Lincwelder.....reborn

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OK guys and gals...this ought to be fun. If any of you have seen the tit-for-tat thats been going on in the Lincoln threads....you'll know that I bought a model 180 AC Lincwelder from Shanghyd today.  After a 10 hour round trip, and most of it due to bad traffic and 2 trains in San Antonio...I finally got the welder home tonight.   Once in the garage, it took less than 5 minutes to disassemble the whole thing. Now starts the real work.THE PLAN :  Ok, I know I have 0% chance of rebuilding this old welder as it was originally, parts that are 59 years old will be hard to find, and far too expensive if found.  Therefore, Im planning on doing a full transplant from a AC/DC 225/125 model  K1297. Many of you have seen "Tess" my idealarc 250 AC/DC, my intention is to finish the body of this welder to that quality or better.  When I say better....Im considering using automotive paint and adding a pearl base coat for a bright cherry-red.  The body is in amazingly good condition for its age, cleaning it up will be very easy and straight forward.  Holes will be welded up solid and sanded...any small dings will be pounded out as best as possible then filled with wire.The following pics are Tess....and the new / old body from Shanghyd's.  All pics of the 180 on this post will be from Shanghyd.If anyone has comments on the build, or ideas...please feel free to post.  I llike to share ideas and hear others ideas. Attached ImagesLincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC  w/ tigLincoln Ranger 8Miller Millermatic 140Victor Cutting setForney gas welding setMilwaukee power-tools3 legged dog named SpeedyFridge full of Diet Coke1 angry wife2 loud kids
Reply:Looks like it should be interesting. If parts are needed, Steve Greer at Greer Services in San Antonio may be able to help you find some. He helped a friend of mine rebuild he 50's era Idealarc. Part wasn't available anymore, so he made one. QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:OK...first you get a can of blue paint, and then...  Attached ImagesCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverOK...first you get a can of blue paint, and then...
Reply:Originally Posted by darthwelder. . .THE PLAN :  Ok, I know I have 0% chance of rebuilding this old welder as it was originally, parts that are 59 years old will be hard to find, and far too expensive if found.  Therefore, Im planning on doing a full transplant from a AC/DC 225/125 model  K1297. Many of you have seen "Tess" my idealarc 250 AC/DC, my intention is to finish the body of this welder to that quality or better.  . . .
Reply:Hi rebuild what ???  Open up blow out , electric contact cleaner , and a good repaint !!!   Hook up first and weld !!!   John
Reply:Print out operators manual  off lincolns web site should not need much to fix , not all that old a tombstone was made in a limited imput version of 180 amps may be the same parts used . Good Luck  John
Reply:I can't wait to follow this one darth! Althought I kind of agree to keep it as an original 180. Unless it doesn't work or something. Now I wouldn't want you to screw up and have to restrip it and repaint it, so.......... if you want to brush up on your painting skills first, I will let you practice on my Commander 500!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Thanks Stick.....but truth is, Im kinda good on a airbrush and spray gun. Im still on the fence about powdercoating it or painting it.  I can do the paint, but I have ZERO experience with powdercoating.  I guess cost will help determine a lot of it too.If I paint it, I can lay in a pearl base coat and really make it pop.  But here is another dilemma, JUST how far do I want to take the "HOT ROD" idea with this.IF you can relate to this....Im taking a 52 chevy and dropping a 2010 Corvette drive-train and suspension in it.   It just LOOKS like an old welder, it is really a new, modern welder, with all the goodies of a new, modern, welder.The original machine was AC @ 180 amps max, with a 30% duty cycle.  The plan is to make it a 225 amp AC / 125 amp DC machine with a 20% duty cycle at max settings.  Thats a BIG upgrade in performance.The hardest part I think....will be in redesigning the face plates to reflect the new internals.  Papaharley "might" help me out there.  IF I can get the ac/dc internals....this unit will be able to TiG.  That adds a LOT of VALUE.PICS TO FOLLOW IN ABOUT  20  MINUTES!!Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC  w/ tigLincoln Ranger 8Miller Millermatic 140Victor Cutting setForney gas welding setMilwaukee power-tools3 legged dog named SpeedyFridge full of Diet Coke1 angry wife2 loud kids
