I'm a retired SteamFitter and welded for 32 years, I have no desire to get serious about it again.

But I do own a Forney 299 125FC Flux Core Welder, 120-Volt, 125-Amp that serves all of my needs around the house.

I think I'm needing a smaller welder than my huge Ranger 8 so I did a little Googling and this came up. Is this too much stuff for 1 machine, overpriced or just stick with a good mig unit? I just need it for the Cub hobby and tinkering.

http://www.esabna.com/us/en/dare/index.cfm

http://www.esabna.com/us/en/products...ode=9504&tab=1

I'll be honest Todd, I'm not familiar with the Ranger 8 so I had to look it up. I own Lincoln welders, and I think they make a fine machine, but I prefer Miller and Esab. I own all the above. I have: Lincoln a couple "buzz boxes" and a small 125A, 220V MIG (gas or flux core); Miller gas powered stick with generator; and an Esab 250A MIG with an aluminum spool gun ad on.

All that said.... the ESAB is the finest unit I have ever welded with. Smooth operation, extreme duty cycle and produces a beautiful weld with very little effort. I have not used the spool gun much.

When it comes to welders, ESAB is king. It is a great purchase choice in my opinion. However, according to what I read, your Ranger 8 offers all the same welding abilities as does the ESAB unit you linked to.

Now, do you really need a 3 combo unit....?? Can you just keep the Ranger for stick welding and get a good MIG unit? If you can, you might consider that. But I can't seem to easily find a ESAB MIG only unit that is under the 200A range. Not sure how big you are wanting....

For the price, it's actually a really good deal. I bough my ESAB used, and paid nearly the same price as the "going rate" for the unit you linked to....

You got another Esab fanboy Here! I own a Miller 211 Mig (Older US made model) but my Plasma cutter and my Stick/Tig welder are Esab , I try their Caddy Mig. It's amazing how smooth their Mig arc sound, it's smooth like butter :-)

That "Rebel" look similar to the old Thermal arc fabricator series who are now sell under Tweco name who is an Esab brand. I never try one of those but go to your local WS and ask if you can try one. I bet you get hook and bring that candy home. :beerchug:

My welder is the generator for power outages,,,

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...psipcq6pex.jpg

I mounted it on a cut down old boat trailer,
The 10KW generator comes in handy when the power goes out,
it is a nice stick welder,, too. :biggrin2:
I have the MIG gun for it, and the bottles, but have never hooked them up.. :bigthink: