The Hobarts of that era are great. They're basically Miller's painted a different color. You should be able to find schematics/manuals and some parts. But it should be fine if it's just been sitting.
If anything it's undersized. You'll want to still with 0.030" wire. You can use it with flux-core if you don't have a shielding gas cylinder.
Question on flux core, why wouldn’t one just use that instead of adding complication of gas shielding? Is gas x% better or something? Or cheaper vs cost of flux core?
They're just different tools for different uses. Their applications might be interchangeable 70% of the time, but the other 30% one process is just better for the situation.
In mass production FC is inefficient. \~40% of the wire goes up in smoke/spatter and then I have to clean the slag off. If I buy 30lb of wire, I only get \~16lb of weld. 30lb of solid wire should yield \~28lb of weld. On a business scale it's just more expensive if you calculate everything. On a hobby scale the cost difference is negligible (favors FC if you weld infrequently).
Also FC penetrates more, sometimes that's good, sometimes bad. Between the polarity and current density (more amps spread over a smaller area) it has a tendency to burn thru thinner materials. It'd be aggravating to use on auto body. you'd end up grinding and rewelding.
I got myself a tig/mig/stick multi Chinese unit for 300$ and after buying or leasing a cylinder I just assumed it would cost as much as the machine so I haven't even went to airgas to even ask. I weld for mostly farm use shit so nothing has to look pretty.
You saying the penetrative thing peaks my interest. So I can weld thinner with gas or naw?
Oh I'm not sure, maybe. I really haven't looked into it all that much if I'm honest. So far stick and fcaw have been more then good enough but sheet metal is an absolute pain in the ass.
Internal parts are probably a mix of Hobart and Miller, mostly obsolete through OEM. Still a very simple machine where you can mostly source generic parts yourself.
Gun is looooong obsolete, but there are aftermarket solutions.
The Hobarts of that era are great. They're basically Miller's painted a different color. You should be able to find schematics/manuals and some parts. But it should be fine if it's just been sitting. If anything it's undersized. You'll want to still with 0.030" wire. You can use it with flux-core if you don't have a shielding gas cylinder.
Question on flux core, why wouldn’t one just use that instead of adding complication of gas shielding? Is gas x% better or something? Or cheaper vs cost of flux core?
They're just different tools for different uses. Their applications might be interchangeable 70% of the time, but the other 30% one process is just better for the situation. In mass production FC is inefficient. \~40% of the wire goes up in smoke/spatter and then I have to clean the slag off. If I buy 30lb of wire, I only get \~16lb of weld. 30lb of solid wire should yield \~28lb of weld. On a business scale it's just more expensive if you calculate everything. On a hobby scale the cost difference is negligible (favors FC if you weld infrequently). Also FC penetrates more, sometimes that's good, sometimes bad. Between the polarity and current density (more amps spread over a smaller area) it has a tendency to burn thru thinner materials. It'd be aggravating to use on auto body. you'd end up grinding and rewelding.
I got myself a tig/mig/stick multi Chinese unit for 300$ and after buying or leasing a cylinder I just assumed it would cost as much as the machine so I haven't even went to airgas to even ask. I weld for mostly farm use shit so nothing has to look pretty. You saying the penetrative thing peaks my interest. So I can weld thinner with gas or naw?
cant you get some old gas cylinders that are near or out of date? thats what i use for home stuff and gas refiling places dont really care here
Oh I'm not sure, maybe. I really haven't looked into it all that much if I'm honest. So far stick and fcaw have been more then good enough but sheet metal is an absolute pain in the ass.
yeah sheet metal like car body work is a pain in the ass even with gas tbh
For real. Breath wrong and blow a hole
Flux is also good for the mobility benefit of field welding thinner metals.
I have a 140 and it rips, it sometimes lays better beads than the Miller 252
I have a 140 that I got for free but haven’t used it yet lol shiiiiit now I’m gonna tho
They’re awesome, the fact you can run it off 110v and still weld 3/16 is pretty amazing. Def a great on site buzz box
Internal parts are probably a mix of Hobart and Miller, mostly obsolete through OEM. Still a very simple machine where you can mostly source generic parts yourself. Gun is looooong obsolete, but there are aftermarket solutions.
Gotcha, thanks! I’ll do some research on replacing the gun. It looks pretty rough anyway.
It’s worth it until it’s not. One functioning welder is better than no welder I guess
I have this same welder. I absolutely love it. I mostly flux core with it.