Forney Model C-5BT Welder

[ning]

Someone's selling a Forney Model C-5BT Welder nearby. $60.

Currently I've got an old Miller... 130? It's a 120v unit, I use it with flux core reasonably successfully. It's definitely got its limits, and won't do much to thicker metals, so I've thought of getting another welder from time to time.

I assume that I'd need to get a bottle of ... some sort of shielding gas... to use it, and then lots of practice to learn stick.
I have a 240v plug in my shop that the original occupant used for a welder.

What is this Forney welder capable of?
How would you test it?
Is it a deal at $60, about right, or run away?

 

[paulsharvey]

For around $200, you can get something much more modern, that has infinite wire speed and voltage adjustment, and likely dual voltage capable. I mean for $50-60, you are risking much, but

 

[ning]

For around $200, you can get something much more modern, that has infinite wire speed and voltage adjustment, and likely dual voltage capable. I mean for $50-60, you are risking much, but

I've got a wire machine; I can see upgrading that someday but was curious about what this forney unit would do.

You think you can spend $200 and get a good wire welder that'll go a lot thicker? I'd definitely consider that - got a link?

 

[paulsharvey]

I've got a wire machine; I can see upgrading that someday but was curious about what this forney unit would do.

You think you can spend $200 and get a good wire welder that'll go a lot thicker? I'd definitely consider that - got a link?

I think it was $250 for my Vevor multi process, mig/tig/stick, they call it the 270Amp 4 in 1 (they count flux and mig as separate processes...), and it's dual voltage, with the 220 and a 120v adapter.

 

[etpm]

Someone's selling a Forney Model C-5BT Welder nearby. $60.
View attachment 1631505View attachment 1631506

Currently I've got an old Miller... 130? It's a 120v unit, I use it with flux core reasonably successfully. It's definitely got its limits, and won't do much to thicker metals, so I've thought of getting another welder from time to time.

I assume that I'd need to get a bottle of ... some sort of shielding gas... to use it, and then lots of practice to learn stick.
I have a 240v plug in my shop that the original occupant used for a welder.

What is this Forney welder capable of?
How would you test it?
Is it a deal at $60, about right, or run away?

That machine is a stick welder. No gas needed. Just welding rods. It looks like it is also a high current battery charger. So it has a DC as well as AC output. If you want to learn a new process then get it, the price is right. And it will certainly weld thicker metal than a 120 volt wire feed machine. For 60 bucks I would go for it if you want to do stick welding. To test it plug the thing in, put a rod in the clamp, put the ground clamp on a piece of steel, strike an arc and weld away. Except you don't know anything about stick welding. Better ask a friend who knows how. Or get the seller to demonstrate the thing. In any case 60 bucks for a brute force welder ain't bad.
Eric

 

[California]

That machine is a stick welder. No gas needed. Just welding rods
plug the thing in, put a rod in the clamp, put the ground clamp on a piece of steel, strike an arc and weld away. In any case 60 bucks for a brute force welder ain't bad.

That Forney is extremely heavy and welds only with AC. As Etpm said, it's a brute force machine.

I have a similar 1960's Montgomery Wards 230-AC welder. Heaviest thing I welded with it, was to put a salvaged trailer ball mount onto the back of my box blade. I think both materials were 3/8", maybe the box blade is 1/2". Running about half of the welder's claimed 230 amp capability was sufficient.

As soon as I bought a 180 amp MIG welder, I've never used the monster ever since. But the MIG welder, using .035 flux core, was at its limit sticking 3/8 material to 1/4".

You might want to buy the Forney just to play around with welding on heavy material, thicker than 1/4", if you have an application for that. That's what it's good for, heavy crude but strong farm welds.

In contrast to the elderly but indestructible Forney, there are a lot of modern welders like what Paulsharvey suggested that can do nice work. If you never weld heavy stuff then the Formey would be wasted money. But heck I would buy it just to play with it.

 

[paulsharvey]

Anyone notice the Forney has a brazing plug? Is there a way to arc braze? That's a process I've never even heard of

 

[paulsharvey]

At $209 for 5#, no wonder I've never heard of arc brazing...

 

[rangerfredbob]

There isn't much to go wrong with that welder, if you want to get into stick welding get that and go grab a 5 pound box of 3/32" or 1/8" 6011 welding rod (6013 is prettier but 6011 will get more penetration) and practice... Anymore I use MIG more but when I'm doing something thick I break out my buzz box. A/C is a bit fussier but will get the job done, I went through about a pound of rod working on my brothers brush hog a couple months ago on his old A/C stick welder...

 

[paulsharvey]

There isn't much to go wrong with that welder, if you want to get into stick welding get that and go grab a 5 pound box of 3/32" or 1/8" 6011 welding rod (6013 is prettier but 6011 will get more penetration) and practice... Anymore I use MIG more but when I'm doing something thick I break out my buzz box. A/C is a bit fussier but will get the job done, I went through about a pound of rod working on my brothers brush hog a couple months ago on his old A/C stick welder...

Only thing I would caution; even minor things, like replacing ground clamp, work clamp and leeds, and your turning the $60 purchase into a $160; and all the sudden you have new machine money, in an old machine that isn't as versatile