WTB Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DC

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My pos Century AC buzz box died last week, not interested in fixing that pos... have the tig as a backup Stick welder, but I've been wanting to pick up another dedicated stick machine. First welder I learned on was an old Idealarc 250, been wanting one ever since.If anyone knows of one of these pass the infor along, I'm hunting clist and other auction sites. I am located in MN.
Reply:an equally good choice is the Miller Dialarc 250 AC/DC.  I just sold one myself.  $400 fully restored with  new plugs, clamps and cables.  Do check out all the local auctions the bigger and older non-red or non-blue machines sell real cheap and are great welders.  The Airco in my sig is an example.  $160 for the whole thing.  then a few hrs work getting it all up and running.  check out farm and estate auctions.  many of these are great for older welders that probably seen fairly light use...Last edited by soutthpaw; 05-06-2011 at 02:15 PM.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:The ideal arc is only something I'm interested in for nostalgic reasons... but any other equivalent welders would be great.
Reply:Shhhh! An Idealarc might hear you!They don't know they are a nostalgia item and still think they are welding machines.
Reply:Oh, the things I could do to that machine up there. Lincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Oh, the things I could do to that machine up there.
Reply:Craigs list, ebay, school/college/workshop sales.You can still get a new Idealarc 250 from Lincoln.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Is Mn. anywhere near Cu-------camonga?http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2359893958.htmlhttp://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2335806829.htmlhttp://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2324213794.htmlDon't forget the pay phone!http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2305118758.htmlLast edited by tanglediver; 05-06-2011 at 11:42 PM.City 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 tanglediverIs Mn. anywhere near Cu-------camonga?http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2359893958.htmlhttp://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2335806829.htmlhttp://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2324213794.htmlDon't forget the pay phone!http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2305118758.html
Reply:Tanglediver those are all 2000 miles too far of a drive to buy.
Reply:Does this mean my sense of humor is skewed?  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:Well, they seem to be abundant enough. Don't give up searching. You'll find something that fits the bill closer to home eventually. City 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:Missed out on one for $250... going to look at one tomorrow advertised for $400.
Reply:Check here, there's three in KC up for auction. https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm
Reply:I just bought an old tombstone Idealarc AC/DC 250/250 off of Ebay for $142.50!  I had to drive a ways to get it but the total was under $300.Then I found a AC-225 on Craigslist with the HI-FREQ box attached for only $200 so I bought it too!I took the TIG box off and just sold the AC-225 for $100 locally.Now all I need is the information on the values of the Bypass Capacitor that goes inside the 250 to run the TIG box.I am NOT going to pay Lincolns price for it!Jim
Reply:Now all I need is the information on the values of the Bypass Capacitor that goes inside the 250 to run the TIG box.I am NOT going to pay Lincolns price for it!
Reply:The price of a new Idealarc 250 is about $1800.I've been following used Idealarcs on Kijiji (much bigger here than Craiglist) for the last month. I noticed that prices can vary a lot.I've seen old round tops for $300 - $600I've seen old square tops for $350 to $525I've seen modern square tops from a super deal of only $250 up to about $900 for the latest model.Note: The machine weighs 350 - 375 pounds so far away shipping is really not an option.(I had to let that $250 Idealarc 250 go... it was still available but it was a 7 hour drive away... just too darn far even for a day trip.  I did check freight shipping costs... $250!)You just have to be patient and hope something comes up near local to you.It one of those funny things, sometimes those welders disappear fast, other times they sit for weeks... can't figure it out.The max output rating of an Idealarc 250 is 250 amps AC or DC at 30% duty cycle.  However, according to the manual, you must "reduce the Idealarc 250 duty cycle by 50% when AC TIG welding,"Be aware... the Idealarc 250s are power hogs drawing 6.2 amps (1426 watts) at idle and 86 amps at full output. e.g. You need a 100 amp breaker and beefy wire.And while power correction factor capacitors can decrease the draw at full output from 86 to 68 amps, they also drive up the idle current from 6.2 amps to a whopping 23 amps (that's 5290 watts) - almost equivalent to two 3,000 watts heaters!  Just sitting there - not welding!  So, I don't recommend the power-factor correction capacitors.I think one reason so many seem to be popping up now is that folks are moving over to inveters; $350 can buy you a brand-name Chicom with 200 amps DC output at 60% duty cycle.  However, you can always use that as a bargaining chip, plus the weight, plus the power consumption.Good Luck!Last edited by Rick V; 08-12-2011 at 09:38 PM.Reason: Forgot something... as TIG welderRick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:I think they are popping up because they last so long and the business surplus accumulation is huge. Also, MIG is so advanced nowadays that stick is less popular."brand-name Chicom" is a contradiction in terms at this point. Maybe in twenty years.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallI think they are popping up because they last so long and the business surplus accumulation is huge. Also, MIG is so advanced nowadays that stick is less popular.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallThat would be useful info. Or you could just go for something rated far above what might be required.
