Anybody got a Hobart Stickmate LX 235 AC/160 DC welder?

[leadpipe]

Hi all

What do you think of the Stickmate LX 235 AC/160 DC?
In which classification would it be: Light duty, medium duty or heavy duty?

I am seriously interested in buying one because they seem to be reliable from various comments on other sites and also because it's 50/60 hertz. I need 50 machine hertz in my country for sure.

Leadpipe

[dstaley]

I just sold my Lincoln 225AC to buy one. I've used it only a little, but so far I really like it. I had one of the great old models, it must have been 35-40 years old but this DC machine really sings.

The sheetmetal quality isn't as good as the old Lincoln and I wasn't impressed with the ground clamp, but the quality gap seems to end there. With only a 20% duty cycle it's not a heavy duty machine, but it could pass for a medium duty model at moderate current levels.

Just my $0.02.

[MAC702]

Your duty cycle will be slightly lower at 50Hz. I don't own one, but I prefer them over the Lincoln equivalents because of the fine tuning available in the amperage adjustment. I've used the Lincoln equivalent many many times, and there are times where a finer adjustment would make a workable machine a little more easy.

But this class of welder is a classic. MANY MANY things have been built with them. Definitely make sure you get the DC model; don't let some salesman talk you into AC-only.

[WELDGEEK]

I agree with MAC702, go with the AC/DC model. I would classify this model as medium duty based on the fact their are smaller units on the market as well as much larger units. Max weld capacity is 1/2" steel. This machine is virtually identical to the Miller Thunderbolt. I like the infinite amp control too.

[thebobcatkid86]

I have one and love it. It is what I learned to weld with. It is identical to the Miller Thunderbolt. As I understand it, Miller/Hobart = GMC/Chevy, Thunderbolt/Stickmate = Sierra/Silverado. It is the largest welder I own but there are larger ones out there. So therefore I guess its a meduim duty. I suppose some in the industry might say its at the lighter end of the meduim dutys because of the duty cycle. The duty cycles at the higher DC Amps are on the short side (20% - 30% at the real high end) but then again, its not designed for production work, going full amps all day long. As mentioned above, definetly spend the extra money and get the one with the DC option. Its much smoother and easier to control. Also as mentioned earlier the ground clamp in the box is medeocure at best. It'll work for awhile but eventually you'll want to upgrade. The infinitely variable amperage is a very nice thing too.

Thats my $0.02 about this machine.

[chrysler tech]

The stickmates a great machine,I have used it and really like it,The amperage control seemed very flimsy and cheap,didnt look like you could get a very accurate reading.It looked like it came off one of my daughters fisher price toys.The ground clamp also seemed very cheap,but its like $150 cheaper than the lincoln so its very well worth buying.

I happen to be a lincoln man,but i would not hesitate to buy the stickmate.I also think that infinite amperage control is worthless as the lincoln tapped settings are close enough together on dc