Lincoln Welder Question

[Douglas733]

What is the difference between a AC-255 and a Lincoln Buzz Box

I am looking at buying a Lincoln Tombstone (AC-225) and I keep running across a blue one called a "Buzz Box" and I just don't know what the difference is

 

[Garage5.9]

If im not mistaken all stick welders are called buzz boxes

 

[malibu101]

Buzz box is a slang term usually applied to smaller (225A and less) stick welding units.
Tombstone is another slang term for the same type of unit although tombstone is often used strictly for the Lincoln units as they have the cut corners that give it a tombstone look.

 

[duude]

AC225 is commonly referred to as a buzz box. Tombstone is referring to Lincoln's Idealarc 250 round top.

 

[John in OH]

Buzz box is a slang term usually applied to smaller (225A and less) stick welding units.
Tombstone is another slang term for the same type of unit although tombstone is often used strictly for the Lincoln units as they have the cut corners that give it a tombstone look.

+1 Yep, malibu101 has given you a good description. "Buzz box" is a slang term for smaller amperage (225A or less) transformer-type welders of any manufacture.

 

[BigUgly9]

My first welder was a Wards Power Craft 230 AMP AC " back in the old days we called AC ONLY BUZZ BOXES"
I just purchased a lincoln AC/DC 225/125. These I think are not called buzz boxes.
Some one correct as I am not a welder, just going from memory.
The DC capability you may not need a bunch, "for vertical and overhead it sure helps".
That Lincolm is sure a smooth easy starting machine wished I would have bought that years ago.
I still have the Montgomery Wards AC.
It works great for frozen bolts in engine blocks, ie water pump bolts om Mopar
360. 73Fury3 2dr. Ground the engine, use short electrode, stick on the head of the bolt. Works better than torch by a mile.
Sorry for all the ramblin.
Tom

 

[volaredon]

My first welder was a Wards Power Craft 230 AMP AC " back in the old days we called AC ONLY BUZZ BOXES"
I just purchased a lincoln AC/DC 225/125. These I think are not called buzz boxes.
Some one correct as I am not a welder, just going from memory.
The DC capability you may not need a bunch, "for vertical and overhead it sure helps".
That Lincolm is sure a smooth easy starting machine wished I would have bought that years ago.
I still have the Montgomery Wards AC.
It works great for frozen bolts in engine blocks, ie water pump bolts om Mopar
360. 73Fury3 2dr. Ground the engine, use short electrode, stick on the head of the bolt. Works better than torch by a mile.
Sorry for all the ramblin.
Tom

got pix of the Fury? I have a 78... I learned to drive in a 73 Fury wagon (my Mom's car at the time) 400, 9 passenger, slime green w/woodgrain

 

[brownbagg]

there are the same thing, they made a loud buzzzing noise when running, but if you do buy a lincoln, which is a damn good machine get the ac-dc 225

 

[some zilch]

AC225 is commonly referred to as a buzz box. Tombstone is referring to Lincoln's Idealarc 250 round top.

my idealarc is a square box, and does not really buzz. however, my ac225 is rounded, buzzes, and looks like a tombstone.

 

[maddawg1952]

My first welder was a Wards Power Craft 230 AMP AC " back in the old days we called AC ONLY BUZZ BOXES"
I just purchased a lincoln AC/DC 225/125. These I think are not called buzz boxes.
Some one correct as I am not a welder, just going from memory.
The DC capability you may not need a bunch, "for vertical and overhead it sure helps".
That Lincolm is sure a smooth easy starting machine wished I would have bought that years ago.
I still have the Montgomery Wards AC.
It works great for frozen bolts in engine blocks, ie water pump bolts om Mopar
360. 73Fury3 2dr. Ground the engine, use short electrode, stick on the head of the bolt. Works better than torch by a mile.
Sorry for all the ramblin.
Tom

Just a point of information , check the duty cycle of that welder,it will be on the NEMA Plate, 40 % 50% refers to minutes 4 -5 that it should run in 10 minutes without an interuption otherwise you'll smoke the welder eventually. I burnt out one short circuiting it like your doing 'thawing a frozen fire hydrant even tho it was 100% duty cycle

 

[duude]

my idealarc is a square box, and does not really buzz. however, my ac225 is rounded, buzzes, and looks like a tombstone.

Just FYI.
Buzz box ac225
Tombstone

 

[Joe69]

That brings back memories. I learned to weld with a 225 buzz box. Haven't touched one in 18 years.

Joe

 

[BigUgly9]

Just a point of information , check the duty cycle of that welder,it will be on the NEMA Plate, 40 % 50% refers to minutes 4 -5 that it should run in 10 minutes without an interuption otherwise you'll smoke the welder eventually. I burnt out one short circuiting it like your doing 'thawing a frozen fire hydrant even tho it was 100% duty cycle

Are you kidding "fire hydrants", I was referrinf to 3" 3/8 bolts, I set it on max if required for probobly less than a minute maybe a bit more. That old Monkey Ward is a heavy machine, most likely copper windings but the 100% duty cycle ends about 125 amps after that it is clearly indicated on the box showing directly below the slider bar.
That car is long gone Volar, the body lines were great. It was only about 4 years old when I bought it had been sitting in my uncles lot for over a year as no one would buy it, it looked like a lime popsicle. You never got turned or ran into driving that thing.

 

[BigUgly9]

Are you kidding "fire hydrants", I was referrinf to 3" 3/8 bolts, I set it on max if required for probobly less than a minute maybe a bit more. That old Monkey Ward is a heavy machine, most likely copper windings but the 100% duty cycle ends about 125 amps after that it is clearly indicated on the box showing directly below the slider bar.
That car is long gone Volar, the body lines were great. It was only about 4 years old when I bought it had been sitting in my uncles lot for over a year as no one would buy it, it looked like a lime popsicle. You never got turned or ran into driving that thing.

Should have read turned in front of,

 

[brownbagg]

i had one of those monkey wards unit too, dont know what happen to it, brother properly took it to pawn shop for some crack

 

[maddawg1952]

Are you kidding "fire hydrants", I was referrinf to 3" 3/8 bolts, I set it on max if required for probobly less than a minute maybe a bit more. That old Monkey Ward is a heavy machine, most likely copper windings but the 100% duty cycle ends about 125 amps after that it is clearly indicated on the box showing directly below the slider bar.
That car is long gone Volar, the body lines were great. It was only about 4 years old when I bought it had been sitting in my uncles lot for over a year as no one would buy it, it looked like a lime popsicle. You never got turned or ran into driving that thing.

yep fire hydrants, but i didn't mention the welder was a 1978 Hobart mainliner 300 with a 6 cylinder Ford Industrial engine, I was just trying to explain duty cycle some, guess I didn't do a very good job.