AC-225 Welder

[JeremyR]

Found a AC225 on craigslist and I"m going to look at. Is there any way to check the out via voltage checks. The guy didn"t sound like he had any way to demo it.hoping to get it cheap.

Jeremy

 

[Lanse]

There are so many of those things out there, if you cant try it out, I think you should either take it somewhere to try it, pick it up for next to nothing, or just pass and go somewhere else. Remember, you can pick up a new one for like, I think $300 or so dollars. Something like that. I started off with one of those welders, and it will run things like 6011 and 6013 pretty well, but 7018 is a PITA. Some people say 7018AC makes a big difference, but I just tried some and, well, more on that later.

Those welders are simple and rock solid, and built to last, so if it works when you try it out, itll probably work just fine when you sell it/outgrow it/die of old age. Have fun

Side note: If you want a DC capable welder, that welds smooth and you can even tig off of, I recommend a stickmate. I got my AC/DC model for like $430 or so. When I started out, I got my tombstone for $75, and when I sold it, I actually made money. It seems like they go for like $100 or so around here (Thats what I sold mine for, and I see them around there on craigslist all the time).

 

[Lanse]

Its $289 new. If you dont want to gamble with used stuff, its something to think about. True, its probably not built as heavy as the old ones, but it also hasnt been run hard, put up wet and abused for the last half a century. Still plenty of good used units out there tho. Something to think about. Good Luck
Lowes AC225

 

[Ken-Pa]

Unless you can get it dirt cheap & don't plan on doing much welding , I'd pass & watch for a nice AC/DC welder . Welding with DC is so much nicer & gives a much stronger /penetrating weld .Plus you get many more choices of rod . HTH ! God bless

 

[Lanse]

I think DC only gets about 10% more penetration, and the strength one is new to me, but DC does offer:

-WAY less spatter
-WAY easier strikes/restrikes
-Much quieter arc (I like the noise, some people do not)
-The ability to run 6010
-MUCH smoother arc
-the ability to run tig
-better performance out of position
-NO arc outtages. Theres nothing more annoying than running a good bead, and then all of a sudden, it just stopps. That makes me mad, luckily its never happened to me on DC.

Im sure theres more...

 

[JeremyR]

Well I went ahead picked it up for $50. I figure I can my money back if I don't like it.

Jeremy

 

[VaTom]

Good decision. Little risk.

Unless you weld a lot better than I do, you won't be disappointed. Nor were my tractors, including one where I replaced the 3/4" thick x 8 foot cutting edge on the bucket. I have a steady trickle of devoted fans visit to get welding done here.

Mine is old, cost twice that used, with the helmet. Still going strong.

 

[Lanse]

Way to go man, $50 is a pretty small gamble. Congrads on your new toy

 

[trucker 40]

There is nothing wrong with AC welders.Lots of stuff has been built with AC welders.Most of the crap that is put on here about them is from people who dont do anything except weld.Day after day,year after year,it adds up and DC would win.However if you weld rarely and maybe dont even weld that good,I fail to see why you would need a DC rig to weld some 6011 with anyway.You sure cant beat the 50 dollar price tag and those welders are good welders.Plus you can weld 7018 with an AC welder,lots and lots of 7018 welding rods have been burned with an AC welder.
Also that 6013 crap is for thin metal unless you really know what you are doing.7014 is a lot better choice.7024 and 7014 both will run on an AC welder no problem at all.Other stuff will too.Unless you plan on using a welder all day every day,DC is completely unnecessary.

 

[eastexan]

Well said, Trucker.

For the occational welder, AC buzzboxes are fine.

 

[scotc]

Did you try the cheap AC7018? The good stuff does make a difference. Like the woman at Airgas said, the Mexicans can't make good AC rod, but the American-made stuff is worth the money.

 

[Ken-Pa]

Lanse , being that penetration is greater , that would also give you a stronger weld . At least that's what I've been told & have experienced . But being a self taught welder plus everything else , I could be all wet . I've never claimed to be an experienced welder , fabnricator or mechanic .. But I feel I've done fairly well at all those .I do wish I would've put myself through some schooling tho ( 50 yrs too late ) God bless

 

[Anonymous-0]

For $50 you aren't out much if you aren't happy with it's performance. However, lanse is right. He forgot that 7018 is WAY easier with DC. You can buy a new DC inverter for just over $300 that comes with a 5 year warranty, much higher duty cycle, light enough to carry where you need it and uses a whole lot less power to run.

