that will go to 3/8”

 

[danielbuck]

convert it to a spot welder if you do any sheet metal work?

 

[kaymccampbell]

Scrub it up and send it on.

 

[Steve_P]

Sell it like Kay said. I have a Miller stick welder that I never use because I have a Lincoln MIG that does everything I need, and more. The only reason that I haven't sold the Miller is that it was my dad's, but it's getting to that point where I need that extra tiny bit of space on that wall.

 

[kaymccampbell]

The only stick welder I would ever keep would be a DialArc 250 AC DC. And that would be for sentimental reasons. My Systematics 250 amp MIG machine kicks the DialArc's *** all the way downtown.

 

[Bert_]

I like stick because it's portable. But what is that machine? 50A? Not really useful.

 

[zendriver]

convert it to a spot welder if you do any sheet metal work?

Why would it work better than a mig?

 

[LopezBart]

Why would it work better than a mig?

Spot welders with clamping jaws can be used on thinner material than MIG machines in my experience, but those are usually very low voltage high current machines.

 

[Steve_P]

Read the specs in the picture; this is a tiny machine. WTF good is a 50A stick welder to 99% of the population? A cheap MIG will do what this does. Yeah, I know, the "I'm ignoring that this runs on electricity, but you can't weld outside in 30 MPH winds with a MIG...." will now chime in and tell us how useful this is. Fine, buy it from him.

 

[Roert42]

It doesn’t even have a high/low switch…..


Scrap heap is the best use.

 

[seber]

I still use stick a lot for heavy work but that one should just move on.

 

[scooby074]

Boat anchor

 

[finn]

Someone will jump in and say “ that’s a name brand welder that will last you a lifetime”.

Just give it to Habitat. Some poor soul will buy it and then question why hid welds have no penetration.

I would personally have a guilty conscience taking some poor soul’s money for it.

 

[dr_clyde]

If it’s low enough amps you can use it for a power source for stainless electropassivation.

For actual welding? Pass.

Its not hard to find a much better stick machine that is cheap, readily available and much larger capacity.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Oops

 

[kaymccampbell]

I would personally have a guilty conscience taking some poor soul’s money for it.

I wouldn't.

 

[tyyost]

I had a similar welder that was my grandfathers and was labeled Sears. 50 Amp stick welders cant do much if anything well, so I’d send it along as well. Honestly, the only use I would imagine it would have would have been for an artist/sculptor in the days before affordable mig welders.

 

[whateg01]

Why would it work better than a mig?

If you're restoring a vehicle, using spot welds is preferred since that's how it was built at the factory.

 

[dr_clyde]

This machine will not do spot welding, nor can you spot weld with a mig welder.

Spot welding is done via resistance, not an arc. Spot welders are specifically made for just spot welding and can’t do other welding processes. Spot welders are essentially large transformers with pressure tongs to put on the work.

You can make small tacks and make something that kinda looks like a spot weld, but spot welds are not the same as tiny mig welds.

 

[whateg01]

This machine will not do spot welding, nor can you spot weld with a mig welder.

Don't tell all the people who have used stick welders as a power supply for a set of tongs and spot welded stuff together with them.

Spot welding is done via resistance, not an arc. Spot welders are specifically made for just spot welding and can’t do other welding processes. Spot welders are essentially large transformers with pressure tongs to put on the work.

You'll never guess what a stick welder uses to convert the high(ish) voltage and low(ish) current to low voltage and high current (not including inverter machines, even though they still typically have a transformer in them.

 

[dr_clyde]

Don't tell all the people who have used stick welders as a power supply for a set of tongs and spot welded stuff together with them.


You'll never guess what a stick welder uses to convert the high(ish) voltage and low(ish) current to low voltage and high current (not including inverter machines, even though they still typically have a transformer in them.

Bruh, I get that a stick welder is a transformer.

What it doesn’t have is a system for clamping and energizing spot welding tongs, which is arguably what makes a spot welder, a spot welder. The power supply is only one part of it.

 

[mikey03]

Boat anchor

Boat anchor anchor send it to that reef in Florida with the military ship there sinking

 

[Beerhippie]

They're good for thawing frozen copper and steel pipes....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd send it down the river and there's a heck of a chance I never would have picked it up in the first place.

 

[micromind]

Mix up some tannerite and take it out in the desert...........