Lincoln Welders "old school" heavy and 3 phase. fix or yard art??

[404]

drivesitfar, There should be down force on the ball when the trailer is being towed. So putting weight in front to do that is a good idea if needed. Ball never comes off. I too put jack stands under the rear trailer corners when loading/unloading. I lift the trailer with a floor jack after loading to get the stands out.

Imagine what would have happened if you had been standing in the trailer when it let go. With the hatch open above you.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: updates coming soon cause i passed these on to a GJ member who not only has the skills to spiff them up he also has the POWER TO FIRE THEM UP.

cheers and thanks OREGONROCKCRUSHER!!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Wow Drives. I didn't see before now that you had a thread going on the old torpedo. It did test out better than I expected it would have. Faceplate amps are 37 at 460v and it pretty much takes all of that to fire up. My phase perfect with step up transformer wouldn't even nudge it. I took it to one of the rock plants and hooked it up to a size 3 starter to test. Purrs like a kitten now though, very smooth and quiet. I used this type but with a diesel motor when much younger and for pouring big rods on heavy iron they are hard to beat. You will be equipped to build battleships or rock crushers.

Most of the body work and clean up is done. Had to make a couple pieces as they were to rough to use. It is getting paint and details now. I did consider a blo or natural finish but it just wasn't going to look right. Here are a few progress pics in no particular order of the mostly cleaned up torpedo welder. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

ORC: YOU ARE THE MAN!!

thank you so much and i'm still not sure how i'll power it up unless i move and buy a HUGE GENERATOR that can do 3 phase power. in any case it won't be ending up as yard art as some suggested THAT IS FOR CERTAIN.

if i recall correctly you fired up the other one too that you are keeping and it performed as well?

i'm not sure when i'm heading down your way, but if you get it finished and it's in your way I'll drop everything and probably rent a Uhaul and head your way for some early morning exercise.

cheers

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I only tried the one welder that's getting the restoration so far Drives. Not sure I'll ever have the need for that much welder at home and I couldn't power it up anyway. I have a miller wire feed and a L-tech stick / tig machine for daily use. I run quite a bit of 7018 stick along with quite a bit of specialty rods and like running stick on small projects as it only takes a change of rod and amp adjustment and I'm welding in seconds.

Thought I had some pics of the welders I use but here are a couple pics they are in if not featured. No need to rush down to pick the torpedo up once it's done...it will be fine here until you have the time and are headed this way anyway. I'll post a couple more pics in a week or so when it's done. Ed.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I finished this torpedo project up last night for Drives. It was pretty much stripped down to the bare generator and cleaned up from top to bottom. All bearings and moving parts were serviced and work like they should. Lot's of dust came out of it but it was actually in pretty good condition for a 75 year old welder. I added a lead rack which is just attached with two bolts through existing holes in the welders feet. The dial faces were last things to get restored and with those spiffed up this Lincoln is no longer a candidate for yard art and is ready for another 75 years of hard labor. Ed.

 

[Tunajoe]

Holy cow!
Hell of a cleanup/ restore job on that old welder!
Very nice job

 

[Capt Chrysler]

NICE!!!

1200 amp of 460 3P in the shop!

I have think I want one!

Capt. Chrysler
Now for the $64 question. What would I do with it?

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Thanks for the kind words Tuna Joe and Capt. As for the $64 question well....you can dial the amps down on these Lincolns to where pouring smaller rods on everyday projects is no problem at all. I remember welding a barrel I cut in half and shortened with one once. The current is so smooth they are a real pleasure to use. Most of the ones I know of now that are still in service are used for air arcing though. A duty that will kill lesser welders. All you need is the power to spin them up. 1200 amps of 3 phase power in a shop is impressive. I've run whole agg plants on significantly less. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

WRENCHGUY & ALL: here is the badge on my welder in case you might want to tell me more about it. thanks in advance.

speaking of WRENCHGUY and some of his cool stuff i think this generator he restored might be the perfect power source for my Lincoln torpedo welder.

ORC: thanks again!!

 

[wrenchguy]

ur 400 amp machine above dates to mid 1946. lets see the data plate of the other. good luck with projects.

