Need Advice: 'older' Craftsman stick 230 with 80% duty cycle

admin

Hello all,First post here and I've never welded a thing in my life.  I've been offered a trade for my set of wheels and tires.  The potential trader emailed me the following verbatim when I asked for info about the welder he offered: "older craftsman stick 230 with 80% duty cycle"I do a lot of my own work on my 4x4 vehicles (4Runner, Pathfinders) so welding would be an invaluable skill for me, especially living in the 'rust belt' of Ontario, Canada where my truck frames consistently rot out from under me.A few questions:1)  Is the above welder model appropriate for a newbie?2)  What is the above welder worth approx.?  (just so I don't get ripped off on the trade)3)  What electrical requirements would I require to run this welder?4)  Does a stick welder fall under category of GMAW?5)  What does the term '80% duty cycle' mean?Normally, I'd conduct my own research on this but I'm working full-time and need the info quick to make this trade.Thanks in advance for any advice,Mike
Reply:1) Good enough basic stick welder. Probably AC only.2) Maybe as much as $150, but probably more in the $100 range or less. More if AC/DC.3) Grab a model number and check the specs. Probably run off a 40-50 amp circuit.4) No, GMAW would be commonly referred to as MIG welding. A stick machine would be      SMAW.5) For practical purposes it is the time necessary for welding and waiting at maximum     amp rating for the machine. In this case 8 minutes welding every ten minutes with two minutes of waiting while the welder cools down.As for welding on frames, get a welder...any welder...and practice until you are proficient on it before even looking at a frame repair/modification.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:80% at what current?  I'd be somewhat suspicious of that claim.  Anyway, get more info on specifically which model, as they had several 230 Amp welders.  AC/DC would definitely be easier for you to learn with. In any event, it's probably not worth a lot.Beware of the old Soviet-block copies that were reverse engineered, like this Namztfarc. Attached Images
Reply:By the time a vehicle frame shows rot, it's usually so far gone repairs aren't generally feasible. Also most newer vehicles specifically say they are not to be welded on. This is because manufacturers are using high strength alloys and often heat treating or tempering the frames to gain strength and loose weight. Welding on these frames will destroy them as far as strength goes. There's a lot more to this than knowing the basics of welding.A stick machine is good for building bumpers and heavy stuff, but a poor choice for sheet metal body work. It's almost impossible to do that sort of work unless you are highly skilled because stick welding is too "hot" for thin metal.As mentioned I'd guess the machine is an AC only machine and probably worth $50-150 near me. An AC/DC unit would be worth maybe $250-350..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Have an old Toyota pickup here that spent most of it's life in NJ.  Still runs fine and looks OK - except for the holes in the frame.  Welding on the frame would simply dislodge some of the rust that holds it together.
Reply:The duty cycle at 230A is almost surely 20%, not 80%. That's okay, since no novice welder can handle rod big enough to need anything like 230A, but it indicates that the assertions of the present owner aren't to be relied upon. This is likely an AC-only unit, which still is okay, but limits the present-day value to $50-75, $100 max, depending on condition and whatever extras come with it. It probably was manufactured for Sears by Emerson Electric, which hasn't made them in decades. Aluminum-wound transformer, with current controlled by a moveable core which unfortunately tends not to hold its setting when you strike an arc.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumBeware of the old Soviet-block copies that were reverse engineered, like this Namztfarc.