Tig 300/300 questions.

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I picked up a Lincoln tig 300/300It came with a stinger, ground clamp, regulator and the welding cart/reservoir in the picture. The date on the inside of the side panel is 02/18/65. I'm asking around to see if I can find an argon tank someone isn't using anymore. I have zero experience with tig. I've got a bum shoulder for about another month but then I plan on finding a shop that I can work at in my off time for education. I know a handful of local welders. I currently can't run the machine, because I haven't ran 220 from the subpanel in the garage.     When it comes to the tig side of the machine I need a torch and would eventually like a pedal. The torch I figure I can call a welding supply store and find one. I don't have any plans on welding very much thick materials any time soon. So I'm planning on just getting an air cooled torch. Any advice on a torch would be appreciated. The pedal is where I'm going to have trouble. It is the 3+2 pong set up. From what I've found out is no one makes them anymore, because the current ran through those pedals. So my options appear to be either find a used one, or build one. I'm planning to build one instead of hoping to find one. My electronical knowledge is limited to building simple circuits and simple car wiring. I've searched a couple sites and found one guy who built one using a donor pedal. His only discription of the pedal was big. Which makes sense, but doesn't really help me with keeping an eye out for one that will work. Any help,or point in the right direction in regards to a pedal would be appreciated. My friend asked why I wouldn't just convert it to a more readily available pin set up. I'd never thought about that, but would it be practical or even possible?Thank you,Crash
Reply:Don't know how much you paid if anything for the old 300/300 but if your really interested in learning tig sell that 300/300 machine or give it away but learn on what current day welders are using so you will have all the advantages of current machines.If it was a turn key welder I would say plug it in and weld but your going to have to spend some money to get that old girl working so why not add some $$$ to that and get a smaller more efficient machine.....Just my opinion from having welded with those older Tranny welders....   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:That machine is a good welder but it will require 100 amps of 230v power to run it at full output. That machine is also a very good stick welder.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I can't give her the 100amps she wants. Simply because that's the entire service to the house. I'm going to talk to one of the electricians I work with, but I don't think I'll be needing the whole 300amp output anytime soon. I can't afford a new fancy welder. That is why I held out for a good deal on an older one.
Reply:Watch ebay for a torch and used pedal. I have one of these and am very happy with it. When you start building parts for the space shuttle you may want to upgrade but the machine you have now will serve you for a long time with virtually no electronics to take a crap on you. Stick weld to 300+ amps ac/dc, tig hf ac, and dc, light ocassional arc gouge, cc mig source. It's no shop master but it should do what you need.
Reply:He mentioned he has ZERO experience with tig so I figured he should learn on whats current like he would in a welding class.....I used to stick weld with a buzz box when I was a kid but wouldn't attempt to build a boat trailer with one now......But that's just my opinionI like new stuff since we only go around ONCE......   Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I'm budist so I'm planning on getting a brand new welder next life when I know how to tig weld better. Just practicing this time around. The landlord(pops) is coming over and the morning to lay out the electrical layout in the garage. I'll burn some sticks until I can find a torch. I'm planning on taking a class in the fall. They didn't have any summer tig classes at night.
Reply:That welder looks like it's pre-PCB.  So the good news is that the current control should just work (nothing to fail), but the pedal needs to be 10k ohm, 50W potentiometer and even SSG controls doesn't make a new one.  I can't remember the PN off my head but you can look it up at Lincoln's site.  It's basically a 2 plug pedal (3 wire and 2 wire plug).  They are harder to come by than the 5 wire amphenol (K772) and 6 wire amphenol (K870) pedals which are 10k 2W and the welder has PCBs.If you're going to make your own, you need a high power pot (rheostat) 10k, 50W like this ebay item 111347979079.Double check as the resistance value as the one in the pedal must match the one on the front panel for current control (90% sure it's 10k).These rheostats are big and I've never found a slider version, so you need to account for the big round rheostat in the pedal as it has serious space considerations.In addition to the rheostat you need a simple switch.  The switch closes and the output contactor (big one near the top) is engaged. The contacts on this output contactor slam together and you may jump a little but you can test it by shorting the 2 pins of the 2 pin connector on the front panel.  The 3 pin side is just the 3 wires of the rheostat.  You can't get the middle one wrong and if the other 2 are swapped you'll know very soon because it will weld full power when initially pressed if backwards.  I always test these with stick welding, the front panel rheostat all the way to 10 (max current) but flip to "inert gas or other types of welding" and just turn off the HF.  Respect the fact that a lot of current goes through the pedal!!!!  But the wiring is really that simple.I was a student for 8 1/2 yrs so I know that as a student you have more time than money so ignore the feedback to get rid of the machine.Newer machines (inverters) have a lot more control like square wave, balance, frequency, etc... but there is just more $s and more stuff to fail.For a beginner you will learn quite a bit.Congrats and enjoy.  Keep us posted!Tim
Reply:Thank you that filled in the gaps. I found a pedal on eBay but the man wants $300+shipping which isn't doable when added to the rest of items I need. I have manual bookmarked on a computer I'll double check the actual values but I have what I need to plan out a pedal. If I can't find what a used one before. Lot of power means no licking the wires. I think I can refrain myself. As I'm looking out for a deal on a bottle, what gas should I run? I'll be welding steel the majority of the time. I thought tig was 100% Aragon, but everything I read or hear changes.
