A buddy of mine is willing to sell me his Miller Thunderbolt 225AC welder with 100 ft leads for 300 with cart. Its an older unit but I struck an arc and did well with it. My other option would be a brand new Lincoln tombstone 225ac from home depot. In your opinion which would be better? A used miller with 100ft leads or a new Lincoln? I will be doing frame work (boxing and setting up a four link) with said welder. Thanks for your input.
Most of the hotrods for better than a half century were built with Lincoln and Miller stick welders. Mine is about a 1965 model, a friend has one from about 1954 or so. His weighs about half again as much as mine and works as well today as the day he bought it. They go on forever.
I would look for a AC/DC capable machine,AC limits you on rods you can use, DC opens the door to more options.A DC machine can run a scratch/lift start tig, with a gas valve torch and argon bottle, and a regulator. Keep an eye on craigslist older, stick welders show up all the time. The new transformer machines use aluminum not copper like the older machines, dropping the duty cycle. Look for a lincoln "idealarc" or a miller "dialarc" very common heavy duty machines, 100%duty cycle at 100-150 amps. More than enough for you to build a 1/4 " thick frame.
Ive got a smaller mig (130amp) that I use for body panels and small gauge steel, I am just wanting to use a stick on the heavier stuff. Ive only used a stick a handful of times but Ive had good results. Obviously I will be practicing every night for the next few months before I even think about welding frame supports. I am also signed up for a vocational class in October for formal education on the subject. Thanks for your input, Ive been leaning towards the miller anyway but I wanted reassurance. As far as the DC is concerned, Ive never welded with it... so I dont really understand the advantages other then being able to use the DC rods... Maybe my class with enlighten me to them.
DC offers higher penetration than AC. AC is harder to start and maintain the arc. The voltage changes from positive to negative, hence less penetration. Limited electrodes. Crappier looking welds. Get a DC Miller Also, stick does not equal more penetration over mig. Lastly, AC is for farmers and amateurs. P.S. you have welded with DC your mig is DC. I would get a bigger wire feeder like a Miller 211, $1000. Save your money
DC runs much smoother than AC( better for out of position e,i vertical up and over head), AC runs at 60 hertz, meaning your arc is going out 60 times a second AC = alternating current.
Im a miller man, I bet the 100ft lead has a tasty price by itself. I would think that welder would easily weld a frame
That is a Lincoln Idealarc 250,these have been made since the sixties and are still basically the same machine being made today, excellent machine, paid $300 and some paint. That thunderbolt would melt before this machine would even get warm.
Unless those 100 foot leads are real heavy, you're going to lose a lot of current through them, so that a 100 amp setting on the welder is probably only going to deliver 80 or so at the stick. I'd buy that Miller with the long leads, shorten them by 50%, then sell the excess and pay for most of your welder.
Yeah, the leads alone are rolly worth 150 by themselfs.. but now you all have made me want a dc machine... so it looks like im saving up and waiting for a good deal.
i have a old wards ( yeah that old chain of stores like sears. think they went bankrupt in late 90s _) arc welder, and a millermatic.. im sold on the quality of miller.. and the millermatic mig welder is a great welder.. very happy with it.. im sold on miller now because of the millermatic. good luck in whatever you choose. chris.
Buy the miller. If the leads are 2/0 their about $ 4.00a foot around here that is for new. My stick welder is a 1946 Lincoln SA 200 Gas. have 400' of 2/0 lead but only using 75 on the stinger and 50 on the ground I put $120.00 in the welder 14 yrs. ago and it runs just fine. As the others said DC works the best. Lee
I have a Miller thunderbolt that I've owned for along time and also have a tig rig set up on it and it does just fine
Nothing wrong with either welder in the original post. I have an old tombstone around just because it was the first arc welder I used in school shop in the '70's. Many a good hot rod were built with those kinds of welders.
I have a Miller Thunderbolt but it is the AC/DC model and I use it on DC mainly. You can weld with AC with the correct rod but I like DC better. A lot of welding has been done with buzz box welders.
Funny how technology evolves. When I was younger, if you had an arc welder you were big stuff. Then MIG's came out and suddenly arc welding was passe'. Then TIG came on the scene and people who owned one looked down their noses at MIG's. Most of my 27 was welded up with an old Lincoln 220 arc welder, and even though I wasn't ( and still am not) a good welder, I was able to get it done and the car still works fine today. I finally sold the old Lincoln a few years ago because with a couple of Migs and a Tig it never got used anymore, but I am sure it is still putting down good welds today for someone. You can't kill them. Don
I know there are better machines out there but I want to use arc because for the price you can't beat it. Plus I like to learn old school ways of doing things before I learn the latest and greatest...
Get an A/C-D/C machine , you'll never be sorry. [I paid 150 for a used century 15 years ago, & like it just fine] dave
Being from the "old school" welding since 1951, Miller & Lincoln machines are your best investments. Asa retired pipe welder, I have used both brands & enjoyed quality welding from both. (especially on certified, xray jobs). To answer your question, I would go with the Miller & just use shorter leads to your specific job. You are correct on becoming "proficient" in the stick welding area before going to Mig & Tig welding.
Well I made a probably unpopular decision, especially among the Miller and Lincoln fanatics.... I found a century 250 amp AC/DC machine from the early 80s, barely used. Also came with a HF box also made by century and a tig torch setup. All for $475 plus gas to get there. I brought a welder friend of mine that has been melting metal since he was born.. he tried it out and said it was a really sweet welder. He said if I didnt buy it he was going to. Here are some pictures.
Good score. If they ever fix the bridge maybe we can meet. I'm building a truck just across the river.
Thanks man! im actually on the indiana side myself.. downtown jeffersonville by jeff boat. Where are you located at?
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