Look what followed me home yesterday...

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Just wanted to show you guys my new TIG/Stick machine I found on Craigslist. Picked it up for $500 dollars. Has all new stick leads, stinger, ground clamp, tweco connectors, foot pedal(not new/original), and the TIG torch is an older air-cooled 150A torch but it will do for now until I can upgrade to water-cooled. It's setting on a really heavy-duty cart with steel wheels. Freaking thing is the size of a washing machine and weighs who knows how much, but I'm really excited. It's 230v, single-phase, and needs a 100A breaker to run it full blast. It's 315A-DC and 400A-AC. Has adjustable high-frequency, start amps, main amps, and I forget what the other knob is for, maybe post-flow I'll have to look at it today when I get it out of the truck. There's no balance control, but I don't think it will hurt me.I drove 2-1/2 hours with cash-in-hand to look at this thing and when I got there the guy had it all hooked up and ready to burn some rods. Him and I burnt a couple 7018s with it, and I must say it has a very smooth arc. Welded really sweet. He didn't have a gas bottle so I only got to see if the TIG torch struck an arc, didn't actually get to do any TIG welds with it since there wasn't any gas but everything on the machine worked perfectly so I handed him the cash and we loaded it up and I brought it home. I'm very excited and happy with it so far and I'm hoping to learn tons of stuff now that I have a REAL welder to use.Here is the link to the Craigslist ad: http://youngstown.craigslist.org/tls/3128924594.htmlI'll take some good photos of it today while I'm getting it out of the truck and all hooked up in the shop.Brad GeorgeCurrent Equipment:AIRCO Heliwelder IV 300Amp Model - Total Awesomeness!Old 120v Hobart Handler MIGVarious grinders, cutting tools, hammers, clamps, ect..."I'm an amateur welder with lots left to learn..."
Reply:Grats!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Just got it unloaded off the truck. Boy that was a chore and a 1/2. Luckily I had some 5-ton chain blocks and a strong beam in the roof of my garage. I'm about to wire up the outlet into the breaker box right now and then I'm probably going to burn some rods while I wait for my father-in-law to get home from work and picking up my argon bottle. Brad GeorgeCurrent Equipment:AIRCO Heliwelder IV 300Amp Model - Total Awesomeness!Old 120v Hobart Handler MIGVarious grinders, cutting tools, hammers, clamps, ect..."I'm an amateur welder with lots left to learn..."
Reply:As promised some better pictures. These were taken with my cellphone so they're not the greatest, but you all get the idea.Brad GeorgeCurrent Equipment:AIRCO Heliwelder IV 300Amp Model - Total Awesomeness!Old 120v Hobart Handler MIGVarious grinders, cutting tools, hammers, clamps, ect..."I'm an amateur welder with lots left to learn..."
Reply:Enjoy it in Good Health.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:An oldy but a goodyEnjoyBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Nice find. Those old Airco welders are pretty damn overengineered, which explains why they're still around.
Reply:Yeah it seems to be built like a freaking tank. I'll be getting my argon bottle on Monday so I'll get to see if it TIGs as sweet as it stick-welds. Hoping to brush up on Tigging steel then I'm going to have my first go at some aluminum. Wish me luck!Brad GeorgeCurrent Equipment:AIRCO Heliwelder IV 300Amp Model - Total Awesomeness!Old 120v Hobart Handler MIGVarious grinders, cutting tools, hammers, clamps, ect..."I'm an amateur welder with lots left to learn..."