Pow Con welder??

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My grandfather just bought a PowCon 300 ss welder @ an auction for 150.00, He said he would give it to me if I wanted it. Just curious if anybody is familiar with these machines? Ive been searching the web and cant seem to find out any info on them, except for PowCon was bought out. From what I found so far one person says it is just a stick machine, but it has a remote plug in also. Can this machine be used for tig also? I cant beat the price (free) so I will probably take it.
Reply:I Googled 'pow con welder' it shows they have rebuilt 300ss and phone #'shttp://www.arc-products.com/powcon/index.html9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Yes Pow Con was a big deal for a while, like so many others that have come and gone.It was red and it was an inverter welding machine. It can stick and scratch start TIG and maybe even MIG.If you got it free, that is a dood deal I think.I am sure there are members of the forum that may have personal experience with that brand.I do not remeber hearing bad stories about them and I do not remember hearing good stories about them.Just did not hear anything about them. They were not on  scene that long.The people that could really fill you in is the welding machine repair places.Google Pow Con - complaints and see what you find.
Reply:I Googled Pow Con welders and then clicked on images and found lots of photos of different Pow Con welding machines.I saw an interesting ad in which a company rebuilds them and changes them from a red case to a blue case.Check it out.http://www.weldmart.com/ARC%20PRODUC...20PAGE.eps.jpg
Reply:I use a couple of powcons...they are great welders.  They are 200 amps in single phase, 300 in three phase.  They are a bit heavy by inverter standards today, but were built to do the job.  They are still supported by arcproducts of california.  If it runs and welds, you have a great dc welder.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I would buy one.  They come in all sizes. The SS means its stick and not mig.    Probably tig too.I see them on Ebone all the time.  Miller bought out powcon.   FREE?  Of course I would go for it.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks for the great imput. Im going to pick up the welder next weekend. I am trying to outfit my garage so I will be able to take on some sidework. All I have aquired at the moment is a air compressor, and an old lincoln buzz box I have had for at least 10 years. I cna also get a mig for free, but I havnt even seen it yet. I do know that it is a 3 phase, but he has an inverter or converter I believe he called it. Not sure if my terminology is correct, but whatever he has it will convert 3 phase equip. to single phase. That will be another set of questions. My knowledge of electricity is about like my knowledge of rocket science. Anyway thanks for all the help.
Reply:I worked for a company about 5 yrs ago that had one.        My complaint about it was that the arc would pop out w/ 6010 on a hot pass.     It really wouldn't hold a descent lenghted arc w/ 6010 at all.     It welded w/ 6011 fine.      It ran 7018 as good to be expected.        That was the only pow con i ever used.      So it may have just been that particlar unit had problems.      You may also never need to use 6010 anyway.      I'd think its worth every bit of 150 dollars
Reply:They go for $400 on Ebone regularly.  I attempted a few.....Ended up with a Lincoln Invertec v250-S and I love it.  Just stick or tig and it doesn't stick weld great down low like 50 amps.  But 85 and over it rocks right up to 250.DavidLast edited by David R; 06-15-2008 at 01:03 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I found some more info on the 300 ss powcon welder. The ss evidently stands for scratch start, and I believe that it is only a dc machine. Has anybody ever had any luck with the scratch start, or dc tig for that matter. From what I could find out you dont need the hf with a scratch start.
Reply:Scratch-start tig can be run off of any constant current "stick" machine.  All it means is that you have to scratch the tungsten to the work to start the arc.  Hi-freq is not needed on DC current.  Basically what you have is a DC stick machine with remote capabilities.  I have run a good bit of scratch-start tig over the years, and it runs fine.  You just have to get the hang of it.  I ran one of Smithboy's powcons back at the last welding meet, and overall it welded pretty nicely.   Actually alot better than I had expected it to.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:If I remember correctly when I was researching inverters last year the same guy who was behind PowCon is behind Arcon Welding. I don't know about the PowCon but the Arcon is supposed to be bulletproof tough. They look a lot like the PowCons as well.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:i was gonna post the same thread....i just purchased some more machines and a big ole 500amp pow con welder was one of em.its a beast and so far its been real good ,stick and tig for stainless ,carbon ,and aluminum.its got a squarewave box on top that im still tryin to figure out but its all good..bob
Reply:My understanding is that Miller wound up with PowCon's inverter technology. I've never even seen a PowCon but have read quite a bit about them and how they operate. With that said if they are the predecessor to the Miller's I would assume I would be happy with one of them due to the fact I really like my XMT304.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I have used a few powcon's and I really like them. Nice smooth arc.
Reply:weldingpro.com has a ton of powcon parts all on sale right nowThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.