 

[drivesitfar]

Wrench: speaking of projects do you have a thread going on one of your cool ones like the old boat or ?? or what's next on your agenda?

ORC owns the other welder so if he has time to post up it's badge and serial # i bet he'd love to hear when it left the factory. i'm guessing close to the same time.

ALL: the business where i got these welders was run by the 65 year old great granddaughter of the original owner that started this steel fab business i think around 1890 or 1900.

anybody else have an idea of power sources for my welder other than an industrial warehouse?

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

The 300 amp machine was missing it's data plate for probably many years before it left the old shop where it was working. In the first pic you can see it side by side with the one we restored and only the drive rivet is left where the plate was. Both machines had the exact same L-2333-10 wiring diagram dated 7-30-41 glued inside the access panel door. Ed.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

You might stop by a rental generator place during a slow time.

 

[wrenchguy]

The 300 amp machine was missing it's data plate for probably many years before it left the old shop where it was working. In the first pic you can see it side by side with the one we restored and only the drive rivet is left where the plate was. Both machines had the exact same L-2333-10 wiring diagram dated 7-30-41 glued inside the access panel door. Ed.

code and s/n will be hand stamped on the barrel, normally to the right of where the data tag was riveted.

if ur interested heres my refurbish tread of my special cat welder using 2 lincoln 300 amp machines ganged together inline. Its the lincoln page at weldingweb.com.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.ph...-Lincoln-300x2-Twin-Arc-welding-machine-today

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

That's a really neat restoration you did on that twin Lincoln wrenchguy. Great pics of the process (even though PB killed a lot them.) Your Linclon's started out needing a lot of love. Drives was mechanically in much better working condition when I got it. The Linclon welder I used back in the 70's was a single 400 with a big Hercules diesel drive which was a super smooth stick machine. When the diesel finally gave up the shop put a Ford six cylinder gas motor on it and it was never even close to the same. I've no doubt your twins would keep two weldors smiling while also looking great for showing. Ed.

 

[wrenchguy]

thank u crusher… it kinda deserved it being what i have researched that it is number 1 of 6 built using that engine, 19 more being built using the smaller tweaked up d2 engine.

i may have made a mistake stating the s/n was hand stamped in the barrel, mine only the code number. i thought i read somewhere on the lincoln board that the s/n was stamped along with the code number.

 

[drivesitfar]

Wrench: thanks for the 411 on my welder and ORC's.

yours looks amazing and i'd love to see what the guys say when you pull up to their barn or site to weld a few things for them with your cool machine. have you used it to weld anything and want to share a few projects or is that just for show cause it sure is PURDY.

cheers

 

[wrenchguy]

Picked a lincoln sae 400 amp motor driven welder to work my cat gen-set mentioned above. It dates to 1989, is 230-460 volt 3 phase plus has the optional lincoln off/on switch. Its not known if it welds, but cheap enough @ 75bucks.

 

[All]

Ed...(Oregon Rock Crusher),

You not only did a stunning restoration of the torpedo, you did a beautifully detailed revitalization of the dial faces, and the time you took to refurbish the cart really shows as well.

But the crowning achievement of this welding machine's resurrection has to be the lead rack that you fabricated, whose graceful, yet robust curves are well matched to the contours and period of the machine itself. That rack is artfully designed and executed.

Within the next 5 years, I plan to relocate nearer to your neck of the woods, and when I do, I would be honored to meet you and see more of your work in your shop. Really nice work!

 

[drivesitfar]

Wrench: that Lincoln you just picked up (estate sale with the cool Craftsman vise you picked up yesterday too) looks almost un used and in great shape. if it doesn't work i bet it will soon with all the skills you have. WELL DONE!!

ALL: yep ORC has skills that is for certain.

since you don't have your location under your name care to say where you live now or maybe you can go in your GJ profile and put your location in? also while you are in there click on AVATAR and you can download a favorite picture to show up under your handle ALL which i guess says it all.

cheers

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Good looking pickup on that "new" torpedo wrenchguy. Outside of newer looking badges and control faces it looks the same as the ones from the 40's. I didn't realize they were still available in the late 80's.