Reply:progress and condition picsIf anyone wants to buy this from me....let me know.  Ill sell it, CHEAP !!! Attached ImagesLast edited by darthwelder; 03-18-2011 at 04:28 PM.Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC  w/ tigLincoln Ranger 8Miller Millermatic 140Victor Cutting setForney gas welding setMilwaukee power-tools3 legged dog named SpeedyFridge full of Diet Coke1 angry wife2 loud kids
Reply:Case pics.  cant wait to see this thing all painted !!! Attached ImagesLincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC  w/ tigLincoln Ranger 8Miller Millermatic 140Victor Cutting setForney gas welding setMilwaukee power-tools3 legged dog named SpeedyFridge full of Diet Coke1 angry wife2 loud kids
Reply:Hotrodding makes MANY old vehicles usable in the modern world.  DC offers many more electrode options.The trick will be marking plates that fit the theme. You could delete the long pointer/plate arrangement and use the crank to run the later amperage switch. An Idealarc polarity switch and marking plate would fit the theme well. Dinse connectors or studs would avoid cable contact with the front of the welder body and make running cables out the original holes unnecessary.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallHotrodding makes MANY old vehicles usable in the modern world.  DC offers many more electrode options.The trick will be marking plates that fit the theme. You could delete the long pointer/plate arrangement and use the crank to run the later amperage switch. An Idealarc polarity switch and marking plate would fit the theme well. Dinse connectors or studs would avoid cable contact with the front of the welder body and make running cables out the original holes unnecessary.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpNot to hijack but tangle what are the outside 2 jacks for?  DC ?
Reply:VERY KEWL project Darth! There is a market out there for the vintage tools that have been carefully restored. Have you done much 2-stage urethane automotive painting? It is more durable compared to others, except maybe powder coat. Surface prep is most important step though. I'm looking forward to seeing the final result. Good luck,SteveLast edited by rookie_steve; 03-19-2011 at 08:52 AM.JunkYard Tools .com
Reply:Darth, that transformer assembly looks almost identical to the Idealarc innards. If that thing isn't working, it's likely due to corrosion of contacts on the switch. I think you'd be better off adding a rectifier assembly and polarity switch so that you maintain continuous output control vs. tapped settings. As to powder coating, if you don't have an oven big enough to bake the coating, you're SOL on that process. That 180 looks about like mine when I started, perhaps a tad worse on the bottom, but definitely cleanable. Just be CAREFUL as you handle it, especially the wiring and the transformer output leads, as they are likely fragile at this age.I'm sure we could come up with a face plate foe DC if you get a rectifier stack Inside of it.Lincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Guys,     There is no way in HE11 Im going to try and restore this.  Simply stated, it is far beyond my personal abilities and education.  with that said, I found an AC/DC today for 300.00  . Im not willing to pay that much right now...so Ill keep shopping Craigslist until I find something more affordable.Talked to a buddy today who knows a bit about powder coating.  I think im going to paint it .  Cost is too much.I DO want to hear someone explain about a  RECTIFIER and how it might make this a continous adjustment for amps  VS. tapped.JDLincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC  w/ tigLincoln Ranger 8Miller Millermatic 140Victor Cutting setForney gas welding setMilwaukee power-tools3 legged dog named SpeedyFridge full of Diet Coke1 angry wife2 loud kids
Reply:Originally Posted by darthwelderI DO want to hear someone explain about a  RECTIFIER and how it might make this a continous adjustment for amps  VS. tapped.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749As far as the nameplates go, they look worn out. You may be able to get repops, but they'll most likely be thermal printed vinyl over sheet
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749If you do get it done, post it up.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Man, I thought you were gonna get busy on this. You put an awful lot of time & effort into getting it to just drop it like a hot potato.You don't have to know everything about it, or do it tomorrow either.Just hit it a little at a time.Don't be so quick to give up on it. I would at least check it out & put it back together if it all works.IMHO of course.
Reply:Originally Posted by darthwelder the wire wrap on the transformer is melted into.      Its totally shot.