Got myself a new welder!

[Murphy4570]

I brought this home with me today, courtesy of craigslist!

It's an OLD Lincoln AC-225 buzzbox stick welder. Very common welder. Came with the welding helmet, and a couple boxes of really old (and contaminated) Lincoln welding sticks. I bought it so I could weld thicker steel, as the 110V MIG welder I have does not have enough penetration for the thick stuff I occasionally work with. I also didn't want to drop $500+ on a used 220V MIG welder. I'm a cheap *** sometimes.

Stick welding is a PITA. I just found that out. Spent the last hour teaching myself how to stick weld. With contaminated old welding rod. Boy that was fun. I got good enough to weld my initials, at least!

Grand total? $50.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I brought this home with me today, courtesy of craigslist!

It's an OLD Lincoln AC-225 buzzbox stick welder. Very common welder. Came with the welding helmet, and a couple boxes of really old (and contaminated) Lincoln welding sticks. I bought it so I could weld thicker steel, as the 110V MIG welder I have does not have enough penetration for the thick stuff I occasionally work with. I also didn't want to drop $500+ on a used 220V MIG welder. I'm a cheap *** sometimes.

Stick welding is a PITA. I just found that out. Spent the last hour teaching myself how to stick weld. With contaminated old welding rod. Boy that was fun. I got good enough to weld my initials, at least!

Grand total? $50.

I would not say it is about being a cheap *** but more about what someone can afford. Those are great welders and I have been trying to get a AC/DC version for a great price for a long time....

 

[srmofo]

for $50 that thing would have followed me home too. Some of the crazies around me want several hundred dollars for machines in much worse shape.

 

[91bronc300]

Wouldn't that thing have more than 50 bucks in it just in copper?

 

[John in OH]

That particular machine may have been built quite a number of years ago, but I think that Lincoln still builds the same model welder today! MIG is nice for light-weight material, but stick is still the workhorse for heavier steel, IMHO.

 

[1967lemans]

Nice machine. Learned to weld with one of those years ago. Now go get some new rods and play with it. For rods I would recommend 6013, 7014, 6011, and 7018AC.

 

[dwp99]

I've had mine for more that 30 years and it's still going great.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

$50 is worth it for the learning experience alone.....Good score!

 

[vintagefan]

Nice deal OP... those tombstones have welded many a good bead, even though lots of folks like to hate on them.

for $50 that thing would have followed me home too. Some of the crazies around me want several hundred dollars for machines in much worse shape.

Same problem here.

Craigslist: "It's a welder, and it works? That means it's worth $500."

Me: "But, um, that welder sells for $330 brand new including tax."

Craigslist: "Nope, it's a welder so it's worth $500."

Me: "Um, okay. Whatever you say."