Is the Lincoln Electric AC/DC 225/125 Welder good for a beginner?

admin

Is the Lincoln Electric AC/DC 225/125 Welder good for starting out?  I found a new one on craigs list for 250.00 and they retail from the Home depot for 434.13.  I want to learn to weld and I dont know where to start.  Please let me know know what you think I have a budget of about 250 so that would be great if it was a good deal.  Thanksmark
Reply:Yes.AC 225's are the absolute bottom to learn with.  AC/DC's are good because you get to learn the DC stick welding too.  $250 is about average used prices I've seen on CL.Jump on it, then get some rods & a good hood.  Start sparkin!!!!MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:how much should I look at spending on a good helmet?
Reply:That welder might come with one, if not check out Harbor Freight's auto darkening ones.  I've read mostly good reviews on them & they go for less than $100.  Sometimes on sale around $50.You can spend a heck of a lot of money on a good hood.  But if you are learning, it might be best to start with the auto dark.  Later you might want to learn the hood nod to drop a hood over your face with a fixed shade helmet.  If it comes with a hood, it will probably be a fixed shade.  With that, you will learn the hood nod quick.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Those ac/dc machines are great for beginners in that price range. As far as helmets, you can get a good fixed shade helmet cheap, say less that $40 at most. I forget what I paid for my jackson years ago when I started. From there you can spend up to $300+ if you want. Some recomend the cheap HF auto dark helmets. Personally I feel safety gear is NOT the place to go cheap. Is it good or not, I won't take the gamble personally. This is one topic that usually gets beat to death on both sides. Just do search on the topic and save us all the BS again.
Reply:I agree on the safety issue, but most "inexpensive" places sell the auto dark hoods.  I was thinking of cost to start.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I want to spend as much as needed to be safe but no more than needed for starting out.  I understand you not wanting to get an argument started on somthing such as that helmet war.
Reply:I will say the auto dark helmets make it much easier to learn, as you can always see whats going on. Cheap and safe, the old fixed shade helmets fit that well.One of the bigest things is how well it fits. If it's not comfortable, the best helmet in the world is junk as far as I am concerned. I just got one of the new Miller Elite AD helmets. I had an old fixed AD Lincoln that was on it's last legs. I went around and tried on as many helmets as I posibly could. Tried a buddies Speedglass and I just didn't like the feel of it. Great helmet, but not for me. I still have my old Fixed shade Jackson that I use depending on what I have to do.
Reply:Every project I've posted on this site since I joined had been made with a Lincoln AC 225, or recently with a Lincoln AC225/DC125.THEY'RE GOOD MACHINESHelmets...........  Get what fits, and something with a fixed shade.  Auto dark is not the best as far as I'm concerned, but I'm kinda a throwback.A hood that goes pretty far down towards your chest is really nice.  Not the ones that end just under your chin.  Longer ones prevent the light from bouncing offa your chest and up under the hood.  Look at some of the hoods they were wearing back during the 40's.Nothing more annoying than having to weld at night, and being distracted by the light from the arc bouncing off of your chest.  The big Homer Simpson type hoods are the best in my opinion.Plus, it's kinda retroLast edited by farmersamm; 06-11-2009 at 01:20 AM.Reason: wrong numbers on machine"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Ok, I'm a creepIt's easy as pie to learn to strike the arc somewhere in the neighborhood of where you wanna weld, and use the light to actually guide your hand to the joint that you really want to weld.There's very little deposit on the metal where you originally lit the rod.  P##cker tracks mostly"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Badazzelanore- You can't go wrong with the Lincoln AC225!!!   I have owned a couple of POS-welders that weren't even useful as boat-anchors.  The AC225, especially for the price, is a great, great welder.  Lots of power to do bigger stuff and in short- you'll be very happy.  I'll never part with mine. The only downside of that welder (or ANY good buzzbox welder) is the power you need:  Firstly, you need 225 Volts and an outlet with the correct plug (it's not the same as your dryer).  Not only must it be 225v, you need wiring that will handle the amps that it will draw at the higher settings.  I had to rewire my shop with a new electrical panel and a 60 amp circuit for my Lincoln AC225.  And of course, for the 60 amp circuit, you need very heavy-gauge wire.  If this doesn't describe your intended welding area, figure on adding some money to the bill (a LOT of money if you need an electrician to do it).Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:Harbor freight has the "Blue Flame" auto darkening helmet on sale now for $37
Reply:Im kinda dissapointed right now, I live in an appartment complex where I have a nice garage but no outlet and no way of rewiring.  I really want to start learning to weld and was going to start taking classes at the local college.  I dont know that it would be worth me taking the class if I dont have any where to practice aside from class.I am gonna be living here for the next 2 years before I get out of the navy and I hate to waste that time I could be working on my future profession.  What do yall recomend?
