It's pretty impressive so far, use a surprising amount of current on 10-12mm steel but it's getting super penetration and would cope with probably 18mm comfortably, not sure about much more than that. Thankfully it's very easy to set up as the manual is absolute fire lighting material. I had one wire jam on it, easy enough to fix but it took a bit of setting back up on the tensioners to stop burn back afterwards. I'm very happy with it so far and with any luck it will do decades of work. Plasma cutter is super too, cuts at an angle though if you run along a guide plate, must affect swirl. Easy to compensate for though and makes a cut as neat as your shaky hand can do!
New Oxford welder
- Thread starter L P
- Start date
Whilst on the thread, reccomendations for self dimming masks? I got really bad arc eye a few years back and have been careful to make sure it doesn't happen again. The mask I have now is quite good but in my mind is still too bright at certain angles of weld, never noticed it with arc welding but it's noticeable with mig. Not worried on budget, not worried about air fed, the lungs have already had a battering, but I'd like not to get arc eye again... God it hurt and was bloody scary to go completely blind by 2am. I want a good mask that will last more than 18 months
rob h
Member
- Location
- east yorkshire
we got a esab this year to replace a sealy. cant believe how mutch clearer it is can see a lot better.
I have a couple of welding masks of varying different spec & size, my go to site mask is a cheap & very lightweight (~£25) compact flip head mask with built in flip screen - I can grind & weld in relatively tight spaces & it has cheap consumables (lenses) which I do change regularly. I also have an auto darkening & an air fed for workshop use.
Depending on the volume & type of welding you do should gauge what you need, lots of short runs & lots of prep & tacking then a decent auto darkening is beneficial but ensure it is looked after & fully functional - many people have suffered arc eye on the back of defective autos - could I live without my Auto - Yes
Could I live without my cheapo compact - definitely not & I also wouldn't be broken hearted if I reversed over it either, doing the same to the autos would probably make me cry
Remember you only get one set of eyes.
With regard to fume extraction - there are many options from the Clarke flexi systems, Nederman & Lincoln fume carts, ESAB & Binzel portaboxes all which are not particularly cheap or cheap to run.............I've got 2x Nilfisk 110v wheeled Vac units ( basically big Vaccum cleaners) that I bought at auction for £20 each which more than handle any localised extraction required.
everything is geared to expenditure nowadays,
Depending on the volume & type of welding you do should gauge what you need, lots of short runs & lots of prep & tacking then a decent auto darkening is beneficial but ensure it is looked after & fully functional - many people have suffered arc eye on the back of defective autos - could I live without my Auto - Yes
Could I live without my cheapo compact - definitely not & I also wouldn't be broken hearted if I reversed over it either, doing the same to the autos would probably make me cry
Remember you only get one set of eyes.
With regard to fume extraction - there are many options from the Clarke flexi systems, Nederman & Lincoln fume carts, ESAB & Binzel portaboxes all which are not particularly cheap or cheap to run.............I've got 2x Nilfisk 110v wheeled Vac units ( basically big Vaccum cleaners) that I bought at auction for £20 each which more than handle any localised extraction required.
everything is geared to expenditure nowadays,
Thank you. Generally I don't do a vast amount, mostly fixing rather than fabricating, although I've fair project on right now. I don't think air fed is neccesary for me right now, most of what I do is outdoors. Spoilt by modern tech, I find a non dimming mask a bit archaic, interesting on your comments of your go to mask.... every time mine plays up I always think "this wouldn't and couldn't happen with the old masks"
cheap solar powered £30 to £95 but last about 6-12 months at work
got this as a air fed unit https://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/DisplayItem.aspx?c=0700000800&sq=17&zl=2#SearchAnchor
its solar and a battery , got grind button as well
look after you eyes, you only got one set
got this as a air fed unit https://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/DisplayItem.aspx?c=0700000800&sq=17&zl=2#SearchAnchor
its solar and a battery , got grind button as well
look after you eyes, you only got one set
I bought a oxford 301 single phase , new in 2020 as an upgrade to my R-tech 250A . After around 2 months the motor that feeds the mig wire coil out out stopped first , the dealer told me they had bought from a different supplier and there was an issue , they sent me out a new motor and away itvwent again , shortly after the transformer burnt out and after 6 months without a welder they eventually told me that it wasn't covered by warranty, bought a Jasic 270 and could not fault it , its definitely a better more capable welder than the Oxford and iv recently just bought one of there plasma , my uncle bought a identical welder to mine , unfortunately his developed a problem too however it was collected the same day as he reported it and sent to Manchester to be repaired , back on farm at the Friday of the same week , Wouldn't have another oxford even if it was free