Also thanks for the kind words All and Drives. Visitors who appreciate vintage equipment are always welcome to visit my shop. Always a project or two under way. Ed.

 

[ALLFAST]

Carla,

My grandfather was the first boiler maker chosen by the USCG to construct the primary boilers for the first West Coast Liberty Ships. He was assigned to pick 2 other men, and train them for that very task. While their craft was oxyfuel welding for the boilers, he used (and loved ) these machines for heavy fabrication and structural welding. He owned a ship repair business from 1949 until 1990, and he had about 3 of these machines and those little square box units. I know of one of these machines for sale and it is in MINT condition.....the guy wants $500. It could occupy the Lincoln Museum it is so nice ! They are abit noisy, but as others have said.....very smoooth. You shoud keep one DIF and make it work for you, and sell the other.

 

[ALLFAST]

ORC,

That machine came out GREAT !!!! I would love to see it in person.

A toast to you sir !

Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

Carla,

My grandfather was the first boiler maker chosen by the USCG to construct the primary boilers for the first West Coast Liberty Ships. He was assigned to pick 2 other men, and train them for that very task. While their craft was oxyfuel welding for the boilers, he used (and loved ) these machines for heavy fabrication and structural welding. He owned a ship repair business from 1949 until 1990, and he had about 3 of these machines and those little square box units. I know of one of these machines for sale and it is in MINT condition.....the guy wants $500. It could occupy the Lincoln Museum it is so nice ! They are abit noisy, but as others have said.....very smoooth. You shoud keep one DIF and make it work for you, and sell the other.

 

[ALLFAST]

Carla,

My grandfather was the first boiler maker chosen by the USCG to construct the primary boilers for the first West Coast Liberty Ships. He was assigned to pick 2 other men, and train them for that very task. While their craft was oxyfuel welding for the boilers, he used (and loved ) these machines for heavy fabrication and structural welding. He owned a ship repair business from 1949 until 1990, and he had about 3 of these machines and those little square box units. I know of one of these machines for sale and it is in MINT condition.....the guy wants $500. It could occupy the Lincoln Museum it is so nice ! They are abit noisy, but as others have said.....very smoooth. You shoud keep one DIF and make it work for you, and sell the other.

 

[montanafordman]

Awesome thread! My family happens to have a Lincoln torpedo welder also! My grandfather acquired it from a large metal fabrication business back in the 40s or 50s I'm told. He was a farmer and built a steel frame house and a very large steel frame grain elevator. Unfortunately my grandfather was killed by a drunk driver before I was born in the early 70s and though we keep up the house on the farm the neighbors are working the land and our elevator and the welder has not been used in years. I would estimate the welder hasn't been used in 20 years and maybe even longer. I would love to take the welder out to western Washington where I live now but I do not have 3 phase power. That would be on a long term list of wants but that will take years of climbing the ladder in my occupation, saving, and finding a larger house/shop to put it in. I guess I could dream but I would love to see it restored and/or acquired by someone who might use it or appreciate it for what it is.

Oregon Rock Crusher - amazing work! Care to do another? Here are some pictures I snapped of it when I went back a couple weeks ago for deer hunting with my dad.

View media item 77053
View media item 77052
View media item 77051

 

[wrenchguy]

Awesome thread! My family happens to have a Lincoln torpedo welder also! My grandfather acquired it from a large metal fabrication business back in the 40s or 50s I'm told.

Are u sure its 3ph? Are you able to get the serial number? If so post it and i'll date it if u wish. sSorry to say its not practical $$$ wise to have 3ph brought in for a single machine like this. Best would be a dozen 3ph machines running making revenue hundreds hours a week. I'd get it, clean it, display it as family history, its footprint ain't all that big. good luck with ur projects.

I believe ur machine is a 350 amp'er, i ain't seen 1 that size b4. not a lincoln expert by any means, amp dial confuses me too? try to get photo of tag.

 

[montanafordman]

Are u sure its 3ph? Are you able to get the serial number? If so post it and i'll date it if u wish. sSorry to say its not practical $$$ wise to have 3ph brought in for a single machine like this. Best would be a dozen 3ph machines running making revenue hundreds hours a week. I'd get it, clean it, display it as family history, its footprint ain't all that big. good luck with ur projects.

