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Well guys I've finally found a welder.  here it is in all its glory.. only $85.   Have to get a extension cord to use it as I only have 220 in the laundry room...   I know its nothing special and not what I really wanted ( would have loved to have an ac/dc unit with infinite controls) but it was what I could afford and can get more practice with...
Reply:85 bucks with plug and leads is a DEAL! Congrats!GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Nothing wrong or to be disappointed in with that machine.  Good price too.I learned to weld on the one my father owned years ago and built my share of stuff and made many farm machinery repairs with it.  Served me well years later on my heavy truck repair service van for a period (ran it off an on-board generator) and I regret choosing to let my father sell it at a garage sale rather than keep it when it was offered to me.If you pick up any 7018 to practice with, make sure it's AC-7018 and not regular or you'll go nuts trying to get it started and keep it lit.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Back in the early 60s my grandfather had one but it only went to 180 amps.  that's what he taught me to weld with.   Great deal and a good way to get started .  Congrats
Reply:That's what I learned on too. Burned lots of 6011C and 7018 with that puppy.
Reply:thanks all for your kind words
Reply:Where are you located?
Reply:have one of those in my garage!Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:im in Oklahoma
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Nothing wrong or to be disappointed in with that machine.  Good price too.I learned to weld on the one my father owned years ago and built my share of stuff and made many farm machinery repairs with it.  Served me well years later on my heavy truck repair service van for a period (ran it off an on-board generator) and I regret choosing to let my father sell it at a garage sale rather than keep it when it was offered to me.If you pick up any 7018 to practice with, make sure it's AC-7018 and not regular or you'll go nuts trying to get it started and keep it lit.
Reply:That's the stuff.  See the "7018 AC" on the label at the bottom of the container?  BTW, all position is excluding vertical down.Another AC rod to have on hand is 6011 for root passes and when things can't be cleaned as good as you'd like.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55That's the stuff.  See the "7018 AC" on the label at the bottom of the container?  BTW, all position is excluding vertical down.Another AC rod to have on hand is 6011 for root passes and when things can't be cleaned as good as you'd like.
Reply:The crap at lowes and tsc is NOT the same rod and quality available from a LWS. Get some Hobart 418 ac (which is hobarts better line of 7018), lincoln excaliber or esab atom arc.  Remember 7018 needs baked or kept in an oven before use.  These rods have a much better arc and start much easier on an AC machine than the cheap box store crap. Better to learn on an AC and not necessary to bake is 7014. It saves much frustration for new welders and is called idiot rod as any idiot can make nice welds with it. A lot of people oh and ahh 7018 but 7014 will do most maintence welding with no problem.  Just run it one tap higher amps on your tombstone than the same size 7018.  You don't want to weld higher carbon steels such as grader blade or bucket teeth but is is fine for a36, cold rolled, and a500 steels.I use 1/8" rod for the most part but I do little below 3/16" with smaw. 3/32 is handy to weld vertical 7018 as it is easier to control.Last edited by firebrick43; 06-29-2014 at 10:57 PM.
Reply:I have not been very impressed with the Hobart rods sold by TSC, but the Lincoln rods sold by Lowes and HD are the same rods you would get at your LWS but in smaller packages.There are a couple of caveats regarding the 7018AC:The flux is thicker and heavier than the flux on regular 7018s which can make it hard to see the puddle. However, they weld nicely and are easy to re-strike.The other issue is that they are not sold in hermetically sealed cans and should be re-dried if used for critical applications. Not likely to be an issue for hobbyists as long as they are stored properly.Regular 7018s such as Excalibur and Atom Arc are more difficult to start and run on AC. The 7018AC would be a better choice for an AC welder in most cases.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Congrats, I have it's twin in my garage, I paid double what you paid but worth every penny. Great machine have fun burning rods.
Reply:I was referring to the  AC versions of atom arc and excaliber. Sorry about that
Reply:I've not seen excaliber ac7018 on lincolns website
Reply:They don't call it Excalibur, just 7018AC.A few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:my AC only Lincoln tombstone runs ALL 7018's, 6013's and 6011's easier and prettier than my high dollar lincoln squarewave set on DC.......they dont have to be a special AC only 7018, she runs any kind of 7018 smooooth and sweeeet!  and 6013's, OMG beautiful Attached Images        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:I bought some esab 6011 3/32 electrodes today.. open can for $10... couldn't find 7018 ac anywhere except from lowes.
Reply:Originally Posted by woi2ldmy AC only Lincoln tombstone runs ALL 7018's, 6013's and 6011's easier and prettier than my high dollar lincoln squarewave set on DC.......they dont have to be a special AC only 7018, she runs any kind of 7018 smooooth and sweeeet!  and 6013's, OMG beautiful
Reply:Ok got the electrical run and got it plugged in... it runs but doesn't weld.  I don't know whats going on?... i tested voltage at the plug and it is indeed 245.  When i checked voltage from inside the unit from where the stinger and ground clamp connects i got got anywhere from 50-80 volts depending on the setting.  there is one wire that is not connected to anything and wondering if that could be it.  Ill post a pic in a bit.  any help would be appreciated.
Reply:Ill create a new thread about it not working