Guys i need some advice!!!

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Hello,     I am new here but have been a long time lurker.  I have a dilemma that I hope some of you can give me a few thoughts on.       I recently purchased a ESAB Heliarc 252 Tig welder from an auction.  The welder belonged to a college vocational school where they taught welding.  I paid $500 for the welder which came with a new foot pedal but no torch.  After getting the welder back to my shop I took the sides and top off to check it out and clean it up (the welder was very clean and had very little dirt inside as well).  After purchasing a new tig torch I tried it out.  First thing I noticed was that the High Frequency wasn't working.  It will strike an arc and weld great when I strike the tungsten on the metal but as I said the High Frequency is not working.  Anyway,  I downloaded the manual, went through the troubleshooting procedures(checked the high frequency switch, checked the contactors and the high frequency transformer and capacitor)  and after a call to ESAB realize that the PC board is bad hence the lack of High Frequency.  A new board is about $430 dollars through my airgas dealer.       Soooo, should I replace the board or should I just sell it and buy a new welder?  I only tig aluminum and stainless and the thickness varies to thin sheet to sometimes 1/4" thick aluminum.  I had been lookng at the Everlast series Tig welders but like most folks now a days, I am on a budget so I just can't go out and buy a new Dynasty.  I am not very famaliar with ESAB machines so I am not sure what to do here.  Any input, comments will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  TM.
Reply:Ask around at local welding equipment suppliers.  Many of them have someone they use who repairs boards.  In most cases the boards are not designed to be repaired but it is done and some smaller service shops actually sell repaired boards.
Reply:I am not very familar with ESABs either, but if you are on a budget I would check online for boards.  I am all about buying local, but nowadays you have to stretch your dollar, and frankly the brick and mortar places have their uses, (consumables, gas etc), but for stuff like that I like think global.Jay DavisAWS-CWIC-60 Specialty Welding ContractorLoving husband, and father of two boys (
Reply:I would probably repair the esab before spending a dime on an everlast...
Reply:Originally Posted by BUZZMAN4177Hello,     I am not very famaliar with ESAB machines so I am not sure what to do here.  Any input, comments will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  TM.
Reply:You might check out these guys. Several guys here have referenced them as a good source for board repairs. I can't remember if there were any other board repair or rebuilders that have been mentioned in the past.http://www.industrialelectronics.com/welding.htm Originally Posted by prop-doctormight check out this place, they rebuild boards for most welders www.industrialelectronics.com
Reply:Keep it and deal with the annoyance of scratch start for now.  Keep looking on eBay for the part, or and old parting out machine.  IIRC, there are ESAB clones out there.  I think they're Linde and L-Tec, but maybe someone who's more of a ESAB pro will chime in on that.  Not trying to bash everlast, but you have an industrial high quality machine there.  You could try to wire an external HF unit to it as well, like a Miller 251-hd.  The plugs would be different though.If you sell it now, it sounds like you would do the right thing and let the purchaser know about the HF.  That's gonna make it tougher.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Actually that is not a bad price for the board if that is really the problem. That machine welds very nice, and you will be very happy with it if it runs like new.It is nice to hear ESAB is supporting with parts.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Check Scott-Gross. My Airgas is excellent but Scott-Gross is cheaper. I've gotten good service from them.http://scottgross.com/Keep an eye on Ebay for reasonable ESAB parts. I just bagged a new TIG pedal for fifty bucks.
Reply:I certainly do appreciate the responses and the advice you guys have provided.  Since my Heliarc 252 already has pulse, spot on timer, and the power factor correction (PFC) kit already installed I guess I am just going to purchase a PC board (or maybe get the bad one repaired) and keep the machine.  Today, I pulled the front off the machine and the board actually has a small brownish "flash" mark on it....so I assume it is indeed the PC board that is bad.  Again, thanks for your input.  TM.
Reply:Originally Posted by BUZZMAN4177I certainly do appreciate the responses and the advice you guys have provided.  Since my Heliarc 252 already has pulse, spot on timer, and the power factor correction (PFC) kit already installed I guess I am just going to purchase a PC board (or maybe get the bad one repaired) and keep the machine.  Today, I pulled the front off the machine and the board actually has a small brownish "flash" mark on it....so I assume it is indeed the PC board that is bad.  Again, thanks for your input.  TM.