Reply:It's ALWAYS 100% Argon or a mix of Helium and argon (for certain aluminum apps).  Point is, always 100% inert gas. I'd use it with no pedal and keep hunting on eBay.  You'll find one for a reasonable price.  Things just kind of pop up when you'd least expect.  Everything's always hard to find and pricey the instant you decide you really need it.
Reply:Ok thanks for clearing that up for me. I stated looking for torches. The welder came with the cart/reservoir. It didn't come with a pump though. So if I wanted to go with a water cooled torch I would have to factor in a pump as well. Is a water cooled torch worth the added cost of a pump. I don't see very much non-stop welding in my future. The projects I'll be working on will be mostly smaller welds. Such as a roll cage, completing the frame welds and various gussets.
Reply:If I had that machine, I would stick weld on that machine as much as you can. It's the cost efficient way to deposit weld with that machine. I'm guessing that old girl has a real sweet 7018 and 6010 arc.Last edited by snoeproe; 05-10-2014 at 10:26 PM.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:That welder is just fine the blue box guys just talk you out of it, stick weld to 1/4 rods gouge too. Run with 50 to 100 amps. Go to Lincoln web site download all manuals free .Search Ebay and craigslist for a pedal ,lincoln may have old stock.Use a Home Depot or Lowes fo a pump for fish ponds ,will work fine.Just put in tank hook up hose.
Reply:I personally have never used a new inverter machine, but it seems to me you would be better off learning on something old. Id bet going from that to a dynasty would be less of a change than going the opposite direction.
Reply:I know a guy who has one of those machines and it does an AWESOME job. I watched him run it WFO on 1/4" or 3/8" aluminum and he laid down some beautiful beads...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I personally think the TIG 300/300s had one of the best AC arcs for aluminum that could be had in an analog transformer machine. Very soft & consistent. I've sold quite a few of them too. At one time, something nice like that would have easily fetched well over a grand with a pedal & air cooled torch. I sold many for more than that when the market was better than it is now.That's a very, very clean machine. If you got even 50-60 amps as Pavin said, you'll be able to run it in a limited capacity.SSC Controls may be able to help with a pedal. I know they have a no compete with Lincoln since they make their pedals, but they did have some pedals that would work with Lincoln machines at one time, you just had to ask them about it. That's was a good while ago. Give them a call & ask for Jim. Really good guy, he can at least point you in a direction if they don't have a pedal.IMHO of course
Reply:You'll find the only time that machine will want the full 100Amps is when you are stick welding AC and try to break the arc.  When that arc gets long, the power goes up.I'd try it with a 50 Amp breaker and put a standard welding 50 Amp plug.  You can later use that plug for any other welder you buy.The key for TIG on this machine is the foot pedal.  Do a little research and see what works and what it's going to cost to find one.  Some of those old pedals (Miller for instance) are quite expensive.... built like a tank, but you are paying tank prices.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Do you own, or have access to an oxy/acetylene torch with a small tip, some welding rod and some scrap sheet metal? If you do you can practice pushing a controled pudle across the sheet metal with out using any filler rod. After you figure that out practice the same thing using the filler rod. If you can master that before you go to class you will be miles ahead of the other students as you will have full control of the basics of torch and filler rod manipulation while controlling the puddle. The only thing that's left is machine set up which you can read about from the information available from Lincoln. The only thing the pedal does is give you real time heat control. Good luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by gundog77Do you own, or have access to an oxy/acetylene torch with a small tip, some welding rod and some scrap sheet metal? If you do you can practice pushing a controled pudle across the sheet metal with out using any filler rod. After you figure that out practice the same thing using the filler rod. If you can master that before you go to class you will be miles ahead of the other students as you will have full control of the basics of torch and filler rod manipulation while controlling the puddle. The only thing that's left is machine set up which you can read about from the information available from Lincoln. The only thing the pedal does is give you real time heat control. Good luck.
Reply:I found a pedal for a dial arc miller with a 3+2 prong set up. I've tried to find if it'll work. I've read through its manual http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o826h_mil.pdfBut I didn't find anything diffinitive. Though I don't know what I'm looking for. I figure there are three things that must line up to work, the ohms, volts and amps. The Lincoln manuals won't come up on my phone so I can't see what those values are for the pedal I need
Reply:10k, 50W is the OEM pedal.  Can't tell you definitively about other values, but my guess is that you would be ok as long as you have a high power pedal.  There are 3 variations (rheostat values) used for the Dialarc HF, and you might have a chance if you have the pedal variation which is the 1k, 130W pedal.  You deviate from OEM at your own risk, just be very careful and if you're not sure don't chance it.  TimTim