Good deal on this welder?

[mrpizza]

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/tls/3528062699.html

Welder - $150 (Beulah)

Date: 2013-01-07, 7:07AM EST
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$150 Miller dialarc 250 ac/Dc arc welder

Accepts multiple input voltages. Currently setup for 220vac single phase. Works perfect. No leads come with this unit. Serious inquiries only.

850-554-3866

Location: Beulah
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID:3528062699

It looks a good bit older but new ones are 2500 bucks. I have never welded before and this would be an introductory machine.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I would say that if everything works that is an OK price. You will need to factor in leads to final cost if you don't have a set already. If you go to look at it make sure he has a set and can show you that it works on both AC and DC. I believe that you can add a HF unit and TIG torch to that unit and TIG with it. Also I am pretty sure that is a pretty big and heavy unit. Take a friend to help you load it.

 

[justanengineer]

Not sure of the price for your area, but in mine that would be a bit high for an industrial quality, AC/DC stick machine without leads. Leads are rather expensive, so I'd wanna be <$75 if I really needed that type of machine or they are difficult to find.

Also, you might wanna inquire if the owner has leads you can test it with. Having been burned several times in the past at auctions, Id advise NOT buying a welder you cannot test unless its CHEAP.

 

[mrpizza]

I don't have leads and I have never welded before in my entire life.

As far as price people try and sell their Lincoln tombstone ac machines for 450-600 bucks on craigslist and in the pawn shops.

 

[ears]

That's a great price if it works and you have a use for it. Know that multiple input voltages means three phase or 240 not 120. It is also a huge and heavy welder. Weighs about 400 pounds

 

[ihateminimumwage]

If you can budget in the leads, I'd say go for it. If it's in good working order, it'll be the only stick machine you'll ever need to purchase, and great to learn on.

It is going to be HEAVY though, so I hope that cart it's on goes with it. I had a hard enough time unloading my Miller Thunderbolt 225v (AC only) out of the passenger seat (it was raining) of my pickup, so it just rode around with me for a week or so...

 

[steel 35]

Looks like the monster I learned to weld with a long time ago, only thing I ever burned a 1/4" rod with and that is crazy. Super machine for a Arc welder most don't want that.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

That's a fair price on a very solid machine. Leads will probably be between 1-$300 depending on the length you want and the quality of the connectors.

I wouldn't buy unless they are willing to let you try or demonstrate the machine.

I had an identical machine before the last round of upgrades and was very happy with it, it has nice arc characteristics and just runs (75% duty cycle at 250A, 100% at 200A IIRC).

Also remember that this machine will draw around 80A 240V at full capacity.

-Erik

 

[Farmall450]

I would say that if everything works that is an OK price. You will need to factor in leads to final cost if you don't have a set already. If you go to look at it make sure he has a set and can show you that it works on both AC and DC. I believe that you can add a HF unit and TIG torch to that unit and TIG with it. Also I am pretty sure that is a pretty big and heavy unit. Take a friend to help you load it.

It will be scratch start tig but yeah, it you should be the same. So-so price, since it's DC it's not bad.

 

[mrpizza]

So I would need a 100 amp outlet to power the thing? I think no having leads may be a killer for me.

 

[mayday0017]

That thing prob has $150 worth of copper in it

 

[BobKovacs]

A lot depends on what kind of welding you plan to do- stick welding is typically reserved for heavy structural type of work anymore- any automotive or other fab work is usually MIG or TIG now. What are you planning to do with the welder?

 

[zkling]

That is a great deal on that welder IMHO. Here is what a current model goes for from Miller.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/stick/dialarc_250_ac_dc/

Now it depends on what your uses are...
If you plan on stick welding around the house / farm it would do anything you could ever want.

On the other hand if you wanted to get into tig welding the cost of accessories needed would ad up real fast and you would approach used tig machine territory.

As for power it is like a syncrowave 250. You could successfully run it at home on a 50amp 230v breaker. Yes if you needed the full 300amp output, you would need to step up to ~80amp breaker. Then again I can't imagine what you would need to weld around you house with 300amps on stick!!!!

So is it a good deal on that machine? Yes, if it works. Is it a good deal for you? MAYBE We would need more information on what your plans for the machine are.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I had a hard enough time unloading my Miller Thunderbolt 225v (AC only) out of the passenger seat (it was raining) of my pickup, so it just rode around with me for a week or so...

 

[mrpizza]

I was just looking for something to tinker with. I have plans to build a brewing stand from steel someday, but that is just regular square tubing.