AC only stick, worth getting?

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Hey guys, I am still a novice welder and have only had wirefeed welders, I have someone who wants to sell me a Airco 225 (top crank style Miller thunderbolt clone) AC welder for less than $90. After doing my research I found these are pretty much just rebranded millers, and looked through manuals and posts on the thunderbolts. And what I gether is that is you can pick one up for under $100 and they are pretty good old machines. My question is for a hobbiest that currently only has a Miller 211, would this be a good stick machine to start with stick welding or should I pass on it?Here is a pic a took of it, it isn't the greatest pic because I wasn't planning on using this online but it was a reference pic so that I could compare the case with the Miller cases and get the right manual.Last edited by johnpsz; 12-06-2013 at 01:31 PM.Reason: fix image urlJohn P.MM 211 and getting more tools/toys all the timeBAD (Big *** Dodge) Cummins powered truckRIP (Restomod In Progress) '67 Mustang Coupe1SlowFormula '95 Firebird Drag car
Reply:I've used them - they work good.Price sounds ok.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Does it have leads, or at least the plugs?"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Same welder, but with leads and cheaper...well, at least I 'think' it's the same.http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/tls/4199842318.htmlNo picture, but an AC/DC model for an extra $85 that would be well worth the extra change.http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/tls/4225468418.htmlLast edited by WyoRoy; 12-06-2013 at 02:06 PM.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:WyoRoy, thanks for looking into those. I really didn't think I was in the "market" for a stick welder so I wasn't even "looking" for others, like I said someone approached me about the Airco and why I was researching it, but should have at least done a CL search like you did for comapisons. Thanks again for pointing those out...John P.MM 211 and getting more tools/toys all the timeBAD (Big *** Dodge) Cummins powered truckRIP (Restomod In Progress) '67 Mustang Coupe1SlowFormula '95 Firebird Drag car
Reply:The Dayton is a Miller and has a few goodies with it. Price is certainly right. The 225 AC/DC may be a good deal if it's in good condition.In my area, I figure $50 - $150 for an AC welder of that class.  AC/DC is $150. - $250.  On the higher end I expect good condition and/or a few goodies thrown in to the deal.  Electrode tubes and electrodes, helmet or decent gloves, long cord or whatever adds to the value.Last edited by Oldendum; 12-06-2013 at 02:43 PM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by johnpszWyoRoy, thanks for looking into those. I really didn't think I was in the "market" for a stick welder so I wasn't even "looking" for others, like I said someone approached me about the Airco and why I was researching it, but should have at least done a CL search like you did for comapisons. Thanks again for pointing those out...
Reply:There's a Syncrowave 500 somewhere around me that is a good deal.  Maybe it'd fit in a flat-rate box."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:No way Pops! Gone are the days of fitting 90+ lbs of tool steel into the large box. They keeping shrinking the boxes and raising the rates!!!!Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:Really, last time I did that they post office guy just smiled like "F-U" when I put that on the counter and I still got the flat rate, but that was like 3-4 years ago...John P.MM 211 and getting more tools/toys all the timeBAD (Big *** Dodge) Cummins powered truckRIP (Restomod In Progress) '67 Mustang Coupe1SlowFormula '95 Firebird Drag car
Reply:Originally Posted by johnpszReally, last time I did that they post office guy just smiled like "F-U" when I put that on the counter and I still got the flat rate, but that was like 3-4 years ago...
Reply:John,How much more money do you have and how may we spend it for you?  Welding is hard work, let's go shopping!  Roy, that isn't a little Richard welder, it's a big, fat ****.  I used to send those flat-rate boxes full of goodies to my son when he was in Iraq.  I started with a couple heavy cans of stew, then added candy, this and that until no more would fit.  Even went so far as to throw in stuff like a handful of paperclips or tacks or whatever would sift down into the cracks.  Bang for the buck."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Pops, after Don's jib crane bits and pieces the Postal ladies were up in arms whenever I passed the door. As far as the welder...may not be a Little Richard, but there is a whole lot there for ya' to love. Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:I got an empty box once, was supposed to have 6 pieces of 1" x 10" or so brass round stock in it.  Corner of the box tore open.  I called the post office and the gal who answered knew exactly what I was talking about.  I got them back no problem.  I should have told them they were nearly-depleted fuel rods from a nuke reactor.  "USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumI got an empty box once, was supposed to have 6 pieces of 1" x 10" or so brass round stock in it.  Corner of the box tore open.  I called the post office and the gal who answered knew exactly what I was talking about.  I got them back no problem.  I should have told them they were nearly-depleted fuel rods from a nuke reactor.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumJohn,How much more money do you have and how may we spend it for you?  Welding is hard work, let's go shopping!  Roy, that isn't a little Richard welder, it's a big, fat ****.  I used to send those flat-rate boxes full of goodies to my son when he was in Iraq.  I started with a couple heavy cans of stew, then added candy, this and that until no more would fit.  Even went so far as to throw in stuff like a handful of paperclips or tacks or whatever would sift down into the cracks.  Bang for the buck.
Reply:John, my son and I have a couple items listed on Craigslist and the local gun trader site because of purchases that need to fly under Momma's radar.  I got a lot of leeway buying welders and machine tools "for the boy's education" but that is slowing to a halt.  Tell us about your service, if you don't mind. And thanks."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Come from a military family, not quite an Army brat, but close. On my mother’s side, her father was Active Duty Officer during WWII and Korea and retired from the army as CO of an Army Reserve unit in PA and her mother was a WAC in WWII as well. My mother grew up with her father commanding the reserve unit and ended up with my father who was Enlisted (E6) and had 3 tours in Vietnam to irritate him. Her way of rebelling I guess. I wanted to serve and even in high school tried to drop out and join the Army during the first gulf war in '91, but that didn’t fly and my family and the recruiters wouldn't let me do it. When I finished high school and started college in mid 90's I still wanted to serve but was told to get my education first, but I decided to leave college and enlisted in the Army as a Cavalry Scout (19D), was deployed to the Balkans, Macedonia, and Kosovo before my first 4 year tour was over. I got out of Active duty in 2001 before the Sept 11th attacks, and was already going to school again, this time bound to finish. In 2003 I finished school and started my current career and also joined the PA National Guard for another 4 year stint, and ended up in Iraq doing convoy security in 2004. After getting home and getting married in 2005, settling down and all that I decided to not re-enlist in the PANG.John P.MM 211 and getting more tools/toys all the timeBAD (Big *** Dodge) Cummins powered truckRIP (Restomod In Progress) '67 Mustang Coupe1SlowFormula '95 Firebird Drag car
Reply:A few of my cousins on my mother's side went the officer (following my grandfathers) route and it made things interesting at family functions when I was enlisted and they were officers and we would talk Army stuff, soo much of a different perspective and so glad I went enlisted.John P.MM 211 and getting more tools/toys all the timeBAD (Big *** Dodge) Cummins powered truckRIP (Restomod In Progress) '67 Mustang Coupe1SlowFormula '95 Firebird Drag car