I believe ur machine is a 350 amp'er, i ain't seen 1 that size b4. not a lincoln expert by any means, amp dial confuses me too? try to get photo of tag.

The dial on this machine shows 375 before the max continuous range but I won't be able to get any more information for a while since I don't have any near term plans to visit the farm. I am fairly certain its 3 phase but anything is possible. Our grain elevator had some pretty major power demands when it was in use and I'm pretty sure the leg (which distributed the grain to the various bins), the air compressor, the welder, and possibly the vacuum (which was piped throughout the entire elevator) were all three phase. The motors on those things make my 5hp baldor compressor motor look pretty small.

 

[ALLFAST]

Sorry for the multiple post. I had an issue with my screen locking up and thought it was a single. Fordman, that is a good story. Sorry about your Grandfather's accident.

This is a picture of a WWII shipyard welder. Note the different steel wheels and od green paint. The pictures I saw previously show the green more and the machine was cleaner. Naturally, while looking for this WWII machine, I found a.current CL ad for a.newer torpedo Lincoln. This was a cool thread...Thanks DIF and ORC for the great work and everyone for sharing their info.

 

[ALLFAST]

Here they are...

 

[ALLFAST]

And the newer model is an 600 !

 

[wrenchguy]

And the newer model is an 600 !

I'd be ascared turning that 600 on! talk about amps!

 

[ALLFAST]

It may be why he has the stage all to himself. !

 

[wrenchguy]

The dial on this machine shows 375 before the max continuous range but I won't be able to get any more information for a while since I don't have any near term plans to visit the farm. I am fairly certain its 3 phase but anything is possible. Our grain elevator had some pretty major power demands when it was in use and I'm pretty sure the leg (which distributed the grain to the various bins), the air compressor, the welder, and possibly the vacuum (which was piped throughout the entire elevator) were all three phase. The motors on those things make my 5hp baldor compressor motor look pretty small.

Your amp dial looks to read 250, 380, 350, 375. that 380 must be 330? These motor welders could be fed 230 or 460 volts. thanks.

 

[montanafordman]

Your amp dial looks to read 250, 380, 350, 375. that 380 must be 330? These motor welders could be fed 230 or 460 volts. thanks.

Here is a little more clear image if the amp dial, I think what looks like 380 is really 300 with some dirt on the numbers.View media item 77060
View media item 77061

 

[drivesitfar]

ED: I'm in training for a long road trip. i made 2 3 hour trips to the mill to pick up some cedar for my deck so working up to that 8+ hour drive to see that welder and you in person. thanks again for spiffing it up and for holding it for me until i can get down your way. BTW after those two trips up through Seattle and a couple other busy cities i just flopped in my chair and died (well almost)

ALL: great posts and thanks for sharing your Lincolns on this thread too. is anybody actually welding with one of these now and would you like to mention how you are powering it up if you don't have 3 phase power to your garage or shop?

cheers

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

ED: I'm in training for a long road trip. i made 2 3 hour trips to the mill to pick up some cedar for my deck so working up to that 8+ hour drive to see that welder and you in person. thanks again for spiffing it up and for holding it for me until i can get down your way. BTW after those two trips up through Seattle and a couple other busy cities i just flopped in my chair and died (well almost)

Drives, three hour road trips are good training for an all day road trip but cutting it in half with an overnight at in Lincoln City is probably a better solution....perfect weather there/here now. Still no rush on my end though, I checked and your monster Lincoln still seems content and really isn't eating much. Ed

 

[wrenchguy]

another project, 1947 lincoln 200 amp "pipeliner junior". its powered by wisconsin v4 25 hp. its in original paint and work clothes. i'm gonna refurb this 4 my buddies 1955 chevy shop truck he's restoring as a show truck.



RUNNING VIDEO

ANOTHER WITH IT WELDING.

sludge in oil pan, i aways remove pans to desludge b4 putting new oil in and running it.


exciter end showing starting handle. this 1 was battery start or handle start.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

That looks like a fun project wrenchguy. Of course there were plenty of small, gas powered air cooled Lincoln welders but I don't think I've seen that one before.