Would you make this trade?

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Let me start by saying that I have a MM210 mig and a Hobart 10K engine drive welder DC only.I was offered a Dialarc 250 as a trade for some steel for making a smoker. I have $65 in the steel. The steel is for an offset smoker and I offered it for trade on Craigslist hoping to get a small mig that I could take to do small repairs at customer locations. The steel consists of:20 inch diameter pipe 3/8" thick and 41.5" long16 inch diameter pipe 3/8" thick and 45" long25" diameter 1/2" plate rounds for the smoker ends This guy wants the steel badly but has nothing else to trade. I only have a 20'X20' shop and real estate in there is critical. Not sure I want to use any of it for an AC only machine. However I have heard these are good machines.My two welders pretty much meet all my needs except for the eventual TIG machine. I have welded a lot with AC and learned on AC so using the machine will be no problem.I am not getting a lot of other offers except low ball stuff.SO, under the circumstances, would you make the trade? Attached Images
Reply:heck yeah you could always sell it of ya dont like it. id do it man
Reply:i would do the trade.  are you sure it is an ac only?  i used one that was an ac/dc and it welded like a dream.
Reply:If it runs - in a heartbeat!!BTW, that's an Idealarc and it's AC/DC.  See that lever switch in the upper right corner?  Polarity selector switch.  Add a HF unit and you've got your TIG.You can always sell the welder at some point in the future (for many times the $65) if you decide you really don't want it.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:do you have plans for the steel ??if not..  id trade also if it works. might be easyer to sell a welder than the steel ( or get more for the welder
Reply:I asked the guy if it was AC or AC/DC and he said AC only. I found the photo on the web and sent it to him and asked if this was the right machine and he said yes. So is it DC? I would not count on it.With the positive replies I sent him an email agreeing to the trade as long as the thing is not all beat up. He said it has leads so hopefully they are in decent shape and long enough to reach across my shop. I can clean it up and paint it and see what happens from there.Thanks for the help guys, I will let you know when I get it.
Reply:Wait, I have a question. If this is an AC only machine, what would it take to make it AC/DC? does anyone know?If there is a simple modification I can make, I will do it.Where do you buy a High Frequency unit?Just hoping here. We will see.
Reply:I assumed the photo was provided by the trader.  The unit shown is a Lincoln Idealarc AC/DC machine so if the unit being offered is in fact a Dialarc (Miller) it could be AC only as Dialarcs can be AC only, AC/DC or HF units.Miller made/makes HF units with the HF-251 series being very popular and can be found on craigslist and ebay from time to time.Oh, and yes, you could modify an AC only unit to produce DC as well but perhaps a seperate DC converter (rectifier) would be more practical.  Diodes of the appropriate size run ~$50 each.Last edited by duaneb55; 05-29-2009 at 12:50 AM.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:If you turned the steel into the smoker and sold it, would the profit allow you to buy a better welder in the future, and if so, do you have the time and energy for doing it?
Reply:If it's a AC only Dialarc, I'd pass.Hillbilly Fabworks
Reply:Duane is right! IF that is what the machine actually looks like, it IS an AC/DC Idealarc. I guess "Dialarc"and "Idealarc" could get confusing!JohnMiller 320 A/BPMiller Auto Arc 50Miller 150 STHLincoln SP-200Hobart "Mainliner" GeneratorPlasmaFix 50S Plasma WelderThermal Arc Pak 3XR Plasma Cutter
Reply:Let's see Bob,Ya got steel to make a smoker, ya got a couple welders to weld the smokerBuild the Smoker. Trade or sell the smoker.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Hi Bob: I would also pass. With the price of steel today. The steel to me is alot more valueable than the welder. I have an IdealArc 250 AC/DC. Now that is one sweet welder. If this welder was an AC/ DC than I would say go for it. Nighty Five percent of the time I am on DC reverse welding. Smoother and less spatter. Good luck to you.Last edited by Maineiac; 06-01-2009 at 08:14 AM.Reason: Bad spelling