Century AC/DC welder

[rossow (mn)]

Anyone out there have hands-on experience (not just hearsay, "Oh, they"re crap") with the Century 230-amp AC/ 140 amp DC welder? I know they"re not a top-line brand, but Century has been around for a long time so must have some merit. I already have two Lincoln 225 AC tombstones, a Lincoln argon-shielded mig, and oxy-acetylene, so I"m not desperate for a welder, but I"d like to experiment with the DC capability my other welders lack, and I really don"t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a seldom-used machine. I"m looking at one an acquaintance might part with. He"s had it since around 2000 for home use only; he bought it but found he seldom uses it because he has access to a welder at work. It looks and sounds about as good as a 12-year-old welder could be-- seems practically new, right down to the owner"s manual. It has no rust or dents and only a few light scratches on the paint. The various labels are all like new. The cables are complete, uncracked, unburnt. I have little idea about value, nor does he seem to know what he would have to have. So two questions: (1) Is it worth getting at a decent price for very infrequent home use, and, if so, (2) what might be a fair price for a very clean but second-tier welder such as a Century? Would an offer of $100 be reasonable? Excessive? Insulting? I"ll appreciate any experienced advice you may offer. Thank you.
 

[Stick welding]

I know a guy who started his trailer manufacturing shop with a Century AC/DC. I think up to $150 would be reasonable because you can buy a new inverter which is better for around $350/$400. Try it out and see how you like it, then decide.
 

[Stick welding]

I know a guy who started his trailer manufacturing shop with a Century AC/DC. I think up to $150 would be reasonable because you can buy a new inverter which is much better for around $350/$400. Try it out and see how you like it, then decide.
 

[Stick welding]

Don't know why I got a double post?
 

[Gene-WI]

I have a Century 250 ac/dc welder that I bought in 1983 for $300 Haven't had one problem what so ever with it. Just got done welding a weldable pulley with it. All I ever use is the dc side, I run 7018 and 9018, reverse polarity Used to work at a welding shop and any left over rod they would throw out, so I have enough rod to last me a lifetime. As far as price if that's copper making up the weight of it, scrap value must be over $100 Gene
 

[jon f mn]

They are as good as any cheaper buz box. Verysimple and trouble free. In my experience with century's if they work neww they are good to go. Their quality control is not as good as a more expensive brand so I've seen a few that needed to go back from new, but if they worked they were good for years. I only sold a half dozen tho over 20 years so not a real good sample.
 

[36 Coupe]

Last Century I worked on had 2 85 amp diodes and little heat sinking on the diodes.No switch for the DC side.A bare bones welder.
 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

I've found second-tier welders to sometimes be picky about what rod they liked---but I never had one that didn't like something. They can be deficient in their open circuit voltage, too, but you sound experienced enough that that shouldn't be a problem for you.

$100 sounds like a fair price to offer, and paying up to $50 more because of the good condition and the reliable record of its history seems pretty reasonable. Don't forget, though, that top quality machines usually cost more for a reason, and that a transformer type stick welder that was top quality when a private party (not a welding shop) bought it 20 or 30 years ago is likely to be just about as good today. A really good welder is a joy to weld with, but a low quality welder is just a tool.

Let us know if you get it, and how you like it.

Stan
 

[jon f mn]

You just hit the button twice. Even tho it don't post right away however many ntime you hit the button is how many posts you get. been there don that.
 

[JDseller]

If it is welding good now it would be a cheap welder to try. Your not talking about spending much so I would go for it. I have used some of the newer Century welders. Some where good others not so good. Like someone posted below. I think the quality control is not very good. So you get varying results.
 

[36 Coupe]

Chances are its aluminum wire.Weight comes from from the transformer core worth 10 centa a pound.Dont encourage scrappers to cut up good working welders.
 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi 36 coupe,

I'm glad you said that. Years ago I contacted Lincoln Electric to ask what year they stopped using copper for the transformer windings in their buzz box (aka tombstone) welders. The representative who answered me said that Lincoln had never used copper in that model of welder. He didn't say so, but my guess is that people mistake the metallic red lacquer on the aluminum windings for copper. I've pretty much given up trying to argue about it, though. Quite a few people know better than the manufacturer.

Stan
 

[36 Coupe]

With the exception of my old Weldmaster welder that is wound with double cotton covered copper wire all wire has an insulating varnish on it.The old BS persists about welders are all wound with copper wire.There are many types of insulating varnish used.You often see some one post the older Lincoln 225s were copper wound.Copper has always been expensive.My Lincoln 225 cost 93.00 delivered to my door in 1964.My dad bought the Weldmaster for 10 bucks in a scrapyard.He could return it for a refund if it didnt work.He bought electric motors the same way.Welders will last a life time if we can keep dummies from scrapping them.
 

[MarkWV]

agree $100 is good, if you have to 150 if its that good and has cables. bought a ac/dc lincoln tombstone 2 years ago, absouletly perfect, had 50' stinger and 40'ground. Guy bought it and bunch of rod (had receipt for 600.00) and thought he could teach himself to weld, he gave up. paid him 300 for everything and was happy, still had clean UPC I could have used to take back. Love having long cable to reach across the shop in any direction