Buying a used Lincoln Pro-Mig 135

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Hi everyone, new to the forum but not completely new to welding. I've taken classes and done a fair share using friends equipment, but its been a few years and never owned my own. That being said.....     I am doing a restoration on a car and want to do some panel replacement so I started looking for a used welder (tight budget...and well I'm cheap to begin with) and found a Lincoln Pro-Mig 135. The owner says his dad used it for one project and its been sitting ever since. If a machine sits unused that long what are some things that I should look for?  He has no bottle or wire to test it, should I buy some wire and bring my own scrap to test? Thanks for any advice.
Reply:Yes, I would definately bring your own wire and a small gas bottle of Ar/C02 if you can.  Also, make sure he has the regulator with that unit.  Bring some pieces of scrap metal and make darn sure your metal is clean!  That way you can get a true feel of how the welder performs.  Otherwise the seller could say that the machine is not performing due to your dirty metal or not having any mig gas handy.  Don't let him come up with an excuse for a machine that is "possibly" defective.  I'm just extra cautious.  Anyone that didn't allow me to "test drive" their welder, I wouldn't buy it.  Otherwise, keep searching Craig's list or save a few extra bucks and go buy a Lincoln 140C model at a welding shop.  Avoid the "box" welders with the Lincoln brand name, sold at Home Depot and Lowe's etc.... They are a cheaper welder with less features than the "weld shop" models.  ....Just another opinion for ya. "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:Im sure it's fine. Not much to go wrong. Just power it up, make sure the drive motor spins and changes speed w feed knob, and the tip arcs against work. Don't need wire or bottle. Solenoid is just a faint click.HammerFile Big Hammer------------------------------Here, let me Google that for you...
Reply:From what I understand, this is a box store welder. I believe they were sold at Lowes. The guy has no clue about welders, he is selling it because his father passed away. I don't have access to a bottle currently, I was waiting to buy one in case I found a machine that had a bottle included. He basically has everything it came with (even the instructional VHS tape!) Including the regulator. Can a never used regulator that's been sitting for this long have any issues? This entire thing has been sitting in storage for what he said has been the past 5+ years. The variety of used welders in my local Craigslist have been slim and none. Mostly stick machines and Harbor Frieght MIGs. I've been looking for a little over a month when this popped up.
Reply:Originally Posted by NickelandDimeguyFrom what I understand, this is a box store welder. I believe they were sold at Lowes. The guy has no clue about welders, he is selling it because his father passed away. I don't have access to a bottle currently, I was waiting to buy one in case I found a machine that had a bottle included. He basically has everything it came with (even the instructional VHS tape!) Including the regulator. Can a never used regulator that's been sitting for this long have any issues? This entire thing has been sitting in storage for what he said has been the past 5+ years. The variety of used welders in my local Craigslist have been slim and none. Mostly stick machines and Harbor Frieght MIGs. I've been looking for a little over a month when this popped up.