I've been looking for a good used stick welder and I found a Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC welder that's about 20 years old with only about 20 hours on it. Is this a good buy or are there potential problems with older welders like this when I might be able to buy newer Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC for $400 (about 3 years old)?
Is Miller Welder Worth $200?
- Thread starter kellogg
- Start date
Conductor562
Well-known member
I'd pay $200 for it.
5lima30
Well-known member
If it works good I would do it in a heartbeat!
Bugeyed Earl
Well-known member
Definitely a fair deal, AC/DC arc welders always command a premium over straight AC welders.
Mr. D
Well-known member
If it works than go for it, very fair price.
Garage Dog
Well-known member
FWIW: I have had my AC/DC Thunderbolt for about 28 years without any problems.
I would however actually test the unit you are considering using both AC and DC connectors and vary the output just to be safe.
I would however actually test the unit you are considering using both AC and DC connectors and vary the output just to be safe.
Rodhotz
Well-known member
Who the heck still uses stick welders these days?
metalmagpie
Well-known member
I have owned two Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC machines, and used to recommend them. Especially the older ones which had detachable leads, for cleaner storage. However, those machines do have drawbacks. Their transformers are wound with aluminum, not copper. Also, they have a 20% duty cycle. It's very hard to weld two minutes and then wait eight. The overwhelming temptation is to just go ahead and weld more with it. Which rapidly leads to overheating which can damage the transformers. They still weld, kind of, but not nearly as well. So you really have to be careful buying used.
Nowadays I recommend older Lincoln IdealArc 250 machines. These look a bit like the el cheapo tombstones they sell at the box stores but are much larger. For some reason, they sell very cheaply. I bought mine for $150, for example. And they have copper wound transformers and, with 1/8" rod, you can weld at 100% duty cycle all day long.
metalmagpie
Nowadays I recommend older Lincoln IdealArc 250 machines. These look a bit like the el cheapo tombstones they sell at the box stores but are much larger. For some reason, they sell very cheaply. I bought mine for $150, for example. And they have copper wound transformers and, with 1/8" rod, you can weld at 100% duty cycle all day long.
metalmagpie
c39er
Well-known member
I have a 1982 AC/DC thunderbolt machine. I have used the heck out of it mainly weldinf 1/4" plate. It has a cooling fan in it and welded endlessly with it. I still use it over my XMT 304 on old metal and jobs for deep penetration. It's a good basic stick machine.
No sir, REAL weldors O/A torch weld. Separates the men from the boys
Really? Heavy construction, piping, fabrication. Dirty fab, repair work, etc. Lots of it still in use to day. I doubt if it will be replaced in the near future either.
OP, that sounds like a good deal. Just make sure you check over the leads and power cord real well for cracks, cuts or signs of dry rot. Good welding cable is not cheap to replace.
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Rodhotz
Well-known member
The only thing they are used for are to power a suitcase welder like a Lincoln Ln25, look at the high rise welders and as far as heavy equipment goes that is all we use are the Lincoln Ln25 or bigger.
Antique Engine
Well-known member
This is to Rodhotz....
Maybe in your environment a stick welder is obsolete but tens of thousand of tons of welding rods get burned every year. I'm very proficient is MIG, TIG, O/A and stick and have the equipment to do those processes. Yet, I still burn hundreds of pounds of rod every year. There are plenty of applications where I find it most suitable.
Maybe in your environment a stick welder is obsolete but tens of thousand of tons of welding rods get burned every year. I'm very proficient is MIG, TIG, O/A and stick and have the equipment to do those processes. Yet, I still burn hundreds of pounds of rod every year. There are plenty of applications where I find it most suitable.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Same.
64Trvlr
Well-known member
Sounds like a good deal to me. How much cable comes with it on the stinger and ground?
HMCFab9
Well-known member
An old Miller is probably better than most new welders.
Rodhotz
Well-known member
Yeh sad to say my miller is stick but i never use it only the tig...lighten up i was only Joking i know their are lots of uses for it and every now and again i get to burn up a few pounds. but mostly we use the LN25, faster for the work we do.
5lima30
Well-known member
I do and so do a lot of farmers around here.
If it's on CL, make them an offer with cash in hand. It's worth looking at for the money.
Professur
Well-known member
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-stitch-welder-how-to-operating-instructions
Not a whole lot it can't do. Grab it with both hands.
Not a whole lot it can't do. Grab it with both hands.
I still burn a few rods every once in awhile. While I have a mig, and oxy-acetylene, and they have their obvious uses, I find that one of the biggest upgrades I've made is to a auto-darkening helmet... Now that was a big help to me.
If that Miller is still functioning properly, I think it would be worth the $200.
If that Miller is still functioning properly, I think it would be worth the $200.