Potential cost to fix a broken Lincoln Idealarc

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https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...e-349018a9def0An Idealarc is listed near me for $300.  It cannot tig.  I have not looked at it yet.Is it possible to fix this?What would be the maximum potential cost?  My hunch is something inside is burned out.I wanted your wealth of experience before I go check it out.Thank you for your help!
Reply:Probably more than it would cost you to just go buy this:  https://primeweld.com/products/tig-2...-dc-tig-welderMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Are you looking for a TIG welder or a project? If you want a TIG welder Louie has a reasonable suggestion. I tend to lean cheap on a "pig in a poke" so for me I would say it is overpriced to start with. In your wildest fantasies think if you could get it working, price leads and TIG torch etc,etc. Are you familiar with welding power supply technology? Can you do board level electronics repair and in some cases re-design because parts are obsolete? It is definitely a project before it's a TIG welder.Cost estimate with the available information to repair-anywhere from a little time to clean some connections to many hundreds of dollars.Last edited by Meltedmetal; 3 Weeks Ago at 11:03 AM.---Meltedmetal
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Originally Posted by Meltedmetal

Are you looking for a TIG welder or a project?
Reply:An Idealarc is listed near me for $300. It cannot tig. I have not looked at it yet.Is it possible to fix this?
Reply:Simple is a relative term but Primeweld and others have stick welders relatively cheap depending on your end use.160A $200.00 https://primeweld.com/collections/tig-welders200A $400.00 also a plasma cutter- https://primeweld.com/collections/multi-process-weldersI don't have either one but I do have their CUT60 plasma cutter and I am happy with it.---Meltedmetal
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Originally Posted by Meltedmetal

I don't have either one but I do have their CUT60 plasma cutter and I am happy with it.
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Originally Posted by Lis2323

on another current thread someone just purchased one based on good reviews and the claim (not from manufacturer) that "properly set up it could cut 1" steel"what is cut capacity based on your experience ?
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Originally Posted by Meltedmetal

The thickest I have cut, which was only to prove I could do it, was 3/4" stainless steel. I don't know what grade of stainless it is, just a plate I had laying around. I cut about 3 to 4 inches long freehand against a flat bar to keep it straight. Cut good as far as I am concerned.
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This is the cut on the stainless. As cut. Not cleaned up.Last edited by Meltedmetal; 3 Weeks Ago at 02:28 PM.---Meltedmetal
Reply:$300 is what I would pay for one of those in perfect working order, with all the requisite parts (foot pedal, torch, etc.). As it is not in perfect working order, I wouldn't give much more than scrap value, say $50. They are not very good TIG welders IMHO.
Reply:If it stick welds then it will at least scratch start TIG weld even without high frequency.I bought mine for $100 as a bare machine.  No leads or power cord.  $300 is too high for a faulty machine with no leads.Century buzzbox that I learned on 40+ years ago (was Dad's)Crappy Century 110volt mig 70 amp pigeon pooper.Lincoln Idealarc TIG-300
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Originally Posted by Louie1961

$300 is what I would pay for one of those in perfect working order, with all the requisite parts (foot pedal, torch, etc.). As it is not in perfect working order, I wouldn't give much more than scrap value, say $50. They are not very good TIG welders IMHO.
Reply:I asked the owner what was wrong with it and he replied:"I have no clue what's wrong with the tig part of it. It will purge gas when you flip it to tig. But it will not strike an arc."1940-1950 (?) Wilson Hornet
Reply:If you want a good basic stick welder, check out the Esab Rogue 181i, Miller Thunderbolt 160, Harbor Freight Titanium Stick 225, or Vulcan Commander Stick welder (its a clone/copy of the old Miller Thunderbolt transformer units) or even the Primeweld Stick 160 for $199        https://primeweld.com/products/160st...v-stick-welder If you want to TIG weld then Primeweld I posed earlier is the best low cost answer. The thing with TIG welders is the first generation machines produced a sine wave output which isn't very good for aluminum and isn't adjustable at all, other than the amperage. More advance transformer machines produce a square wave output and you could adjust the electrode negative/electrode positive balance both of which were really major improvements on aluminum. Modern inverters like the Primeweld produce a square wave output and you can adjust the AC frequency, the balance, use pulse (something that Lincoln couldn't even dream of), gas pre and post flow. It also does "sequencing" meaning you can set an up slope and down slope current for 2T/4T operation (i.e., using a torch switch instead of a foot pedal). Its just light years ahead of the old lincolnIf all you want to do is DC TIG on steel and stainless, then any cheap inverter will do that with dozens costing less than $300. In fact the ESAB Rogue is a great choice if you want to mostly stick weld and just dabble in DC TIG. That unit can be fitted with a foot pedal. But it kicks a$$ as a stick welder. It will run 6010 (if you need that) and it has adjustable hot start and arc force.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:The thread got sidelined about tig,,, follow Louie and get that Esab.  That would be on my short list.  At that price wouldnt even fool with used unless someone gave a machine to me and I had free parts and didnt care about effort, you wanna weld, all new features, light, simple power, works with 12 cord.www.urkafarms.com
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Originally Posted by ericsarratt

I am actually looking for a simple stick welder
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Originally Posted by Brand X

I picked this up from marketplace today. Yes, I have exceptional inverter Stick/Tig machines from Italy, Japan .Germany/etc.. I just wanted something built in the USA, and old school toughness. There is no doubt this machine will out live me.. Welds very nice, and is in perfect shape $400.00 It cost a mint to buy the machine new.I rather fire this up in the Shop then my Lorch..

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Originally Posted by Oldiron2

What does the roller chain hanging from the post belong to? A Coffing Hoist?


Reply:I don't need it and would have give 4 in a minute.www.urkafarms.com
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Originally Posted by Sberry

I don't need it and would have give 4 in a minute.
Reply:Yea, even the light duty ones have gone from $700 to $1k Cdn.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes