With all the posts to this group, it's hard to find what I'm looking for
in the group itself. Is there an archive of the posts here?

I will check out the Google groups because I think I can search any
newsgroup using that, but in the meantime I'll ask my question here and
don my flame-retardant suit. :)

I now have a 100 amp sub-panel in my barn. I also have some #4 copper
wire so I can wire up a welding circuit.

The welding I do will mainly be on mild steel for projects ranging from
decorative iron stuff to maybe bumpers, roll-bars, tractor implements,
etc. I'm figuring I'll buy a stick welder. However, I'm kind of
overwhelmed with all the marketing hype out there. I'm not sure if it's
best to buy a Lincoln tombstone type AC welder from Home Depot to start
or something larger that has AC and DC capabilities.

Also, if I do buy one, how do I know what size breaker to get? I have
an electrician I can talk to, but when looking at welders I want to know
if it says what I'll need. I know the Lincoln says the input is 50
amps. Therefore, I'm thinking I need a 50 amp circuit breaker for it.

If I could, it'd be great to get something for stick AND TIG. That way
I could do Stainless Steel and Aluminum. I'm just not sure if I meet
the power requirements for such a machine.

Ideally, it would be cool to have a welder/generator so I could take it
around with me wherever I needed to weld, but I really don't expect to
be doing much mobile work (at least in the near future). What are your
thoughts on the generator welders?

Thanks,

rvb

With all the posts to this group, it's hard to find what I'm looking for
in the group itself. Is there an archive of the posts here?

I will check out the Google groups because I think I can search any
newsgroup using that, but in the meantime I'll ask my question here and
don my flame-retardant suit. :)

I now have a 100 amp sub-panel in my barn. I also have some #4 copper
wire so I can wire up a welding circuit.

The welding I do will mainly be on mild steel for projects ranging from
decorative iron stuff to maybe bumpers, roll-bars, tractor implements,
etc. I'm figuring I'll buy a stick welder. However, I'm kind of
overwhelmed with all the marketing hype out there. I'm not sure if it's
best to buy a Lincoln tombstone type AC welder from Home Depot to start
or something larger that has AC and DC capabilities.

Also, if I do buy one, how do I know what size breaker to get? I have
an electrician I can talk to, but when looking at welders I want to know
if it says what I'll need. I know the Lincoln says the input is 50
amps. Therefore, I'm thinking I need a 50 amp circuit breaker for it.

If I could, it'd be great to get something for stick AND TIG. That way
I could do Stainless Steel and Aluminum. I'm just not sure if I meet
the power requirements for such a machine.

Ideally, it would be cool to have a welder/generator so I could take it
around with me wherever I needed to weld, but I really don't expect to
be doing much mobile work (at least in the near future). What are your
thoughts on the generator welders?

Thanks,

rvb

With all the posts to this group, it's hard to find what I'm looking for
in the group itself. Is there an archive of the posts here?

I will check out the Google groups because I think I can search any
newsgroup using that,
You can.

On the used market, there is always the proverbial "$50 tombstone" In
my area www.craigslist.com is very active (100 posts per day) and
welders come up regularly. Prices for name brand AC stick welders have
running $50 to $150. Keep in mind that used welders may need some cable
upgrades, new helmet, etc so the price is not your "ready to weld"
price. The transformer portion is pretty bulletproof. If the seller can
demo that it works at all (weld a 2" bead with 6013 rod), you should be
good to go.

kind of overwhelmed with all the marketing hype out there. I'm not
sure if it's best to buy a Lincoln tombstone type AC welder from Home
Depot to start or something larger that has AC and DC capabilities.

Also, if I do buy one, how do I know what size breaker to get? I have
an electrician I can talk to, but when looking at welders I want to
know if it says what I'll need. I know the Lincoln says the input is
50 amps. Therefore, I'm thinking I need a 50 amp circuit breaker for it.

What are
your thoughts on the generator welders?

Thanks,

rvb

On Sat, 06 Jan 2007 20:51:53 GMT, RoyJ <spamless@microsoft.net> wrote:

On the used market, there is always the proverbial "$50 tombstone" In
my area www.craigslist.com is very active (100 posts per day) and
welders come up regularly. Prices for name brand AC stick welders have
running $50 to $150. Keep in mind that used welders may need some cable
upgrades, new helmet, etc so the price is not your "ready to weld"
price. The transformer portion is pretty bulletproof. If the seller can
demo that it works at all (weld a 2" bead with 6013 rod), you should be
good to go.


Ive got a Lincoln IdealArc 250 on the factory 3 wheeled cart Id make
someone a hell of a deal on, just to move it. AC only, ready to weld

140 amp dutycycle =100%

220 single phase, good (detachable) leads and stinger and ground clamp.

Much more welder than a big box Ac-225 (and bigger) for much less money.

Ya can run as many rods on it as you want before passing over any money.
And Ill supply the rods, up to 5 lbs...<G

Looks like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Arc-Welder-Idealarc-Model-250-250_W0QQitemZ190066850838QQihZ009QQcategoryZ113743QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but AC only.

Gunner, near Bakersfield, California

Rick Barter wrote:
With all the posts to this group, it's hard to find what I'm looking for
in the group itself. Is there an archive of the posts here?

I will check out the Google groups because I think I can search any
newsgroup using that, but in the meantime I'll ask my question here and
don my flame-retardant suit. :)

I now have a 100 amp sub-panel in my barn. I also have some #4 copper
wire so I can wire up a welding circuit.

The welding I do will mainly be on mild steel for projects ranging from
decorative iron stuff to maybe bumpers, roll-bars, tractor implements,
etc. I'm figuring I'll buy a stick welder. However, I'm kind of
overwhelmed with all the marketing hype out there. I'm not sure if it's
best to buy a Lincoln tombstone type AC welder from Home Depot to start
or something larger that has AC and DC capabilities.

Also, if I do buy one, how do I know what size breaker to get? I have
an electrician I can talk to, but when looking at welders I want to know
if it says what I'll need. I know the Lincoln says the input is 50
amps. Therefore, I'm thinking I need a 50 amp circuit breaker for it.

If I could, it'd be great to get something for stick AND TIG. That way
I could do Stainless Steel and Aluminum. I'm just not sure if I meet
the power requirements for such a machine.

Ideally, it would be cool to have a welder/generator so I could take it
around with me wherever I needed to weld, but I really don't expect to
be doing much mobile work (at least in the near future). What are your
thoughts on the generator welders?

Thanks,

rvb

Strongly discourage an AC only stick welder.
My personal preference for small welder is a Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC, the older
one with detachable leads. I modify the welder by adding a real 10SO3 power
cord, a cage on casters (throw away the el cheapo wheel kit) and I swap the
welding leads to get both stinger & ground leads the same length. But lots of
guys like the Lincoln AC/DC tombstone. I see small welders like these all the
time locally for $200 or less. Shop your local craigslist.
Stick/TIG welders cost a lot more, and tooling up for TIG costs more yet. The
cheapest one is the HF scratch start TIG welder, which some guys like.
Welder generators are great. Great big machines, with great big price tags.

GWE