should I ?? (Lincoln 225AC with new helmets!..

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I talked to a nice older guy (80) today who will sell me a Lincoln 225 AC welder with rods AND 2 brand new in the box auto-darkening helmets for 150 for all. I think that is a awesome deal but I just this week bought a nice vintage 180 Twentieth century AC welder for 100.. I'm thinking buying the Lincoln since the helmets together worth that let alone the welder, then try them both and keep the one I like best? Or should I just go with what I got? I'm just a long time hobbiest with welding.  Thanks  (pretty sure should buy- but wish was ac/dc)
Reply:If this is the older copper wound Lincoln and you can afford to own both I might be tempted to do so. As you say the add ins count for something. As long as the contacts in the amperage dial are not burned the welder will last for years. An Ac/Dc machine with infinite settings is a nice upgrade maybe down the road
Reply:I see nothing wrong with trying multiple machines and keeping the one you like....or, like many on this forum - keeping all of them you see 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:Word has it that the Lincoln AC225s were never made with copper windings."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:Originally Posted by OldendumWord has it that the Lincoln AC225s were never made with copper windings.
Reply:AC 225's were NEVER copper wound according to Lincoln. If you're talking an old SA200 they used more copper. Forget about the helmets for a minute. They won't make you a better welder. I would buy a better machine before I bought a better helmet. Now back to the helmets, what kind are they? If they are something common and replacement lenses are easy to get, then maybe it's worth buying the Lincoln pkg. deal. If you did that, then maybe you could keep the helmet(s), sell both welders and put the money towards a DC machine. CEP on here has a couple Everlast inverters he really likes. They are pretty low cost and superior to a buzz box.
Reply:since the Lincoln (I assume tombstone-haven't looked at it yet) is not full copper windings.. I still got my 50's 'Twentieth Century' that I'm sure is copper to keep and could sell the Tombstone. I know the tombstones got good reviews though so I'd have to try out both and go from there. I kind of like the 'vintage' look of the old TC welder so leaning that way. Later on will look into a dc. Since both Auto-dark helmets are new in box and never used I'd be doing good buying just for helmets and recoup my money selling one welder. I am 62 so not going to weld to many more years but still play with different projects time to time. I built my landscape trailer from just my Linde 160. I just want a stick again for old time sakes as more fun or say more challenging. Shoot I might just keep both as mentioned earlier too.
Reply:I took another look at the 'twentieth century' I got earlier in week. After wiping down the dust on it and taking top cover off to peak inside and blow it out.. I was quite surprised on condition. Outside and inside of housing is rust free. The color is kind of a ruby red to violet color. The only rust was just light surface dusting on the heavy steel plates that go up and down. Unless their is big difference in performance between this and the Tombstone Lincoln I'm getting tomorrow- I'll be keeping this one for sure. It is only 180 max though verses the lincolns 225.. But doubt I'd ever use more than 140-160 anyway. Only a part time hobbiest here..max I'd ever weld is 1/4"
Reply:Check this thread.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...num&highlight=
Reply:Originally Posted by Genosince the Lincoln (I assume tombstone-haven't looked at it yet) is not full copper windings.. I still got my 50's 'Twentieth Century' that I'm sure is copper to keep and could sell the Tombstone. I know the tombstones got good reviews though so I'd have to try out both and go from there. I kind of like the 'vintage' look of the old TC welder so leaning that way. Later on will look into a dc. Since both Auto-dark helmets are new in box and never used I'd be doing good buying just for helmets and recoup my money selling one welder. I am 62 so not going to weld to many more years but still play with different projects time to time. I built my landscape trailer from just my Linde 160. I just want a stick again for old time sakes as more fun or say more challenging. Shoot I might just keep both as mentioned earlier too.
Reply:I would not even think about buying the Lincoln. I don't care what the coils are made from. Pound for pound it has to be one of the best deals you can get. An old timer bought my ac buzzbox from me. It struck me as he might never even use the thing, I told him if he did not like it I would buy it back off of him just like the guy I sold it to before him. I remember pointing to my Dynasty and saying that the Lincoln (and most likely already had 3 times the lifespan) would still be going strong after it was junk. I miss the buzz box. I don't miss the Dynasty.
Reply:I picked up the Lincoln tombstone today. It is great shape and is AC only and does have a fan. It came with 2 brand new auto-darkening helmits in boxes (but are Chicago Electric from HF)..was hoping they were quality ones but guess they would work. Also got couple boxes of rods and two vintage chip hammers with the coil type handles. The welder looks near new but I'm sure not. NOW- What do I sell? I also like the big old twentieth Century as it it copper wiring and also good shape. no fan in it. It is slightly bigger than Lincoln and much heavier.. But I'm sure would weld as good as Lincoln. Thinking listing one of them with box of rods and one of the helmets.. but just not sure which welder. I know DC is way to go but they are what they are. Assuming both excellent shape (except leads bit beat-up on century bit more than Lincoln) - which one would you keep? and why? (thinking at selling one for $150 w/ new helmet/rods/one chip hammer)-this sound good?
