Lincoln AC/DC welder at Home Depot

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Is the Lincoln 225/150 AC/DC welder listed on Home Depots web site the same one as they sell at ARCET?  It appears to have the same model number, and specs; but it is $145.00 less. (+ free shipping to a local store)
Reply:This is only hearsay, so take it as that.My friend, who is a welder, spoke directly with some Lincoln reps.  They said the HD versions of some of their products look identical, but they are filled with cheaper quality plastic parts as opposed to their regular product.I know this to be true of kitchen faucets.  The one I have was $200 cheaper at HD, but the internals were plastic instead of brass.  It weighed half of what the real deal from my LPS did.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Find the specific model and code number, then look up the manual and parts lists on Lincoln's site to compare internals.  I know there some differences with the wire feeders, at least the tapped vs. continuously variable voltage model.  I kind of doubt there's much difference with the buzzboxes."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:The HD means Home Depot. So any Lincoln that says HD means it was sold by Home Depot.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Thank-you for the feed back, I just had electric ran to my garage today.  I think it's better to buy from a welding supply, I am hoping the service will make up for the extra money instead of the big box apathy.
Reply:I would never buy a new, small buzz box.  They come up periodically on Craigslist, often for very reasonable prices. It partly depends on your location and how far you are willing to drive. Where are you lost in Virginia?"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumI would never buy a new, small buzz box.  They come up periodically on Craigslist, often for very reasonable prices.
Reply:I've seen Hobart/Miller ac/dc Thunderbolt type welders for $200-250 in apparently nice shape.  Somewhere up in S.E. PA is some sort of Lincoln ac/dc for $100.  Seen a few Lincoln ac/dc boxes offered for maybe $150 to $225.  Bought my 1952 Lincoln ac buzz box for $50. just because it was cool and didn't deserve to go to the scrap yard. (It is continuously variable, has an adjustable hot start feature and low line voltage compensation - pretty tricky for 1952.)  The old guy wanted something like $150.  I told him I didn't need a welder, just wanted to save it for posterity. Sold.My Dialarc was only $300., ready to weld.Last edited by Oldendum; 06-22-2013 at 08:48 PM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I have been looking on craigslist, I have gone to look a few that were shall we say past their prime.  I just need something reliable to repair farm equipment.
Reply:The nice thing about older transformer based stick machines is that the vast majority are built like tanks. They may be rusted and dirty, but 99% of them probably still work just the same as the day they were new. If they weld, chances are they'll keep welding for years to come. Even when things do go wrong, usually the problem is fairly simple to repair.I'd use the dirt and rust to bargain down the price if it works. After all in a farm setting, chances are it will be dirty and rusty in a few years anyways..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:Originally Posted by OldendumBought my 1952 Lincoln ac buzz box for $50. just because it was cool and didn't deserve to go to the scrap yard. (It is continuously variable, has an adjustable hot start feature and low line voltage compensation - pretty tricky for 1952.)  The old guy wanted something like $150.  I told him I didn't need a welder, just wanted to save it for posterity. Sold.My Dialarc was only $300., ready to weld.
Reply:I appreciate all the responses, I emailed the customer help at Lincoln Electric his response was Lincoln only makes 1 K-1297 AC/DC welder.  So I called Home Depot today and ordered one, plus I got 10% discount for being retired military.
Reply:The reps are lying to you.The 225 will weigh about 100 pounds no matter where you buy it..I have been in business for 50 years and know a mfg cant make inferior products.
Reply:I bought a Lincoln 180HD mig machine from Home Depot.  It was cheaper than the local WS.  The drive mechanism on the Home Depot machine has plastic components.  The HD designation indicates that it was made for Home Depot, cheaper parts.  I have often wondered if I could replace those components with the better quality ones form the manufacturer.  But after 5 yrs there has been not problems yet.  In addition I picked up a Lincoln AC buzbox at a yard sale for $25. It was built in 1976, I took it apart, cleaned & painted it and it runs fine. It took a while to find the buzzbox but it showed up eventually
Reply:I like to do stick welding from time to time. I have a Syncrowave 20o that can do stick, but I got tired of removing the cooling torch fitting and changing it over. That being the case, about three months ago, I decided to get another Lincoln AC 225. I owned one for many years but sold it to a neighbor about ten years ago. I quickly located a nice AC/DC model on Craigslist that was listed at $250. I went to look at it and offered $200 which was accepted. It's about 6 or 7 years old but is in excellent condition with nice red paint. I've been told that there is a difference between the units sold at Home Depot and Lowes versus the internet dealers such as BR, IOC and Cyberweld. The ones sold locally seem to be more of the consumer class accoiding to what I've read. I checked an AC/DC 225 out at H.D. recently and I noticed that the on-off switch was not the same as mine. It felt almost like a light switch. The one on my machine has a real snap to it when you operate it. This is indicative either of a recent change or a difference in the HD units. I can't be sure but I think that the advice about looking for a used one is a good idea. They are really an excellent welder. It's nice to have the DC capability as well. Just my opinion.Last edited by gnm109; 07-06-2013 at 12:37 AM.
Reply:Just saw a clean Craftsman 230/140 AC/DC with leads on Annapolis, MD Craigslist - $50."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by gnm109I've been told that there is a difference between the units sold at Home Depot and Lowes versus the internet dealers such as BR, IOC and Cyberweld. The ones sold locally seem to be more of the consumer class accoiding to what I've read. I checked an AC/DC 225 out at H.D. recently and I noticed that the on-off switch was not the same as mine. It felt almost like a light switch. The one on my machine has a real snap to it when you operate it. This is indicative either of a recent change or a difference in the HD units. I can't be sure but I think that the advice about looking for a used one is a good idea.
Reply:The 225s you see at home depot are display models,empty shells.The new 225s have lighter input cords and welding leads are one size smaller.The fan motors are open frame that cost far less than the older motors.On the AC/DC models the DC output is limited to 125 amps.Small rectifiers that cost less.Still cant figure out why Lincoln uses a scrawny rectifier.when the competition offers better DC outputs.
Reply:In order to compete with the "Mass Producers", if a 37 cent switch will do the job of the old 5 dollar switch, then they will change it. Briggs&Stratton carbs cost less than 10 cents to make. An Engineer was hired there 5 years ago and his first assignment was to take 1.37 cents out of the cost!If your theory on Box Store welders is true then the old Sears&Roebucks line should have been comparable in being lesser quality.
Reply:Personally don't feel you can go wrong with one of these, and new is better.  New is always better when it comes to anything electricalOnly thing I don't like about the new Lincolns is the fact that the leads are silver soldered into the lugs on the inside of the machine, it makes extending leads with larger ga wire harder. Far as duty cycle goes.........I do light fabrication, and have never exceeded the capabilities of the machine heat wise, even though I generally ignore duty cycle when needed.  When the stinger handle starts to get uncomfortably hot it's time to grab a smoke and some iced tea and let it cool a bit."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersamm...even though I generally ignore duty cycle when needed.  When the stinger handle starts to get uncomfortably hot it's time to grab a smoke and some iced tea and let it cool a bit.