Lincoln idearc 250 physical size.

[bobcatdan]

Could somebody with an old style idearc give me physical measurements front to back and overall height? I'm thinking about picking one up, but want to know its overall size to see if it would fit under my work bench. I know they are heavy so I don't need to know weight. Thanks.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

We’ve got one of these out in the shop at work. If someone doesn’t chime in before I go in tomorrow morning I’ll get you some measurements.

 

[Bobcat753]

Are you looking at the "mailbox" style or the newer square one?

 

[bobcatdan]

Are you looking at the "mailbox" style or the newer square one?

Mailbox could be one way to say it otherwise I'd call it a tombstone with the big old crank on the front. A single phase unit that looks like new has been sitting on market place for a bit now and I'm waiting to see if he drops his price first before I contact him. Dialarcs sit for months on sites here so I'm kind of banking the Lincoln will too. A dialarc is too long for where I want to jam it. I have been looking for a newer thunderbolt xl front crank because that is really all I need, but those are rare and priced way higher then I want to pay.

 

[bob15]

Idealarc 250 came/come both ways: square & tombstone

Which are you looking for?

 

[tool_scrounge]

21 deep x 20 wide x 29 tall. Not including lifting hook on top or knob/cables on front. This is the older rount top version

 

[bobcatdan]

Idealarc 250 came/come both ways: square & tombstone

Which are you looking for?

Tombstone.

 

[bobcatdan]

21 deep x 20 wide x 29 tall. Not including lifting hook on top or knob/cables on front. This is the older rount top version

Thanks, that will fit where I would want to put it.

 

[ndnchf]

I had the same question when looking for one. I wanted it under my welding table. It fit just fine.

 

[seber]

A side note, I've had both the Dialarc and the Idealarc in the past. The Lincoln blows the Miller into the weeds. I wouldn't bet on it sitting very long.

 

[johninct]

A side note, I've had both the Dialarc and the Idealarc in the past. The Lincoln blows the Miller into the weeds. I wouldn't bet on it sitting very long.

I agree!!!

 

[bobcatdan]

It's been on there for about a week at $400. Kind of watching to see if it drops to $350 and see where $300 gets me. An arc welder is not high on my priority list, just figures get one for the few time I run into stuff that is above my 211's ability. Or welding outside as it's always windy here.

 

[ndnchf]

I paid around $400 for mine and took a full day round trip to get it. It was well worth the effort, these things weld so smoooothly. Be prepared for heavy lifting. IIRC, it weighs about 360lbs.


Mine came with fairly short leads which worked for my welding table, but I wanted to reach out to my driveway. EBT has by far the best prices on high quality cable, I bought 125' of #2 cable. Now I can reach way out, which is really nice. I put racks on the wall to store the cable.

 

[bobcatdan]

This one says it had 40' cables on it. That will reach anywhere in my shop and about 30' outside. I'm willing gamble on waiting since an arc welder is not that high on the want list. This perked my interest being $400, that is pretty much the go to price for an ac/dc Lincoln 225 around here.

 

[ndnchf]

You might be surprised how much you use a high quality stick welder after you get one. One thing to keep in mind is the Idealarc 250 is a much better, higher quality and more capable machine all around, than a run of the mill Lincoln 225 tombstone. Paying a little more for an Idealarc is money well spent.

 

[bobcatdan]

While I can arc weld pretty good, I simply don't do it much, even at work. I prefer to wire weld. For what I do at home, my 211 is perfectly sized for me. That said I know it has it limits. Main reason I didn't buy a 252 right away is I figured for what the 211 cost, I could pick up an arc welder too for less than a 252. Been watching for a newer thunderbolt for about 2 years now and the few that pop up, $600 or so. I see this idealarc and I talk to a buddy who use to fix welders for Miller. I ruled a dialarc out years ago. Besides size, they don't run great on residential power. Buddy says an idearc will be happy on a 50 or 60 amp circuit. So makes me think go big.

 

[bob15]

What is the input amps on the machine you are looking at? Can you handle the amps? Without PF capacitors, my Lincoln manual shows input amps at 68A @230 vac (with cap, 50 amps)..

 

[bobcatdan]

I didn't really go into the specific of power input with my buddy. Basically asked him if an idearc is as power hungry as a dialarc and his response was they love their voltage, but can go a bit lower on the amps. Been total if you want the best out of a dialarc is 75 minimum. If I jump on it, it will sit for a bit. At some point when I'm ready to pull the trigger, I'm going to do a power upgrade to shop. As I sit I maybe have 40 amps of service to the shop threw three breaker boxes from the house to it. For what I do in there now, I have no power problems so I kind of keep kicking the can down the road on it. Going to bypass and run a solid 100 amps which my electrician tells me is all a one man shop will ever need. From there new panel and didactic line for the arc welder as I want a second 220 plug. Adding the welder is the only power hungry thing I plan to add to shop, otherwise im pretty much set with what im going to have.

 

[AngryBeaver]

You might be surprised how much you use a high quality stick welder after you get one. One thing to keep in mind is the Idealarc 250 is a much better, higher quality and more capable machine all around, than a run of the mill Lincoln 225 tombstone. Paying a little more for an Idealarc is money well spent.

I have an AC/DC 225 new style tombstone. what makes the IdealArc better?
just finer adjustments?

 

[bobcatdan]

The 225 is more of a home shop, farm, light maintenance shop type of welder. For what it is, it's a perfectly good unit. The 250 is the heavy duty unit. Basically a F150 compared to a F350. Personally for what I want an arc welder for, one like yours would cover my needs. I don't need one bad enough to buy one new so I'm going used. I could pick up and AC machine for a $100 in the next hour if I tried. The AC/DC machines are rarer and seem to hold fast at a $400 asking price, more than I want to pay. So seeing an idearc for about the same money is making me think by bigger than I need.

 

[AngryBeaver]

I don't use mine since getting a 250 tig machine. Runs stick rod pretty good so far. if you were closer I'd make you a deal lol

 

[ndnchf]

I have an AC/DC 225 new style tombstone. what makes the IdealArc better?
just finer adjustments?

The Ideslarc is a pro machine. Higher duty cycle, more powerful and darn near bulletproof. As mentioned, the AC 225 is more of a homeowner machine. Its perfectly good, but not in the same class as the Idealarc. I'll never use the Idealarc's full power. But for my typical 150 amps or less, its not stressing at all. It will weld all day. Google them for more info, they almost have a cult following.

Something else to look for are "power factor" capacitors in an Idealarc. These were an extra cost option that allows the machine to run higher amperage with lower input current. Again, google for more info.

Nothing wrong with an 225 tombstone. But if the opportunity comes up to buy an Idealarc for similar or a little more money, its well worth while.

 

[bobcatdan]

Just checked, came down $20.

 

[sberry]

I agree a DC buzzer can hold its value quite well and the reason being is that they are good. Their duty is way above the listed rating. Buy a new stickmate and a guy wouldn't need a power upgrade.