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveForget about the helmets for a minute. They won't make you a better welder. I would buy a better machine before I bought a better helmet.
Reply:Is the Twentieth Century one with continuous adjustment, or tapped?"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:A standard Lincoln AC225 that they sell at box stores usually sell used around here for $50-150, so yours alone is on the higher side of fair. It vs the older unit, I'd have to use each and see what one welded best to decide myself.The Ac 225 isn't a bad machine and is very rugged and reliable, but it's not the best machine out there. Many often refer to these as "tombstones", but the real tombstones are the bigger industrial Idealarcs made by Lincoln with the crank handle in the front. Many often get the two confused because many use the same terms interchangeably. Hoods aren't worth much in my opinion. If you can get $10-15 for them you might be lucky. I've used quite a few of these students bring in at the tech school. They buy them because they want an AD hood and they are inexpensive. Optics on them are poor at best. I'd rather weld with a filthy decent hood than a clean one of those AD units. You just really can't see the puddle well at all with any of the ones I've used. Auto darkening is nice and helps when guys are new, but if you can't see clearly, then you'll have a harder time learning well. I'd take a $35 fixed shade hood with a decent lens  over those any day..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:Thanks on input DSW.. I'm new to the arc stuff. Had a few over years but never for any 'real time' use. I have a old standard Jackson helmet somewhere- I'll bring that back up to par. Oldedum.. I don't know what you mean on 'continuous' verses 'tapped' but I know the leads have separate holes to plug into. High/low/grd/cutting grd and the dial has high and low numbers on the big dial you can adjust amperage too. I welded with the Old Twentieth century today on 'high' at 120 amps- welded good.. used 1/8 -6011  (don't laugh..been long time so learning in progress on what amp for what)
Reply:Plugs are a tapped type machine. You have fixed amperage's with which to use. A "continuous" style machine you can adjust your amperage anywhere in the range you want and aren't locked in to say 75 amps, 85 amps etc like you are on a tapped machine. That gives you a bit more play to adjust things.Most tapped machines are set up close to the amperages that you usually use anyways, so it's not a huge deal to use a tapped machine. However if you need to fine tune your amps, it's a lot harder to do so on a tapped machine, say if you need to weld thin stuff. Tap "A" might be too cold, and tap"B" might be a bit too hot for your tastes..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 GenoThanks on input DSW.. I'm new to the arc stuff. Had a few over years but never for any 'real time' use. I have a old standard Jackson helmet somewhere- I'll bring that back up to par. Oldedum.. I don't know what you mean on 'continuous' verses 'tapped' but I know the leads have separate holes to plug into. High/low/grd/cutting grd and the dial has high and low numbers on the big dial you can adjust amperage too. I welded with the Old Twentieth century today on 'high' at 120 amps- welded good.. used 1/8 -6011  (don't laugh..been long time so learning in progress on what amp for what)
Reply:Thanks Dave.. Appreciate the diagrams. I'll print that out.
Reply:I agree, a big gap tap machine like the buzz box demands a higher skilled welder.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIn some ways I would disagree with that. If you can't see the puddle well, a better machine isn't going to help you at all. A "better" helmet doesn't necessarily mean a more expensive helmet though. A good fixed shade hood is just as clear as my $300 Miller and way less expensive.
Reply:I put the older twentieth Century up on my local CL. It is not a tapped machine then as it has a round dial on front that you loosen center locking knob and just turn up the amp's any amount you want. 1 amp too all the way too the 180amp. I decided this: although nice shape it needs leads repair and they are heavy, way longer than Lincoln so hard to wrap. It takes up more room too (slightly). I may change my mind but that is it for now. They both were tested and do both weld equal so for what little I weld- Lincoln will do and lighter to move. I'm going to put it on a cart of sort.
Reply:Originally Posted by BradTNThe "never" is not true. I have a circa 1970 225 with copper windings. I used to have a newer AC/DC 225 and it had aluminum windings with what appeared to be copper plating. The innards of the older Lincoln 225 had a much higher quality look to them.
Reply:I have a Lincoln 225 I bought new in 1964.I have been into it to oil the fan bushings.No copper in the transformer.I have done a bit of welder repair since 1955 and never found copper in the Lincoln 225 transformers.The copper winding fable persists among people who repeat what they hear with no actual experience in repairing or maintaining welders.Its called false knowledge.The old man probably had to quit welding because of cataracts.I had cataract surgery in may and june of 2114.Havent done any welding for 4 years.Ill try welding this spring.Cataracts will shut down your welding quick.
Reply:What you think are copper windings are aluminum with a varnish coating that all windings are insulated with..The copper fable wastes forum space.