Kennedy EMW 120

[keith19]

Hi Folks,

new here so looking for a bit of MIG advice. Does anyone have any comments or experience of the Kennedy EMW 120? Looks like an badged Italian job. I have been offered one S/H, not used a great deal, for just over the ton. (£100+). One here:

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/KEN8801920K

I have nowhere to store big gas cylinders so will probably be using fc wire most of the time, can't stand three-minute small gas cylinders. Most of my welding would be semi-outside (garage with the doors wide), or outside, so another reason for not using gas. Not to mention the annual contract and hire cost for only irregular usage, speaking as an ex-BOC customer!

Using mostly up to 4mm ms, and can use an old arc welder for the occasional bigger stuff, if necessary. Only have domestic 13A supply, hence the need to keep around the 100 - 120A welding range. (Can't really justify use of the unused cooker socket to Herself yet, maybe later...

Incidentally, have welded before some years back, so have basic MIG and Arc experience, but with retirement coming up I'm thinking of catching up on a few jobs around the place.

Thanks for any advice.
Keith.

 

[shenion]

Would not be suitable for thin metal with a 50A minimum. That and used gasless would probably be about 1.6mm minimum thickness.

 

[keith19]

Thanks for pointing that out, Shenion. Hope not to be working on car panels but it's bound to happen, I guess. And people bring thin stuff along as well as thick if they know you have welding kit, and look at you amazed when you say it's too thin to weld.

The old Sealey Pro 150 I used years back in garage work used to have a minimum of around 35A I think, and that did pretty well on thin panel, but had to be handled with care. Maybe I should be looking at something with around 30 - 35A lower end, just in case.
Seems like car panels have got thinner over the years, too!
Regards, Keith.

 

[Arcfire]

The Kennedy machine is made by Telwin (http://www.telwin.com) and I am surprised EWM have not said something to them about the ewm prefix on their product code. Naughty!
Regards, Richard

 

[Wozzaaah]

It's EMW 120 Richard. I am surprised Telwin make something like that as their stuff has always had a pretty good reputation but I suppose the old adage 'when in Rome' springs to mind.

Keith, save your money for something a bit better, buy right, buy once.

 

[Arcfire]

Hi Woz,

Take a look at the BIMAX 132 TURBO 230V code 821010 on the Telwin site. The picture and spec is identical apart from the decal.

EMW - EWM, Tomatoes - Tomartos :-)

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hehe, slightly crossed wires Richard. Yes, that Kennedy is a re-badged Telwin and is indeed identical to that Bimax but I think you're also probably thinking about EWM, the German company?
The prefix on that Kennedy is EMW.

I am surprised EWM have not said something to them about the ewm prefix on their product code.

 

[keith19]

Thanks for the well-informed advice guys, it looks like this Kennedy is another one to steer clear of. I shall keep my dosh until something good turns up, as Wozzaaah says.

As I shall only be using whatever I buy as an hobby welder, I would rather buy decent secondhand kit to the same value than shiny new stuff that may not last long. After all, if it's a hobby, half the fun is actually making and welding it together. And if you daren't use the welder in case it might pack up on you, that's no fun at all!

Looking around this really excellent forum I see there are reports of cheapy Chinese welders packing up after only a few weeks - or days even. Then no chance of getting it repaired under warranty, and a big fight on to get it replaced. Back in the eighties and nineties there were still makes to avoid, but most seemed to do a basic reasonable job if you took a bit of care. Now it seems the other way around - lots of dubious makes or badges and maybe only a few you can always trust.

Anyway, many thanks for the advice, and I'll keep looking around.
Regards,
Keith.