A little help ................

I used to have a Miller Thunderbolt. It had a top crank. It was an AC DC, with several plug ins on the front for low/hi DC, and AC connectors. IIRC, some were yellow, and some other colors. There was a slider indicator to tell amperage. It was very heavy for the size. I paid about $350 in 1988 or so.

I was at a wrought iron supply shop the other day. I saw one like that, and one that was an XL. The XL had a black front, and a crank handle on the front that looks like it did amperage jumps, and not the infinite crank handle increase/decrease.

I really liked the little Thunderbolt, and asked the price. They said $825 for either, and that they were new. I have been Googling, and can't seem to come up with the top crank model. Discontinued? And the XL is going for around $600.

Were these people wrong? Were they trolling for a sucker? Did I miss something? I am going to Houston Wednesday, and can't run over and get the model numbers to ask an exact question. But the crank model looked exactly like the one I used to own.

Insights?

TIA

Steve

Reply to
Steve B
Loading thread data ...

I had the one with the crank on the front. Thunderbolt XL (300Amp) that model is actually made by Hobart. Understand it to be the next (cheaper) generation of the top-crank model. The front crank is infinate withing the range of the switch. I keep the switch in on position. Its a great welder for its cheap price, and a little more cheesy;y made, but I loved it, and smoothest stick welder I've ever used.

Reply to
Mr Wizzard

And how much was the price?

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

"Steve B" wrote in message news:1rl0g.611$QP4.323@fed1read12...

Cheap dude. Actually, if you are interested, get the Hobart branded one - its about $50 cheaper. (wow, they've gone up in price)

Hobart stamped:

formatting link
Miller stamped:
formatting link
The Thunderbolt/Stickmate is one of the few Milller welders made by somebody else. They are great! I can't tell you how many hours I put on mine. The dial (crank) is *really* linier, and infinite in control. Its like 20-30 turns from one end to the other. Very rarely will you very get rod stick - this welder's magnetic design makes for damn near automatic welding. I can't say enough about this welder. Only issue I every had with it was that after about a year of very heavy welding, the crank started to move counter-clockwise by itself while you were welding - it was very strange. Had someone else run some rods so that I could watch it - sure enough, crank going backwards real slow on its own. Come to find out, the friction bolts on the sliding armature inside were a little loose. These are a maintenance item that is covered very wel in the instruction manual. One day we decided to run it at 300 Amps at 100% duty cycle for about 1/2 hour to see how it would do. It ran fine, but back in the shop (where the welder was) whole place smelled like burning windings. Said uh-oh... Took the cover off, and it stilll looked like brand new, not one iota of discoloring on any winding/wire anywhere. Again, great machine, super smooth current regulation, and you just wouldn't expect it from something like this. And all copper windings too! I was lucky to get mine on a scratch/dent (*really* dented), and in ass end all smashed in (fell off truck). Love that machine, and the way it welds.

Reply to
Mr Wizzard

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.