Used Welder

[mscher]

I have a 120v wire feed, but am looking for a heavier welder, for any repair or add-ons (add-on drawbar hitch, repair to mounting sockets, etc.) for a project Backhoe, I'm now obsessed with.

The plan is to run some stout 230v AC, to the garage next spring (I'm now saving up just for the wire $$$ ).

Anyway, with a budget around $150, or so, looking for info, on good used welder models and models to avoid. Are older one's better than newer models? I have seen craiglist ad for a 60 year old Westinghouse 300 amp (still works) and passed on a Montgomery Ward AC/DC 225amp, which one of the mechanics thought had problems with electrical shocks.

Input apprecaited.

 

[rbh]

Re: Used Welder

So you want to go HD mig (wire feed) or stick??

I bet your looking at a 45-60 amp feed off the breaker panel.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Used Welder

You can prob get a stick welder for that price, but a MIG is going to set you back 500-700 for a decent used Miller or similiar machine. One thought, look online to local government auction sites. They rotate equipment every other year and my neighbor bought a 100 amp machine with 50 hours on it for $200! Your tax dollars at work...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Used Welder

I have had several welders. I had an old stick welder that was a Lincoln that was on a 60 amp service. It was great for thick material over 3/8". Then for material 3/8 and thinner, I use a Lincoln 225 MIG which is on a 30 amp service. I have welded 1/2" plate with the MIG using several passes, but it doesn't get the best penetration as the stick did.

I prefer Lincoln and then second choice is Miller. Usually those two is easy to find service for when needed.

 

[mscher]

Re: Used Welder

So you want to go HD mig (wire feed) or stick??

I bet your looking at a 45-60 amp feed off the breaker panel.

A stick welder, would work just fine, for now.

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Used Welder

If you have an electric drier you have a 230V outlet.

MIG/TIG is the way to go. Far more versatile in the long run.

 

[jim765]

Re: Used Welder

I have a 120v wire feed, but am looking for a heavier welder, for any repair or add-ons (add-on drawbar hitch, repair to mounting sockets, etc.) for a project Backhoe, I'm now obsessed with.

The plan is to run some stout 230v AC, to the garage next spring (I'm now saving up just for the wire $$$ ).

Anyway, with a budget around $150, or so, looking for info, on good used welder models and models to avoid. Are older one's better than newer models? I have seen craiglist ad for a 60 year old Westinghouse 300 amp (still works) and passed on a Montgomery Ward AC/DC 225amp, which one of the mechanics thought had problems with electrical shocks.

Input apprecaited.

just be carefull and not get a 3 phase welder, you would be stuck with a welder you coulden use unless you have 3 phase in you grauge,

 

[Bondo]

Re: Used Welder

A stick welder, would work just fine, for now.

Ayuh,... Watch on ebay, craigslist, or local auctions in yer area for good deals on used welders,...
I picked up a Linclon SP-200 this summer, at a local auction...
Reasonable, but not cheaply...
Still playin' with it,... was spray weldin' with it tonight...

If ya can find yerself an ole Linclon buzz-box tombstone shaped welder for $250. or under,...
Grab it...
If it's AC-DC,... Run to grab it...

A stick welder is the best choice fer workin' on a backhoe,...
Mig needs clean metal, 'n tig ain't heavy/ handy enough....

An AC-DC machine,'n a box of 7018 would be Perfect....

Don't overlook gas powered units, if ya run across 1....

 

[mscher]

Re: Used Welder

Anbody have any experience with this welder? It's Monkey Ward, 230/140 AC/DC, but made by Century (now Lincoln).

The one in the image, is not the same exact one I'm looking at, which looks pretty nice shape , but the selection lever is stuck. The guy want $150 for the welder, helmet and some rods.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Used Welder

The Lincoln 225 red buzz box is hard to beat and bullet proof. Since you are on a budget don't let anyone mis-guide you on the wiring. If you buy a 225 welder with a 20% duty cycle you can de-rate the wire size by .45.....so 10 gauge wire fed by a 60 amp breaker would be more than adequate. I would be leary of the one with the stuck lever as that could be a sign of overheating. For heavy equipment welding AC is fine,if your not to concerned with splatter 6011 on AC makes a deep penetrating weld

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Used Welder

Might want to see what a new mig welder woul run on e bay. Found my welder there work for up to 1/4 inch with flux core, it is a Lincon 175 with 20 % duty cycle which is fine for me. We use others at work that are heavier but I only weld some at home even less at work except for govt projects for work area. lol

 

[mscher]

