Weight Difference

[Blacksmith]

I still looking for the best welder - I know, whatever I buy and can make good welds with is probably it. However, in comparing the Lincoln AC 225 to the Stickmate LX (AC), the Lincoln is 24 pounds heavier. I won't be moving it around much, so low weight is not a big plus for me. In my line of work (Mech Eng), heavier is usually better - more weight is quieter, withstands abuse better etc. I have access to a Lincoln and that's what I make most of my welds with, but I have an open mind. I like the 10 extra amps on each end but the infinite adjustment is a wash for me, I doubt I'll ever to good enough to need less than 15 amps between steps. I know you guys are brutally honest, so I get some opinion, some facts, but it'll be clear - no candy coating.

Thanks

Blacksmith

[cope]

Re: Weight Difference

Originally posted by Blacksmith
I still looking for the best welder - I know, whatever I buy and can make good welds with is probably it. However, in comparing the Lincoln AC 225 to the Stickmate LX (AC), the Lincoln is 24 pounds heavier. I won't be moving it around much, so low weight is not a big plus for me. In my line of work (Mech Eng), heavier is usually better - more weight is quieter, withstands abuse better etc. I have access to a Lincoln and that's what I make most of my welds with, but I have an open mind. I like the 10 extra amps on each end but the infinite adjustment is a wash for me, I doubt I'll ever to good enough to need less than 15 amps between steps. I know you guys are brutally honest, so I get some opinion, some facts, but it'll be clear - no candy coating.

Thanks

Blacksmith

Twenty five years from now, whichever machine you buy will still be working. I disagree on the tap VS infinite adjustment. I feel that a novice needs the infinite whereas an experienced weldor can get by with less adjustment. With MIG, I feel just the opposite.

[Franz]

If I can start a 15 year old kid off with a Toumbstone, and make a weldor out of him, infinite adjustment ain't a factor.
Besides, any machine is infinate adjustment as long as 1/8 x 1 flat stock is still made.
Bein an old fart, I still like copper over aluminum windings, but copper is getting harder to find in small machines.
My honest opinion would be to look at the dealer behind the machine, and go with the one you are most comfortable with. Of course, that engineering background may cause you to overthink the percieved problem till you wind up with a forge and anvil.

[Sberry]

I agree with cope about the adjustment. I have a couple Lins and I would like a finer adjustment in a spot or 2. But,,, I would stretch for an AC/DC though. Way better cheaper electrode selection and out of position is where its at man. Many can do it flat but up and down, round and upside down is the trick. Yes, I am not sure though how much factor the adjust would have or the brand for that matter, but DC would. You can concieviably arm yourself with 1/8 6010 and I like 3/32 7018 and 1/8 7018 and you have most of it for good all position professional welding. The best for structural vert and overhead.

[Blacksmith]

Weight Difference

Interesting replies to date - some for infinite, some against. For the record, all of my hobby welding has been with "taps", either with switched positions or literally the old style where you plug the electrode cable into the tap with your desired amperage. I guess part fo my question is could the heavier weight be copper vs aluminum wire? Of course as an engineer, if the aluminum is properly sized, I don't think it matters. For Franz - I already have the forge and anvil, but it's a gas forge out of deferrance to my neighbors and it is hard to reach welding heat with propane and the shape/size of the weldment is limited. I acknowledge the engineer's tendency to analyze a solution back to the beginning. I also thought that with proper care (limit stuck rods, watch the duty cycle,vacuum/blow out once or twice a year), any decent stick welder would last near forever. As for DC, most of my stuff to date has been in position, but I'd probably learn and grow. I cab't decide if I should go AC now, and buy a small MIG later for the thin stuff and out of position, or get the AC/DC now (about $100 more) and forget MIG for my interests.

[Sberry]

You will eventually get the mig anyway. It is the most used machines I have. 96% of the welding we do is wire and it is priceless. The stick machines gather dust. That said, there are occasions where it is prefferable and is nice outside. No small shop should be without an AC/DC stick machine if just to occasionally run a specialty alloy rod. They also produce the strongest steel weldments. Any pro would be able to use it to get a quality job and for the 100$ it makes no sense to go AC when you would eventually upgrade anyway. Another thing, when you have DC you will find you probably buy fewer rods as people give lots of them to you and most of the time they are dc stuff. I had a guy drop off 2 cans the other day, brand new, 100# If you are on goo terms with your employers often they dont care if you have a handfull of rod once in a while. I give my guys rods for home all the time. The hundred $ comes back.

[Hobart Expert Brian]

Good morning Blacksmith, I just wanted to respond to a few of the questions you had regarding the two stick machines you mentioned. First...weight, the difference is not between copper and aluminum. Both the Stickmate LX and Lincoln AC 225 are constructed from aluminum windings. The big difference you see in weight is the size of the transformer, the Lincoln AC 225 uses a bit more steel in their tapped design compared to the infinite control design of the Stickmate LX. Secondly (I hate to say it, since I'm on the team responsible for the Stickmate LX), you can't go wrong with either machine, of course I would love to see you go with the Stickmate LX. If you need any other information on the Stickmate LX just let me know.

Brian

[Hobart Expert Rock]

BLACKSMITH...........BRUTALLY HONEST......BRIAN IS THE DESIGN ENGINEER.......... YES AND I THINK THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE........... DIDN'T I HEAR SOMEWHERE THAT THAT IS HOW WE CHOOSE TO DO BUSINESS....

ANYWAY..........I LIKE THE ADJUSABLE AMPERAGE........ GIVES ME MORE OPTIONS..... I AGREE WITH GETTING A AC/DC........ALSO GIVES YOU MORE OPTIONS........... BUT YOU WILL END UP GETTING A MIG MACHINE FOR LIGHT GAUGE METAL ANYWAY............ HARD TO DO WITH STICK..........

NOW I THINK YOU SHOULD HEAD OFF TO THE LOCAL WELDING DISTRIBUTOR AND TEST WELD WITH A COUPLE OF THOSE MACHINES........... ACTUALLY TRY 3 DIFFERENT BRANDS THEN YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR DECISION WAS.............. AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR HARD EARNED CASH.............. BE SAFE NOW.............ROCK
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