Reply:You could try the Practical Machinist forums. Folks there, particularly Dave Kamp, have gotten heavily into welder modding.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick VThe price of a new Idealarc 250 is about $1800.The max output rating of an Idealarc 250 is 250 amps AC or DC at 30% duty cycle.  However, according to the manual, you must "reduce the Idealarc 250 duty cycle by 50% when AC TIG welding,"Be aware... the Idealarc 250s are power hogs drawing 6.2 amps (1426 watts) at idle and 86 amps at full output. e.g. You need a 100 amp breaker and beefy wire.And while power correction factor capacitors can decrease the draw at full output from 86 to 68 amps, they also drive up the idle current from 6.2 amps to a whopping 23 amps (that's 5290 watts) - almost equivalent to two 3,000 watts heaters!  Just sitting there - not welding!  So, I don't recommend the power-factor correction capacitors.Good Luck!
Reply:Hey snoeproe...You are correct and... so am I; we both right! My figures came from the "operator's manual" IM402-B August, 2007 for the DEALARC AC/DC 250 - square top, type K1053 (For use with machines having Code Number 9491 thru 11104.)Your figures appear to come from the older "operating manual" IM-206-C June 1989 for the Idealarc 250 - round top.As you said, with power factor correction kit installed amperage draw on 230v goes from 70 amps to 50.In that older manual, they didn't say anything about the idle current going up.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:RickMy Idealarc is a flat top machine built in Canada, circa 1992 model. K-1053-8JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:What can I say?  I don't have all the manuals...just the June 1989 and August 2007 ones.Your 1992 model would not come with the August, 2007 manual... unless you're in the Twilight Zone. So perhaps between 1989 and 1992, Lincoln changed from round top to square top (Canada could be different anyway) but the specs stayed the same.We are kind of hair splitting... whether the welder draws either 70 or 86 amps usually means a 100 amp breaker. However, it does make a difference with the minimum feeder wire size.Wire ampacity at full output with 30% duty cycle allows a downsize factor of 0.55%.Your welder = 70 amps x 0.55% = 38.5 amps, that means a minimum of #8 feeder wires for you.The newer welders = 86 x 0.55% = 47.3 amps, that means a minimum of #6 feeder wires for those.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-AcetWelder on Ebay for 650, guy had it took to a shop and gone through. (he says on Ebay) Shipping 250-300. Grand total may as well figure at $950. Would I be foolish to spend this much on a Idealarc? It does have AC and DC+ and DC- and looks to be in pretty clean shape.Last edited by RodBurner307; 08-14-2011 at 11:56 AM.Reason: More information I forgot to add.
Reply:Originally Posted by RodBurner307at $950. Would I be foolish to spend this much on a Idealarc?
Reply:Even though Wyoming is isolated, wait for a deal and broaden your choices as there are many excellent transformer machines. I bagged a Miller 340 for 250 bucks a while back. Works fine and will likely outlive me.
Reply:The Idealarc 250's have been around for closer to 50 years and there's a reason why. They are awesome stick welders that will last a lifetime.  As far as electric stick welders go, it will weld as good or even better than many of todays top machines.No, they don't have "hot start" or "soft" or "crisp" modes but there's a reason for that too. The Idealarc doesn't need hot start. It burns rod just fine without all that jazz that many other machines need to run 7018 or 6010 properly. There's a reason you still see 250 Idealarc's from the 60's and 70's being used in industrial construction right now.I do run mine on #8 AWG feed wire and a 80 amp breaker.Happiness is owning a Lincoln Idealarc 250.Last edited by snoeproe; 08-14-2011 at 08:59 PM.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Hi I have an idealarc 250 ac- dc for sale, just like the one in your ad except mine is the 50 anniversary model and has a three wheel dolly to move it around, let me know if interested my email [email protected] thanks
Reply:Hi Lots... location is almost everything for that 375 lbs welder... so where are you located?Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet