Good old Forney

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I have a chance to get a Forney welder for 50 bucks. The only problem is I'd spend another 90 in gas because it's not exactly close by. From the pic, it looks to be in very nice shape, and my understanding is that these units were built to last. This would be my first stick welder, which I want to use for general farm machine repair, maybe making some implements, a log splitter, etc. What do you think? Or I could wait and find an old Lincoln at a local farm auction. Or, another option, I could save up for an AC/DC unit, which is looking like 550 for the Lincoln at Home Depot. I could use some input. Thanks.
Reply:$50 sounds about right for an "off brand" ( non Lincoln or Miller) plug type AC only transformer machine. I'm not sure I'd dump $90 in fuel to go get it however. ( for me that's like a 350 mile round trip in the pickup, a 200 mile round trip in the work truck) I regularly see older AC only machines in the $50-150 range, but then they are quite plentiful in my area. If machines in your neck of the woods are scarce, then a total cost of $140 is in the ball park, though on the high side. If they pop up regularly, I'd wait.As far as getting an AC/DC machine, I wouldn't go new at that price. Again near me I see them fairly regularly in the $250-350 range used for the same machine or the Miller Thunderbolts and Hobart Stickmates. For $350-550 I see the industrial AC/DC Idealarcs and Dialarcs. I'd rather dump that kind of money on one of them.Honestly I'd rather see someone pick up a cheap AC machine and get started welding than wait a long time saving up money for an AC/DC unit. For general hobby work, there's seldom anything you can't do with AC. True rods run a bit smoother on DC, but the average new guy seldom notices the difference. Selling a machine like that for $50 in the future would be moderately easy if you later found a better machine and wanted to upgrade..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have the same one go get it Forney is still in busness and has parts. It will last forever.
Reply:Thanks for the advice. Right now I'm leaning towards looking locally; it would be a 500 mile round trip. There are a lot of old buzz boxes locally at farm auctions, so I'll keep an eye out for one of those.
Reply:There must be other Forney welders in the area.  They produced the first "limited input" farmer welders and were located out in your general direction.Here, an AC Lincoln buzzbox can be had for $50 - $150. same with the Forneys. A DC buzzbox goes for $150 - $250. Saw a nice Linde 295 Amp AC box for $75. the other day. A Miller T-bolt AC/DC for $200."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumThere must be other Forney welders in the area.  They produced the first "limited input" farmer welders and were located out in your general direction.
Reply:I'd like to have an older one with the cast top."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Not much really to break on those old machines. I don't think I've heard of many who have actually killed the transformer. Switches can be easily sourced even if they aren't an exact match, and the plug style sockets are still available from Tweeco IIRC. I think I replaced one on my old Sears years ago that had shorted when someone didn't plug it in fully. Not much else in the case but a fan which again can be easily sourced..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan