Ac/dc

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I'm looking at a Lincoln ac/dc 225 tombstone thats probably gonna sell for about 300$,My ? is i have a Lincoln ac 225 that Ive been fairly happy with for several years and in fact learned to weld with this model 30 years ago  I could sell mine for a 100 to offset the cost and to make space but is it worth all this to get the DC feature? Ive never tried DC Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....
Reply:You will like the DC.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:You will like DC, however it really depends on what you want to gain.  Unless you are welding a metal that requires AC you won't miss it.  I use an AC welder in the shop because it is available.  I have d/c portable engine driven and inverters.  Inverter are portable. An inverter would be the way I would go for the size.  I got a minimally used miller 150s for $450.  Somebody around here sold one on craigslist around here for $300. I would not upgrade just for the arc.
Reply:You first vertical up or overhead weld will make DC worth it.
Reply:Im still not getting it  ?????Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....
Reply:It wouldn't be worth it for me, not for an outlay of $200, but maybe I'm cheaper that most.  Why?  You're only getting 30-125 amps DC at 20% duty cycle, vs the 225 amps AC.  You can fuse some heavy-duty plate with 225 amps.  With 125?  Not so much.  So, unless you will be welding thinner material, those 100 amps difference mean alot.  For general repairs on mild steel, AC works fine.  Once you get into alloy steels or welding to a certain code where only DC rods are made, then buy a proper AC\DC machine.  Or DC only.http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=11130  This is a link to the bullet trap I welded with my engine driven Lincoln welder.  I switched back and forth between AC and DC+ using 6011 rods on this plate steel.  I actually felt that the AC setting did a better job for this downhand welding procedure.  And before the Weldanpower, I welded hundreds of projects using a Craftsman 230 amp AC buzzbox similar to your Lincoln, for more than 20 years.  I guess having DC current is just no big deal to me.  Perhaps it will be worthwhile to you.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:I have found that it's nice to have both AC and DC when doing stick welding. The DC gives you a wider range of available rods and it ofen runs smoother. The only disadvantage might be that sometimes you will get arc-blow on DC but that can be controlled.Having both currents available will give you greater versatility.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Your power mig 140 is a DC welder.  It has 140 amps, too.  You got to know what you want to gain.  I would not trade one large buzz box for a heavier buzz box.  You can probably do better on price than 300 dollars for ac/dc.
Reply:Originally Posted by clark-kentski Ive never tried DC
Reply:I've not stick welded with AC since I got a DC machine... There's no comparison, DC is smoother, less spatter, even the sound is more pleasant.The amp output of the buzzbox is an issue, but I know that for 95% of my welds (hobbiest) I am using 125 amps or less.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:I dislike the little mig,the spitting and sputtering and smoking,splatter every where, it thats what DC is about ill have to pass.Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....
Reply:I may get flamed for this, but i am gonna say it's probably not worth the cost.  I welded for YEARS before I got into business with nothing but AC.  Even my portable was AC, and it never effected me at all cause I never had DC.  I got by just fine.  Just by going to DC is not gonna make you a better welder or give you some magical gain.  If you are just looking to broaden your expertise then by all means go for it.  We do things all the time we don't have to, but I would not go to the Lincoln AC/DC (and I'm a Lincoln Man)  Look at the Miller/Hobart boxes.  You can get 160 amps DC out of them, and that's quite a difference in rod selection between 160 amps and 125 amps.  As mentioned before its all what you are looking to gain...I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I'll agree with Hammack_Welding 125 amps isn't quite enough while 160 amp will do quite a bit more. Don't compare a DC stick welder to a 120 volt mig welder, two diffent processes. If you have the electrical capacity to move up out of the buzz box type welders or find a good deal on an engine driven welder you'll like dc even better. The extra open circuit voltage of larger welders and engine driven welders is really what you need to run rods like 7018.
Reply:Well the auction is over looks like I'm the new owner of that ac/dc Lincoln,Hey for 152.00 and less than 5 miles away why not? Ill let you know what i think of Dc soon   Quick ? DC+ and DC- settings what the dif? also i got allot of 6013 Lincoln rod is that OK for DC ?Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....
Reply:good deal. ...Knew you could do better. Congratulations.
Reply:6013 will run on DC+ or DC- .   + will give more penetration, - will be better for smaller stuff.  3/32 rod would be best.   85 amps give or take.  I think the 75 amp mark has a circle around it.I want to know what you think of it.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:What are you welding and what do you want it to look like?Personally, I would not spend the $$ for a stick only rig, put it towards a "good" MIG, or stick /TIG rig.Just my two cents...
Reply:Read this: http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/weldrod.htmlfor a better explanation of the electrodes.... then print it and keep it handy.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:Well i got it home last night and ran half a dozen sticks of FLEETWOOD 37 which is 6013 ,flat on some 1/4in scrap .I cant tell any difference between ac or dc.Except the ac looked to penetrate better, all good looking welds though.Victor SuperRanger O/A                                         Solar migLincoln Powermig 140Southbend 9in lathe350# kohlswa anvilMiller Maxstar 150 stl etc....