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Airco Dipstick 160 value

ls1jay

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Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
59
Just looking for a decent ac dc stick welder and came across an Airco dipstick 160 with mig and stick functionality. Little research shows it's an older unit, but capable. Is $650.00 an outrageous price or reasonable? Thanks a lot!
 
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ls1jay

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Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
59
I need some help here fellas. Im bad about impulsive purchases. This gentleman said he would take $500.00 for this dipstick 160. Is that a fair price? Thanks
 

zkling

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Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Depends on condition and what all it comes with. Old wire feed units can be a real sink hole as parts for the feeder become difficult if not impossible to find. If it is in good condition, ready to use with cables for all three processes it could be worth what he is asking. It is a true multiprocess machine. I don't remember if they have built in high frequency start. Doubt it, as back then add on HF boxes were pretty common.

Here's a manual.
http://edgewh.esabna.com/literature/Archive/Manual/Dip_Stick-160_ADI-1734F.pdf
 
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ls1jay

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
59
Depends on condition and what all it comes with. Old wire feed units can be a real sink hole as parts for the feeder become difficult if not impossible to find. If it is in good condition, ready to use with cables for all three processes it could be worth what he is asking. It is a true multiprocess machine. I don't remember if they have built in high frequency start. Doubt it, as back then add on HF boxes were pretty common.

Here's a manual.
http://edgewh.esabna.com/literature/Archive/Manual/Dip_Stick-160_ADI-1734F.pdf

Thanks for the input! It is a clean looking unit, but he says he only has cables for mig and arc. Im thinking it might be worth the price but not much of a deal..
 

454ragtop

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Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
5,011
Location
Carver, MA
Price seems a little high, but not out totally unrealistic. It is a real industrial 230 volt welder, pretty rugged and dependable, but it is probably 30 years old or so. I have an Airco Dipstick 130 or 140, 230 volt mig only machine, probably a little older than that one. Was given to me by my buddy who owns a large body shop, had been their main welder for years till it started acting up, so they bought some new ones. I took it home, blew about 50 lbs of bondo dust out of it, put in a new gun liner, and repainted the outer shell. This was probably 20 years ago, has worked fine since. Don't use it as much anymore, since I picked up a Lincoln 250 digital mig, but I keep it ready to go with .023 wire for sheetmetal. Does it come with the regulator and tank?
Good luck, Jim
 

Lx460

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Joined
Oct 9, 2014
Messages
1,306
Location
Central Florida, USA
My buddy had one. It worked ok. Not as nice a weld as the Miller I bought subsequently. Parts availability could be an issue since it's so old. I had a hard time finding any real information to be honest. I would definitely test it before buying. If you can't test it, I'd pass on it. If it works well, make an offer. It will likely last a long time.
 
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