Hi, Hello how are ya? well I guess I'm doing fine

[Sprocket welding]

Hi all Sprocket here, just joined as my Clarcke has just packed up, had it for years and it's done one 1200 VW Beetle and two Morris Minors, various gates, latches and so on around the home and helped my neighbours out now and then. Today it failed to feed the wire when I pressed the trigger. Maybe my own fault having fitted a 4.5 kg spool instead of my usual.8kg spool. maybe I've strained the motor, or maybe after so many years (purchased 2009) it was on it's last legs. Anyway here's some project images. Before and after....

and Charlie my latest mission.

 

[Sprocket welding]

the size difference says it all, I'm such a fool...

 

[qwakers]

i ran one of them for years with a 5kg spool in it. its specced for it. its probably fixable. plenty on here knowledgeable about repairing them.

 

[frank horton]

u made a nice job of the tank.....lol....
I rekon if at that age it's not an easy fix, bin it for something newer.....
mind the wire feed motors are easy to replace.....
aqnother good mod it a euro torch.... but now ur spending good money on an old machine....
mine had some cr@ppy torch cable and converted that to euro....what a difference....

 

[Sprocket welding]

Thanks for the welcoming replies Guys, here's some more rot, rust and decay.

 

[Sprocket welding]

Thanks for the welcoming replies all, above some more project work turning rust to solid metal.

 

[Sprocket welding]

I rekon if at that age it's not an easy fix, bin it for something newer.....

I'm seriously thinking along those lines, seeing some of the snazzie models out there and they don't break the bank neither. Maybe it's time for a modern MIG in my workshop, you may be right. this one came as the top review of 2025...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HITBOX-Aluminum-Welder-Automatic-Warranty/dp/B09GVGZ9PH/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_1_image?pd_rd_w=Vn9qu&content-id=amzn1.sym.d63274d0-bf52-45e7-ae69-2bcf85c5865c%3Aamzn1.symc.ca948091-a64d-450e-86d7-c161ca33337b&pf_rd_p=d63274d0-bf52-45e7-ae69-2bcf85c5865c&pf_rd_r=2CZP3C0F0DA87368HBEZ&pd_rd_wg=uB5G7&pd_rd_r=8ce4c37e-21ca-476e-afc2-2fb24b5c4e0d&pd_rd_i=B09GVGZ9PH&th=1

 

[eddie49]

this one came as the top review of 2025...

Interesting.
At £376, that is by far the most expensive (S) Hitbox welder I have seen.
The product range actually may not be too bad, but that is a lot of money to risk on a generic imported machine, with all the usual issues of shipping, communication, dealer attitude, poor build quality, reliability, manuals, etc.
For £200 more than the price of similar boxes, you get a very fancy colour display panel and a variable inductance control. You also get four identical control knobs, all labelled " + and - ", which must be very frustrating to use.

 

[qwakers]

personally i look at welders as a investment. i would spend a bit more and get something with world leading support.

R-Tech 180 Amp Portable Inverter Mig Welder (240v)

Mig Welder R-Tech MIG180

www.r-techwelding.co.uk

ok so its double... but my point stands. id rather buy a 2nd hand rtech than new hitbox... or any other tbf. ive been burned by much better welders than that (pun intended)

 

[Smouser]

The R-Tech welders has got a very good reputation on this forum (I have one myself).

Really good support from R-Tech too.

Just too risky buying an "unknown" brand in the hope of saving a few quid.

That being said, if you like a gamble.....

 

[Barking Mat]

Nice Morrises, I have a pickup, but its got a wooden back.

I've also a dismantled 4 door 1000, amongst my stalled projects.

 

[eddie49]

I'm seriously thinking along those lines, seeing some of the snazzie models out there and they don't break the bank neither. Maybe it's time for a modern MIG in my workshop

Look no further than my recent heads-up about these refurbished Paton MIGs:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/refurbished-paton-160-migs.143675/

 

[rtcosic]

Welcome.
Lots of interesting photographs there.

Don't worry if members start making meow noises to you.

It will become clear eventually.

 

[Sprocket welding]

Interesting.
At £376, that is by far the most expensive (S) Hitbox welder I have seen.
The product range actually may not be too bad, but that is a lot of money to risk on a generic imported machine, with all the usual issues of shipping, communication, dealer attitude, poor build quality, reliability, manuals, etc.
For £200 more than the price of similar boxes, you get a very fancy colour display panel and a variable inductance control. You also get four identical control knobs, all labelled " + and - ", which must be very frustrating to use.

you are right, it arrived very quickly, but the packaging showed signs of having been sent and returned before, the instruction booklet was gobbledegook, with no attempt at proof reading it direct translation from Chinese, more instruction from Tom Hanks on U Tube, set it for mig, set the wire, pushed the trigger and....nothing, except the click of the solenoid, I'm no better off with this to my old broken down Clarke, Lucky I bought it through Amazon, their returns policy is dead easy and customer friendly, they pick it up from my address Tomorrow. So I'm now looking at a draper from my local Toolstation.

one good point about the design, the side door stays open.

build quality was impressive, shame it didn't work.

 

[addjunkie]

you are right, it arrived very quickly, but the packaging showed signs of having been sent and returned before, the instruction booklet was gobbledegook, with no attempt at proof reading it direct translation from Chinese, more instruction from Tom Hanks on U Tube, set it for mig, set the wire, pushed the trigger and....nothing, except the click of the solenoid, I'm no better off with this to my old broken down Clarke, Lucky I bought it through Amazon, their returns policy is dead easy and customer friendly, they pick it up from my address Tomorrow. So I'm now looking at a draper from my local Toolstation.
View attachment 498166

one good point about the design, the side door stays open.
View attachment 498167

build quality was impressive, shame it didn't work.
View attachment 498168

Not good it didnt work, you have been given a reprieve….so why go to Toolstation. If you buy a pair of shoes do you go to a shoe shop or a super market. Id suggest if buying a welder, buy it from-a welding shop, then if you have problems the man on the end of the phone will actually know what a welder is.

See link above for Paton machine for example.

 

[ajlelectronics]

R-Tech have a sale on currently (I hope it's still on). Just bite the bullet and go for a Mig-180.

 

[Fairlane 66]

I have just bought an R Tech mig digital that was on an offer, as a noob i went to a welding company as opposed to the cheaper off shore
welders,because it has a 5 year collect and return warranty and there was a real human behind the counter, to me with what you are doing
it is a no brainer, plus they got a shop soiled sale on at the moment, go have a look.

Dave

 

[jo1010]

The (s)hitbox experience is a good lesson. Also don't ignore the many good quality older machines secondhand - some amazing bargains to be had (eg the other day a Miller with full size gas cyl for £200!)
Workshop closures are a good source....
Unless you really want a modern inverter of course (but don't forget those are relatively delicate and ideally need to be kept dry and warm during our long wet months - a humid damp workshop is not the best place for those machines)
Good luck with your search