Looking at buying Snap on welder off ebay... please advise asap!

[deadroo]

Hi,

Ive just completed a welding course and have been looking/researching welders for couple weeks, i looked in machine mart at clarke but dont really get a good feeling for them, i think id rather a second hand better machine.

ive found this one on ebay and just wanted to know what people think!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-WELDER-240V-/220755979363?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item336614ec63

Would this be a normal 13amp plug?

Is it up for general work?

Snap on good make but is it worth the money?

Doesnt come with gas... where can i get a good deal on that? delivered?

Basically any advice very welcome!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Made by Cebora so decent enough quality. 180A max, probably 30A min though can't be sure. £250 doesn't sound too far off the mark and he says he'll accept offers so I'd say go for it but make sure you can test it before handing over the wedge.
It'll run off a 13A plug to about 3/4 of it's max power then may pop the fuse. Don't worry, it won't harm anything else. Ideally you'd get a dedicated 16A supply installed but if you don't need to run it at full power then you won't need to bother.
Gas? Take a look in the shielding gas section, we have an interactive map listing many rent-free suppliers.

 

[deadroo]

thanks... BUT im buying blind and by trust- i know not the best way but im other side of country. so im getting courier quotes of 40quid so im hoping he'll take that off price.

thanks for amp info, it seems like a good welder and good bloke so maybe itll have to be a risk and hopefully not a mistake. is it worth that money tho>

cheers

 

[bluebobtail]

Hi i have one of them welders. Have only had one problem with it.
It needed a new circuit board at the cost of about 150 quid.
But it works dam fine. Good for welding up cars.
My brother also has one and his hasn't needed the new board, so not a common fault from what i know.

If you want to anymore info drop me a pm and ill give you my number.
Have you seen the date stamp on the photos? Id ask for some more recent ones, as it may not look like that now.

 

[deadroo]

thanks! i havnt heard back from him so we'll see,
good observation on photos!

 

[Wozzaaah]

He may simply have not set the date on his camera.

 

[deadroo]

Advice...

The guy isnt budging on price... so ive got to at 40quid on top for a courier.

He said everythings included just not gas bottle.

Im also kinda desperado cause im going to france in a week and need a welder to take with me.

or i could just go down and buy a new clarke welder...>!!!!! any suggestions!?

My view is 2nd hand you get a bigger better stronger machine for the money of a cheaper weaker one.... hmmmm

 

[Wozzaaah]

Then ask him why does he have a 'make an offer' option then?
Pointless him having that option if he won't take offers, he might as well have just had it listed as a BIN.

How much did you offer him just out of interest? PM me if you don't want to discuss it on the forum.

Regarding your decision, add the price for couriering it and you're up to nearly £300 for a machine you can't test and that has no warranty. Decent enough machine maybe but I'd be thinking long and hard about it.

Oh and you've left it a little late really, what if you buy a new one but it turns up faulty and has to be returned?

 

[gavuk]

Advice...


or i could just go down and buy a new clarke welder...>!!!!! any suggestions!?

My view is 2nd hand you get a bigger better stronger machine for the money of a cheaper weaker one.... hmmmm[/QUOTE


The clarkes at that money are ideal for car body repairs etc ,you haven't really said what you intend to weld ?.....if its for gates and railings or structural you may struggle to find something new with a warranty,if its for car body and up to 3-4mm the clarke will be fine ,horses for courses

 

[deadroo]

Yep ive left it late to buy but thats what im like lol

Yeh i totally agree about nearly £300 for something i dont know if works etc is a big risk! but needs must.

thats the thing about clarke welders... and why i wanted to get a larger machine so i could weld bigger things... i will be restoring a moggie minor but i do want to use for larger metals so this snapon is probably ideal...

i dunno why the guys put offers when he says he wants £250!!!! hmmm.

I offered £230!

Thanks for adivce guys!

 

[malcolm]

Seems a little pricey - it's a fairly old machine by the looks of it. Also 87% positive feedback isn't a great signal when you can't try out the machine.

 

[Wozzaaah]

He won't even knock off 20 quid??!!
I'd say look elsewhere, idiots like that don't deserve to sell their items.

If that was me I'd have set the listing to auto-accept bids of £230.

 

[gavuk]

A lot of members here have smaller migs and use arc for thicker sections ,over 2-3 mm arc is ideal ,i had a 130(sealey)and an arc for years ,i did go to 180amp (thermal arc mig) as it came at the right price ,knowing i could sell the sealey without problems...Its not that cheap considering you are buying blind,if it was free-ads at least you could check it first ...IF you get the bug ,you may want tig as well,so some members go for an inverter arc/tig to work alongside a 100-150 amp mig,maybe this is an option as you've left it so late to purchase

 

[deadroo]

TRUE TRUE TRUE...

Im now rethinking and going to not buy it... same as a shop- customer service counts for alot! and hes not the most helpful bloke and i cant test it plus i feel im rushing so maybe await the right one or even buy in france.
sigh

if anyone comes up with one forsale ill keep eye on website.

But really appreciate everyones input!

 

[brightspark]

have u looked at his negative feedback . when sumone declines the article as its not what they expected there called a timewaster. when realy the seller is the waste of time

 

[dersbum]

As has already been suggested i would not buy this blind, too much risk, the buyer is un helpful and has dodgy feedback the pics appear to be a few years old and are probably from when the seller actually purchased the item.
having said that he probably will sell it at that price, simply because it has a snap on logo on the side.
i dont see the attraction myself but if you watch e bay for snap on tools they go for a small fortune most of the time whilst similar quality items can be had for frction of the price.
good luck whatever you decide to do
rgds
bill

 

[schwinnmad]

http://brighton.gumtree.com/brighton/02/75260902.html
This is round the corner from you and is a beast!!
few more $$$'s but its newer (prob still warranted) has a mask and thats another ton, Id go for that if I were u,

My unc has the same 1 and it hasnt ever gone wrong in around 3 years (regular use) and if it dont u can take it back to the seller or a snap on guy,,,, simples

hope it helps

 

[deadroo]

thats a super shiney welder! But bit above my price range!

Thanks !

 

[deadroo]

thanks buddy. snapon=NIKE! Just an expensive brand

 

[Wozzaaah]

http://brighton.gumtree.com/brighton/02/75260902.html
This is round the corner from you and is a beast!!
few more $$$'s but its newer (prob still warranted) has a mask and thats another ton, Id go for that if I were u,

My unc has the same 1 and it hasnt ever gone wrong in around 3 years (regular use) and if it dont u can take it back to the seller or a snap on guy,,,, simples

hope it helps

£550??!!! He's havin' a giraffe!
Brand new (probably better quality) machine with warranty for the same money?...no brainer!