1962 Redface $1600 good deal or ?

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I been looking at sa-200's my budget is $2000 I havnt seen the redface yet but I spoke with the guy very very briefly he's currently using it on his truck, he said it takes a minute to warm up bit he's gonna get it fixed before he sells it.. I also looked at a blackface that had rebuilt magnito, new water pump, fresh pain decals & the radiator was in the shop only problem is that I think the guy rebuilt the magnito himself (should there be any welds on the magneto housing)  & I can care less about the paint decals..there's also a sae-300 diesel for $1000 the guy said it works that's all about all he knew...it didn't have a battery & he didn't even know what leads were, sorry for rambling...any advise is appreciated.
Reply:There's an SA-250 relatively local to me for $1400.  I wouldn't mind checking it out for you, if you were going to make the trip.http://louisville.craigslist.org/tls/2338582790.html
Reply:I appreciate it but that's to far. I'm a newbie how do u determine a good machine as far as amps & duty cycle I have no idea what that means.
Reply:There are people who would kill for a '62 Redface for $1600. that ran and welded. It is also 50 years old. The Blackface you don't give a year (or a price) for it, but it has been used hard and put up wet according to the things to be fixed. And, no, there should NOT be a weld or welds on the magneto. A diesel SA 300, there again people would kill for an SA 300 for $1000. especially if it ran, welded and had leads. What do you need a welder for? Any of these, running and welding, would make you a living, if you knew how to weld and could pass welding tests. They are all limited to a certain type of welding, being DC only machines. They don't require electricity and the 200 amp machines put out 200 amps. The 300 amp machine puts out 300 amps. They all have a 60%duty cycle which is not a problem for these machines in any way, shape or form. They are used, as a rule, for field welding, but can be used for shop welding too, as long as the machine is outdoors or well vented. Personally, I'd go for the Redface.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Originally Posted by JLGaeta1985as far as amps & duty cycle I have no idea what that means.
Reply:Useing 500 amps of power what runs out of fuel first you or the welder?Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Ok, I get it now. I'm a welders helper in the oil fields we run pipe lines 2"-36" now does the duty cycle & amps of the machine change depending on the condition of the machine, for example will a new sa-200 weld as it should & the performance of a old machine degrade because of the wear & tear? If so...is that to do with the motor or magneto? How much is a motor overhaul & much is a magneto rebuild...aslo can I rebuild a blackface magneto with all copper wires like a older redface? Not all redface are all copper wires? Once again sorry for rambling.
Reply:OK, what you are calling the magneto is probably the generator. The magneto is what provides power to the spark plugs to run the motor. The generator is what provides the power to weld and run the grinder etc.Redfaces are all wound with copper, from the factory. Some Blackfaces (the early ones) have all copper windings. If the generator barrel is round it's all copper, from the factory. If the generator barrel is octagonal it's got aluminum shunt coils from the factory. Yes, a Blackface can be made all copper wound by changing the shunt coils from aluminum to copper. A properly maintained SA 200 that is 50+ years old will weld as well as a new one. (Maybe better?) Some people think so! A motor overhaul averages between $1200. & $1600. Depends on who does it and what the motor requires. Some charge more, some charge less. Overhauling the generator depends, again, on what it needs to be made right.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Thanks gizzard, the magneto sounds like the dizzy on a car. Are parts for those old machines available & is there any way to make them AC/DC?
Reply:Magnetos make their own fire, a battery is not required for the motor to run, to start it requires a battery unless you use the hand crank option. Many of the old ones didn't have an electric start option. Parts are available, but the AC/DC option is not, although some of the later welders are both. Where are you located? I worked many different aspects of "oilfield" for 35+ years. Mostly Southeastern NM & West Texas, but some in Houston and some in Louisiana too.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Bakersfield, Ca.  Im 26 I been in the oil fields about 3 years, I'm not ready to be a pipe welder yet but I have $4000. I want to split that between a 90's dually and a sa-200 just something  to start rigging out lil by lil I'm hoping by next year I will be ready. I start welding school in august(9 months).
Reply:SA-200's current range is from 40 to 300. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:The guy with the redface mentioned it was a "62"  but it was listed on Craigslist as a 1968 makes sense now...its a 1968 f-162. F-162 is the redface & f-163 blackface?