Thermal Arc Fabricator 180......any good??

[dinnertimedave]

Been a Migatronic/Esab user most of my life, just been offered a very light use Thermal Arc Fabricator 180. Single phase, 16 Amp plug on it, looks and works spot on. I've got some medium duty fab work coming up soon and my old Migatronic is getting on a bit, what are these machines like?? Guy wants £250 for it, new reel of wire in it, loads of spare liners tips etc, regulator, no gas though. Is it worth it??

 

[dinnertimedave]

Building a 60' X 24' steel framework for my new workshop. 75 x 50 box, 3mm wall. Fair old bit of welding but I won't be doing it all in one afternoon

 

[Mr shiney]

Awesome. I have had one for a few years as well as the acDC TIG unit. Fantastic Bit of kit.

 

[weldequip]

They don't make that model any more so I would check out spares availability. Should be fine, although Thermal Arc are not renowned for outstanding after sales; could be that they are now part of a huge group, or could be their location...the internal combustion engine is still a novelty in Chorley.

 

[weldequip]

Well you would know that one pdg? All the time in the world to **** about finding resistors for this, capacitors for that; some people just need the tool to work...now!

 

[weldequip]

You should calm down mate, kick the dog or something

 

[weldequip]

Go for it, Richard Branson will be sh**ing himself.

 

[weldequip]

No, his Brother in Law's aunt, second removed from his sister's father's cousin...so I was told (by a dyson repair shop owner).

 

[Mr shiney]

They don't make that model any more so I would check out spares availability. Should be fine, although Thermal Arc are not renowned for outstanding after sales; could be that they are now part of a huge group, or could be their location...the internal combustion engine is still a novelty in Chorley.

They supply spares for a long time afterwards and most of them are common across the range so I would not be overly concerned about it. However they have proven to be reliable bits of kit and mine certainly gets some hammer. If it were to fail now and not get parts I would consider that I had my monies worth from it.

It's like anything I guess, you pays your money and takes your chance!

As a welder I can't fault it, easy to set up and produces high quality consistant welds even in my ham fisted hands.

I swapped the gun out for a Binzel for ease of picking spares up from my BOC down the road rather than standard Tweko gun which I have kept with a Teflon liner in it for the odd aluminium jobs that are too big to TIG.

 

[dinnertimedave]

Thanks to all, sorry if I opened a can of worms re spares.......actually I'm not sorry, quite enjoyed the insults being hurled
Mr Shiney, interestingly this has just had a Binzel torch fitted to it, the sellers mate works at local BOC place, hence all the spare tips, liners etc

 

[Mr shiney]

Thanks to all, sorry if I opened a can of worms re spares.......actually I'm not sorry, quite enjoyed the insults being hurled
Mr Shiney, interestingly this has just had a Binzel torch fitted to it, the sellers mate works at local BOC place, hence all the spare tips, liners etc

Do I need to check my workshop......

 

[dinnertimedave]

No, straight as a straight thing this, I just bought it......£200