Re: Used Welder

The Lincoln 225 red buzz box is hard to beat and bullet proof. Since you are on a budget don't let anyone mis-guide you on the wiring. If you buy a 225 welder with a 20% duty cycle you can de-rate the wire size by .45.....so 10 gauge wire fed by a 60 amp breaker would be more than adequate. I would be leary of the one with the stuck lever as that could be a sign of overheating. For heavy equipment welding AC is fine,if your not to concerned with splatter 6011 on AC makes a deep penetrating weld

I have the opportunity to take the welder apart, If I want to, before buying. is there a way to tell if it was overheated? It does not look like the welder was used all that much, for it's age.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Used Welder

That welder has a moveable iron core that slides in and out of the transformer and is operated by that lever on the front. If that core is stuck inside the transformer it could be that the transformer overheated causing it to distort. It is also possible that the iron core is rusted or the linkage is rusted which in either case would be easy to fix but if the transformer looks like it has been overheated I would reject this one. Is there a way to plug this up and test it before you buy? What amperage is the lever stuck on? Look for exposed and discolored windinds and give it the "sniff" test. You don't need "stout wire" for a 20% welder...how many feet is it from your breaker panel? What are the nameplate specs on this welder?

 

[mscher]

Re: Used Welder

That welder has a moveable iron core that slides in and out of the transformer and is operated by that lever on the front. If that core is stuck inside the transformer it could be that the transformer overheated causing it to distort. It is also possible that the iron core is rusted or the linkage is rusted which in either case would be easy to fix but if the transformer looks like it has been overheated I would reject this one. Is there a way to plug this up and test it before you buy? What amperage is the lever stuck on? Look for exposed and discolored windinds and give it the "sniff" test. You don't need "stout wire" for a 20% welder...how many feet is it from your breaker panel? What are the nameplate specs on this welder?

It's at work so, I'll check it out. I also want to test weld, make sure the diodes are ok for the DC side, It won't work, if they are blown, right? Have not stick welded in years and never on DC, so it should be interesting.

I have no sense of smell anymore, ,so I'll have to look.

I don't have 230v service to the garage, yet, so I'll have the use the dryer plug, at the house until then. I don't know for sure, what I'll eventually running out there, (barns, also) so I'm thinking of running 8 or 6 wire, even though the price is pretty painful.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Used Welder

It's at work so, I'll check it out. I also want to test weld, make sure the diodes are ok for the DC side, It won't work, if they are blown, right? Have not stick welded in years and never on DC, so it should be interesting.

I have no sense of smell anymore, ,so I'll have to look.

I don't have 230v service to the garage, yet, so I'll have the use the dryer plug, at the house until then. I don't know for sure, what I'll eventually running out there, (barns, also) so I'm thinking of running 8 or 6 wire, even though the price is pretty painful.

Your correct about the diodes. Dryer receptacle is fine. When it comes time to permanently wire your garage use aluminum triplex underground wire for the service run..that has been the standard even when copper was cheap!

 

[sschefer]

Re: Used Welder

It's at work so, I'll check it out. I also want to test weld, make sure the diodes are ok for the DC side, It won't work, if they are blown, right? Have not stick welded in years and never on DC, so it should be interesting.

I have no sense of smell anymore, ,so I'll have to look.

I don't have 230v service to the garage, yet, so I'll have the use the dryer plug, at the house until then. I don't know for sure, what I'll eventually running out there, (barns, also) so I'm thinking of running 8 or 6 wire, even though the price is pretty painful.

I pulled 100 amps (2 50 amp) out to my garage last spring. I ran 6 ga to the garage and 8 ga to my welders. Each welder circuit is balanced on 40amp breakers. My 250amp TIG only pulls 35amps at max in-rush. My Miller 350p pulls about 60 max.

 

[mscher]

Re: Used Welder

Your correct about the diodes. Dryer receptacle is fine. When it comes time to permanently wire your garage use aluminum triplex underground wire for the service run..that has been the standard even when copper was cheap!

That is good to know. The copper was around $3/ft.

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: Used Welder

Agreed. I've got my grandpa's 1977 Lincoln 225 buzz box and it still works like a champ be it 3/4" rebar or 3/8" plate.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Used Welder

Each welder circuit is balanced on 40amp breakers. My 250amp TIG only pulls 35amps at max in-rush. My Miller 350p pulls about 60 max.

How are you running a 60 Amp welder on 40 Amp breakers?

 

[bigdee]

Re: Used Welder

How are you running a 60 Amp welder on 40 Amp breakers?

Because circuit breakers are time-inverse which means their trip time is proportional to the current......a 40 amp breaker with a "D curve rating" can handle 60 amps for more than 120 seconds before it trips. With a welder that has a 20% duty cycle you would not want to exceed 2 minutes of continuous welding anyway.....that is why you can derate the wire size down to a #10 NEC article 630,table 11