Bought a Stickmate, What do You Think?

[Whiteyweld]

I bought a Hobart Stickmate off Ebay a couple days ago. It has never arrived yet. What do you all think of this purchase. Should I be ok? Or bad choice? You have to scroll down to get to the item page and read below for the description which is important. Here is a link to it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110187430261&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001


Thanks guys
Whiteyweld

[Zrexxer]

Well, umm... good luck with it!

I guess the real test is whether it works or not, since it's untested and unguaranteed. $140 seems like a bit high for one that was hit by a train, but...:)

[Whiteyweld]

I seen it listed and not hardly much time left and looking new at a glance with the manual and all, I tried to snatch it up before It got away. then I went back and read the rest. I know, I got it backwards. Live and learn. I was asking because people talk about how tough and hard to tear up the Hobart stick welders are as are the Lincoln stick welders and thought maybe it won't affect it. What do you think?
Whiteyweld

[hankj]

....... What do you think? Whiteyweld

So, Whitey, do you go to the casino a lot?;)

It's true that there are not a lot of things in a stick machine that can break, but that puppy got whacked pretty good.

I wish you luck.

Hank

[Whiteyweld]

yeah, live and learn. Hopefully the gamble pays off though. I actually saw it listed with a short time left and didn't read the entire ad. I thought I should snatch it up before someone else beat me to it and the seller's description seemed good and normal. Didn't find out till later that night that it wasn't stick welders but Hobart Mig welder I was looking at and at the time thought it was a good training I would be getting. I read the rest after I submitted my offer which truly is unwise and does leave you vulnerab.
Whitey

[Nickoli]

Hey winning bid only looks to be $99.99 and $40 something to ship. I don't think it was too bad of a gamble. You may have to correct some damage but it looks brand new with battle wounds. The ebay seller says it retails for $299.99 so you only got 1/2 that invested. I got my fingers crossed for you that you have a working machine!

[SundownIII]

Never ceases to amaze me what some people will buy off e-bay.:rolleyes:

[chevyman_de]

You should open the case and give the internals a visual check. There are only a switch, a transformer with a crank and a fan. Basically that setup could even work without any case at all. I think it will be ok.

[smyrna5]

Never ceases to amaze me what some people will buy off e-bay.:rolleyes:

I once had an old camcorder that I ruined by dropping it in a tide pool while filming and not looking where I was going. I tried most of the usual remedies with distilled water, etc, all to no avail. Figuring I could at least get an education, I took it all apart to see what was inside. I was never able to get it back together successfully. So, I put the parts in a big flat box, took a picture of it all, and advertised it as a "Box O Junk" on eBay. I got $16 and some change for it, and had 5 bidders. I guess they wanted the lens or something, but I got a great laugh out of it.

[Zrexxer]

I once had an old camcorder that I ruined by dropping it in a tide pool While bidding a job for some channel work, my buddy dropped his Canon Elph down the bank, bounce bounce bounce down the rock riprap and plop! in the water. He fished it out and the lens was sticking out all askew, it was toast.

He came to me and said "put this on eBay for me willya?" I thought he'd fallen and hit his head, too... The thing brought $68 :eek: Looking at the buyer's history, he bought a lot of broken cameras, guess he did repair and was always stocking his boneyard!

[robsd]

Yeah this one I would have probably passed on. But what do I think of it? I've had a Lincoln buzz box for about 4 years now. I went to get another stick for the weekend place. Like the smaller footprint of the Hobart, picked one up at TSC for $249 a couple weeks ago. Maybe I'm use to the sound and feel of the Lincoln but I like it a lot better than the Hobart. The Hobart just makes some straining noises when welding.

Bummer part is last week in a pawn shop I saw a new Lincoln, with the wheels and complete kit (slightly used but you could not tell)...it was marksd $169. $269 is the new price at HD.

[ol smuggler]

I think you wasted your money ,you can buy an ac tombstone welder in any classifieds for 50-75 bucks and it out last that machine ten times over,

[BKD]

To me it looks like the monkeys at Universal Package Smashers just gave it the "special" treatment... or, whatever they stacked on top of it.

Like the others said, there isn't that much in there to break... and what there is, is pretty robust. I think you'll be fine...

[uncrichie]

Well, whats happend in the 3-4 weeks that have passed. Did you get it? Inquiring minds want to know? Uncrichie.

[hankj]

Well, whats happend in the 3-4 weeks that have passed. Did you get it? Inquiring minds want to know? Uncrichie.

Yeah, and so do us nosy people!

Hank

[Zrexxer]

Well, whats happend in the 3-4 weeks that have passed. Did you get it?

There have been at least three other posts from him on this topic::rolleyes:

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=27841
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=27736
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=27685

[uncrichie]

Wow, all posts end the same way, In the air. Uncrichie.

[Whiteyweld]

Was bored today and just looking through the forums and saw this being responded to this month so I read it. Sorry I never followed up on it. I actually forgot. Anyways, the only issue I had was a loose ground clamp. I tightened it down and it has welded as good as a new one since. No other problems or complaints at all. Yeah the case bent up doesn't look that good, but it doesn't bother the way the machine functions at all. In fact I decided not to even replace the case and just keep it as is. It welds like a champ. I am extremely glad to report because the risk of the purchase I was afraid was going to bite me. Thanks for the input and help fellows.
Whitey

[uncrichie]

Excellent, have fun. Uncrichie.