Stick welder comparisons

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All the stick welding I have done over the years is on a big heavy Forney 250 amp welder. Being as where I now use it, I have to move it from where it is stored.I was thinking of selling it and getting a smaller and lighter 225 amp welder.Other than the extra 25 amps, which I never use, is there an advantage in keeping the Forney? Not sure what the duty cycle is on it.
Reply:I would definitely keep the Forney.  A good ol transformer based welder will last forever and when an EMP is detonated over your city from China, it will still work once the power is restored.  If you want a smaller, lighter and extremely portable package with great 220v output performance, you'll need an inverter based machine. The Miller Maxstar 150 comes to mind.  They can also run off of a 120v outlets, but will produce a reduced welding amperage output in that case.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Keep the Forney.  The larger machines generally have a higher duty cycle at lower settings (say 125 amps) than smaller machines.
Reply:I'd get a Lincoln Invertec.Oh,I have 4 .....200, 250, 275, and. 350.Good solid, nice arc machines.You can find them on eBay very reasonable.
Reply:Do you want to weld real thick metal? If so keep the Forney.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:You would sell a big, heavy, old welder??  How can you even sleep at night?  I second keeping it (naturally) and experimenting with the new style inverter welders.I've found them to be pretty good, and the light weight is nice.But I'll never give up my big heavy Airco 300 stick/tig Between my Miller Maxstar 150s and Invertec v250-s, the Lincoln Invertec is a much better welder in my opinion.Both work just fine, the maxstar can run on 120v or 240v, and runs off my generator well, but it doesn't make the arc any better.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveYou would sell a big, heavy, old welder??  How can you even sleep at night?
Reply:I had a feeling you guys would say to keep it! Think I will put 2 more wheels on it, so I don't have to tilt it back on the 2 wheels to move. Maybe a heavy duty furniture dolly.The light weight HH 140 I bought has spoiled me. But I need to have something to stick 1/4" - 1/2" stuff together. So Forney stays.Thanks for the opinions
Reply:Originally Posted by pirateI had a feeling you guys would say to keep it! Think I will put 2 more wheels on it, so I don't have to tilt it back on the 2 wheels to move. Maybe a heavy duty furniture dolly.The light weight HH 140 I bought has spoiled me. But I need to have something to stick 1/4" - 1/2" stuff together. So Forney stays.Thanks for the opinions
Reply:Glad you decided to keep it. Now please post some pictures!A few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Originally Posted by copeI made a 2x2 angle iron frame for my old Miller, and mounted 4 swivel casters.
Reply:I believe the OLD copper wound machine like the Forney and old Lincolns weld superior to the newer aluminum wound Millers and Lincolns.I used one to repair a my mother's Riding Mower at her neighbors house this past summer.I was impressed!Keep the Forney, put big wheels under it in case you end up out in the driveway.
Reply:I almost bought one of those old switchboard forneys a while ago. I've never welded with one, but I like the idea, no moving parts, about as simple as they can get. However when I went to pick it up the pee hole selling it had taken all the plugs out of it. He refused to budge on his price saying it was still worth the same amount in scrap...I noticed the prices for them have sky rocketed locally. I remember one yahoo was trying to sell theirs for $400 a month or two ago, now I guess everybody else thinks they are sitting on a pot of gold too...
Reply:Go to your local scrapyard and make some friends.The idiot will sit on it for his ludicrous price and then scrap it for the $50 in copper.  You need to be ready to grab it when he does.  I've picked up a couple machines that way.From orbit on my Android.