Need Some Advice On A DC Cheater ?

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I have a Lincoln AC stick welder... I know I should have bought a AC/DC welder.I found this on the internet.http://www.proto-power.com/dc_cheater.htmlAre those any good and worth the money ?Or, Does anyone have any advice on another one to buy ?Thanks!Hobart Handler 190Hobart Spool-Gun 100Lincoln 225 ACMiller & Pipeliner HoodDewalt 14" Chopsaw, GrindersHarris O/AVictor TorchCustom Built O/A CartCustom Welding CartHeavy Duty 16 Speed Floor Drill PressPipe-BenderDrill Doctor
Reply:If'n you can't stick weld well sell the machine and buy a Metal Inserter Glue rig.DC is a luxury, not a necessity. It doesn't perform miracles.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Old transformer stick machines are fairly cheap to buy. If you want an AC/DC stick, I'd keep my eyes open on CL.  $250-400 will usually net you a basic AC/DC machine like a Thunderbolt or box store Lincoln unit. I've seen the Sears Craftsman's, Montgomery Wards etc rebadged units go occasionally for even less. There have been a number of inexpensive AC/DC stick units guys have posted up CL listings for recently.Best buy is often an old Dialarc or IdealArc. I see then regularly in the $350-500 range. Boat loads of power and a machine you can't beat to death.If I was going to pick up one of those Dc converters,it would have to be dirt cheap. Even if it was offered to me for under $75, I'd bet I could probably locate a better AC/DC machine. Keep in mind what ever your AC output is, you will loose a fair amount of amps when you convert it to DC power. At best you will end up with a 2nd rate 125-150 amp max dc welder when done. For the kind of money he's asking, I'd bet if you hunted hard enough you'd locate a semi decent AC/DC machine, and still have your AC unit. Sell your AC machine for between $50-150 ( about the going rate that I see) and add that to what that converter would run you, and you are up in the range of a nice Dialarc/Idealarc. Down side is you either have to pony up the money up front, then sell the Ac machine, or Take the gamble you won't need your AC machine and sell it  1st before you start hunting for a replacement in your price range.Last edited by DSW; 12-13-2013 at 09:41 AM..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:For what that thing costs just sell yours and buy what you want.  I'm sure you can do it within that price range.
Reply:+1 on what DSW said.My Dialarc was $225 without cables.However, welding on AC isn't a terrible thing - once practiced on it you'll do fine. 6013 and 7014 rods run great on AC for me.What I like about AC is no arc blow.  Once I start welding I do not have to worry about rod manipulation to counter arc blow (yep, lazy welder )But I would never buy an old AC only tig welder, that would be a waste of time.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:The converter box you posted doesn't appear to have any inductor.  And I'm not wild about paralleling smaller diodes.  My Dialarc was $300. with small cables and a very nice dolly. My Idealarc was $350. with 200 ft. of cable and an original tricycle cart."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:Sell it and replace with a AC/DC. You'll buy that and the machine will die.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave+1 on what DSW said.My Dialarc was $225 without cables.However, welding on AC isn't a terrible thing - once practiced on it you'll do fine. 6013 and 7014 rods run great on AC for me.What I like about AC is no arc blow.  Once I start welding I do not have to worry about rod manipulation to counter arc blow (yep, lazy welder ).
Reply:6013 can be pretty, too.  (The rust was added after the weld.)"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:Oldendum - YEEHAW!  That 6013 looks good.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMiller CP-300 with 30A feederHypertherm Powermax 900Oxy-fuel w/Harris torchesScotchman Glide-in bandsawMonarch 10EE latheEmi-Mec Autoturn latheDeckel FP2NC milling machinePro-Tools 105 Bender
Reply:Sell the ac machine and buy an older ac/dc unit. You will be money ahead.Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Originally Posted by blawlessSell the ac machine and buy an older ac/dc unit. You will be money ahead.
Reply:Not sure who's bad mouthing the newer transformers. I have a "newer" ( about 10 years old) Miller Thunderbolt XL AC/DC machine. It's a nice machine and does what I needed/wanted it to do. Thing with a Dialarc/Idealarc is that they aren't a whole lot more money used, if at all, compared to what the home owner units run used and they have a much higher amp and duty cycle rating. A new Lincoln/Miller/Hobart home owner class machine would cost you more than a heavier duty used Dialarc/Idealarc would as shown by what some members here have paid for what they got.About the only advantage to one of the homeowner units would be size. They are much smaller compared to an industrial class machine like the Dialarc/Idealarcs.I know some people tout the older supposedly copper wound units are supposedly better than the newer alum wound homeowner grade machines, but honestly I've never really noticed a difference between a 30 year old Lincoln and one someone bought last year. I will say the arc characteristics are a bit better when you jump up to an industrial class unit, though probably not so much that the average hobbyist would notice much..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 pbungumOldendum - YEEHAW!  That 6013 looks good.
Reply:My boy did that in his stick welding class.