A couple good questions for Lanse that may put things in perspective for anyone wanting to learn to weld:

Lanse, do you think you're welding skills would be as good as they now are now if you had tried to teach yourself to weld with just an AC 225?

How much do you think having proper instruction helped you to learn welding?

Yes, there are thousands of AC machines out there and they can be found pretty cheap but the biggest reason new welders get frustrated, and the machine sits in the corner for years collecting dust, is because they are having problems striking and keeping a steady arc. Before any beginner welder buys a machine, the best thing they could ever do is at least try a DC machine to see the difference over an AC only machine. See if any welding supplies have a demo room or ask a school, welder repair shop, etc. if you might be able to try a DC machine out. Taking a welding course is some of the best money you could spend. Welding isn't easy to learn, especially by yourself, but buying the cheapest machine you can find will only it harder and more frustrating to learn rather than easier. DC really is night and day better if you can up your budget a little bit.

 

[36 Coupe]

The Lincoln 225 welder is the same as the one I bought in 1965 for 93 bucks.The line cord is lighter so are the cables, but other than that theres no difference.My welder was painted with a primer, the new ones have a pretty paint job.I started welding in the mid 50s with a 150 amp welder my Dad bought in a junk yard for 10 bucks.I bought the Lincoln after using one on a farm I worked on.I still use both welders.Never welded with DC until 6 years ago.Borrowed an Airco Dip stick 160 welder from a friend.He wasnt using it.He bought a small stove co that went belly up.I was fixing up the cab on my Chevy and needed a wire feed welder for the job.The Airco was a nice machine,it could wire or stick weld.On stick weld it could run AC or DC.I tried it on DC and was amazed at the difference DC made.I went to work building a DC converter for my welders.Cost 100 bucks to build,I did have some of the parts on hand.After I returned the borrowed welder I bought a used Miller 130 wire welder.Its nice for some jobs but I use the 10 dollar welder for most jobs.The Lincoln comes out for the heavy jobs.You cant beat the steady arc of DC and the ability to reverse polarity plus the chance to use the 6010 you have collected over the years.

 

[Inno]

My Dad had a AC225 Lincoln and that was the first thing I ever "welded" with........I put that in quotations because looking back I know the welds were not good. It was very difficult to start and hold an arc with but when I was 18 I hadn't taken any welding courses and I could do anything :lol:
For Christmas this past year my wife and her parents got together and bought me a AC/DC version of the Lincoln buzz box. It had been years since I tried to lay a bead with the old AC machine (my brother took it and likely sold it btw) but even without significant practice or instruction (aside from a couple welding DVDs) I was welding pretty some decent beads with it.

Point is, the DC makes things much easier to learn on and much less frustrating. Oh, I still get frustrated when trying to weld different positions or thinner materials but it will all come with practice.

If I had found a AC225 for $50 I would have grabbed it too. From what I have seen and heard over the years they are a great machine for the occasional welder. Just need a little bit of patience. I hope it works out for ya!

 

[Russ from MN]

Good deal, I have a friend that built a semi-trailer for hauling tree length pulp wood with a $100 AC-225 40 years ago, probably still on the road!

 

[JML755]

You'll love it. Paid $70 for my AC225 last year (including helmet and about 50 lbs of various rod). Best investment I ever made. Some of my welds look like bubble gum but the angle grinder I got for Christmas helps a lot with that. :lol: And the quality of them is improving with practice.

I agree on the rods, I've found that the 6013 in the pile I've got only gets used on thinner stuff and 6011 is my mainstay. I've bought some 7018AC but haven't used it yet. Don't think I need that much strength unless I do some work on my backhoe. 6011 seems fine. I did get some Certainium (a maintenance rod) with the welder and it's an easy rod to use. I think it's kind of pricey, though, so I don't know if I'll replace it.

 

[Oldmax]

I bought a used one about 40 years ago for $50 was the best investment I ever made. It is still in use. At one time it set for 15 yaers In unheated outbuilding not being used didn't have a hook up for it. when I hooked it up took right off as if it had been used the day before. I have seen some used ones in this area priced at $225. nost go for $100 to $150. You stole it at that price. I also have a Westinghouse 250 AMP that is older than that one. Was given to my by the company that I worked for.