maypole arc welder

[BrokenBiker]

not strictly buying as such, but been offered a maypole 130 amp buzz box. I have welded with it briefly with a 2.5mm 6013 rod and it seems ok. strikes an arc easily, nice and stable,

what are they like as every day welders? I very rarely use anything bigger than a 2.5 and if so its never bigger than a 3.2 which granted this machine will run but it will be close to its limit.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I used a buzz box for a LOT of years and it served me well, once you are used to them they can weld as good as any other arc set.

Hopefully will be a turbo model, which simply means it has a fan..or you can add one if not..

Mine was about 35 to 40 years old when I sold it...still working well.

 

[premmington]

I have a Clarke 210amp buzz-box I use it several times a week! I have no idea how old it is! (I inherited it years ago).

I like it so much, I even painted it up a few years ago!

 

[cumbriasteve]

Meant to say: if you are trading work or something else for it, don't be too generous, they are not worth much and often found for £25 to £35 in clean used condition.

 

[BrokenBiker]

its kind of complicated but I am doing some charitable work for a friend to try and raise some cash to get medical gear for their daughter. the welder is being given as a sort of thank you gift.

I thought I would ask on here whether its worth having before accepting it as if its not very good I will just tell them to flog it for whatever they can and put the money in the tin for their daughter

 

[magnet]

I have a Clarke 210amp buzz-box I use it several times a week! I have no idea how old it is! (I inherited it years ago).

I like it so much, I even painted it up a few years ago!

Love the wee cart thats a tidy little job there mate

 

[cumbriasteve]

its kind of complicated but I am doing some charitable work for a friend to try and raise some cash to get medical gear for their daughter. the welder is being given as a sort of thank you gift.

I thought I would ask on here whether its worth having before accepting it as if its not very good I will just tell them to flog it for whatever they can and put the money in the tin for their daughter

Easy answer there then:
It's a good cause so do the work as you probably would as a freebie, tell them you will try the welder and if you like it and it works well then give them some dosh for it... perhaps £30ish, which is about the going rate for a good used buzz box.

If you don't like it put it on ebay with a free listing where you can put the start price and no risk of it going for 99p, perhaps even fetching a decent price if enough people fancy it.

They get the work done and you get a nice wee set, or it sells and they still get some extra money for their daughters needs.

Everyones a winner.

 

[BrokenBiker]

was thinking that. will be seeing them Tuesday so will take it away and see how it runs, have a few things to make with 3mm box so can give it a good go on that

 

[Paul99]

I've had a 130a maypole for probably 15 years - it was ancient when I bought it for £40. I've never worked it out but would guess it's paid for it's self 100s of times over. It's a cheap nasty buzz box but it does work well enough in fact I still use it now when I have to weld something on site. It runs 3.2mm 6013s ok but as mine is a non turbo version the duty cycle is absolutely awful - if you get 2 x 3.2mm rods laid down you're lucky!. I don't think I could face going back to that buzz box full time having bought and used a 180A Oil cooled Olympic and Tec-Arc 251 mig for a while now but for small jobs where you can live with the duty cycle its certainly useable.