Reply:Move.  If that's not an option, look to see if there is anyway you could add an outlet at your own expense.  It would require an electrician and permission, but might be an option.Every house I've ever rented, I've always left it better than I received it.  I've added outlets, electrical circuits, new tile floor, or other improvements.  I figured the owners expected me to treat the place like I owned it, which meant making it "livable" for me.  I've never had a problem receiving a refund on deposits either.Depending on the electrical service, an outlet should only cost a hundred to two to get wired in.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by badazzelanoreIm kinda dissapointed right now, I live in an appartment complex where I have a nice garage but no outlet and no way of rewiring.  I really want to start learning to weld and was going to start taking classes at the local college.  I dont know that it would be worth me taking the class if I dont have any where to practice aside from class.I am gonna be living here for the next 2 years before I get out of the navy and I hate to waste that time I could be working on my future profession.  What do yall recomend?
Reply:Originally Posted by badazzelanoreIm kinda dissapointed right now, I live in an appartment complex where I have a nice garage but no outlet and no way of rewiring.  I really want to start learning to weld and was going to start taking classes at the local college.  I dont know that it would be worth me taking the class if I dont have any where to practice aside from class.I am gonna be living here for the next 2 years before I get out of the navy and I hate to waste that time I could be working on my future profession.  What do yall recomend?
Reply:Yeah, the garage/driveway are not attatched to the apartment and the apartment has the hook ups.  The largest outlet in the garage is the one that the garage door opener is ran through, the rest wont even handle a fridge.  I will start asking around/looking for people to make conections.  I am gonna go talk to my nieghbor, he is always cutting and grinding stuff so I am assuming he probably has a welder in his garage.  Thanks
Reply:a  more expensive option is an inverter welder which uses lots less electric than a transformer machine. some of them will run on 110v and  220 v.
Reply:that is the machine i learned to weld with.  My high school has one in there shop.  I think its been there 4 years.  Ive used that machine more than anyone in my school.  very good machines.
Reply:What about this one?  Mig Welder with 80 cu ft bottle of Argon - $350 its for sale on CL and it comes withClarke 130en Mig Welder Upgraded full, auto dim face shield Clarke we7000b Mig Welder Cart 80 cu ft bottle (half ful - argon) Dual gauge regulator .023 MIG wire/.035 fluxcore wire Extra contact tips Wire brush/hammer
Reply:Junk......"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammJunk......
Reply:Nope, your answer is why I asked.  I dont want any fluff, so for that I thank you.  I honestly have no idea where to start.  I know I am gonna go ahead and wait a while to invest in any welder until I get a couple classes in and figure out how much I enjoy it and if i will be honestly using it often or not.  I think i will stick (no pun intended) to the lincoln electric if and when I decide to buy.  Like another member said I will probably start buying the safety equipment while I am in the classes.
Reply:I converted a Lincoln 225S ac to dc.  Pictures can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/11161594...9/WelderImagesAdded 15,000 mfd. capacitance at 250 vdc rating and it brought the out put from 80 volt ac to 70.1 volts dc through a reactor coil or choke coil and then the capacitors raised it to a peak voltage of 115 volts dc under no load.   I shut the welder off and it held a charge in the capacitors, that i discharged with a screw driver and it made a large spark and loud crack.  Think i will add a discharge resistor across the capacitors to help discharge them shortly after shuting the welder off.  Would be nice to have voltage regulation on it so as to crank it down to about 80 volts dc, less a shock hazard.
Reply:I say get it, those tombstones have very smooth arcs. There a joy to weld with.MANY years ago, in high school shop class, I learned to weld on Lincoln AC-225 (aka "tombstone") welders.  They handled a lot of abuse and stuck rods by a lot of students over the years and I never remember any of them being down for service.  When I bought a welder to use around the house, I stumbled across an AC-225 at a garage sale that was listed on CraigsList.  I would have liked to have found an AC/DC 225 unit, but that just wasn't my luck.  For my needs, it works great.  I can't weld thin sheet metal with it, but I think that is probably a reflection of my welding ability instead of the welding unit's ability.  The thinnest that I ever have to normally weld is 16-gauge for 1/2" and 3/4" steel tubing for fence pickets and such.  I can usually do that well enough without any burn through.