Old Craftsman Welder

[sourwould]

Saw this in the consignment section at a local woodworking store . Can't seem to find any info online. There appears to be a little info on the AC only version of these welders. Anyone have any experience with these or know who the OEM is?

Used ACDC welders seem to be hard to come by in my area. I've been looking for an old ACDC Idealarc, but have been out of luck so far.

 

[dr_clyde]

If it is less than $100, I'd snag it. DC current is way nicer to work with.

 

[sourwould]

If it is less than $100, I'd snag it. DC current is way nicer to work with.

Jeez I wish. They want $300. Welders (that aren't a Lincoln AC225) seem to be pretty expensive here, from what I've seem looking around on craigslist.

 

[zkling]

Pass.

 

[sberry]

That's a good machine.

 

[Showkey]

Just not $300 good...........

 

[John in OH]

No experience with this particular Cman welder, but the old Cman welders from the mid-1960s (although this one is newer than that) were made for Sears by Emerson Electric.

This one is a single-phase 240v welder with, maybe ???, about 45 amp primary current draw at full amp output. Probably has only a 20% duty cycle which is typical for this size and class welder. Can you determine if the windings are copper or aluminum? It does appear to be in good cosmetic condition so most likely it hasn't been beat to ****.

Take a close look at the electrode holder to see how much it is burned or scorched as this may be a crude indicator of how much use the machine has seen.

Probably a fine welder for the home or farm shop, but $300 does sound a little steep for a used Cman welder. Although, I still have the first welder I ever owned (Dad bought if for me when I was 16 in the mid-'60s). It's a Craftsman 180 amp, AC only "clicker-switch" type machine which has seen a LOT of use over the past 50 years and it still works fine!

 

[Speedbird]

From about 1980. Bought one new but never used it much. The amp selector on top is like a slide switch. it just does it in an arch. I didn't like that or the way the cables plug in. If you can get it cheap, it will be ok. Sold mine for 75.00 about 5 years ago.

 

[sourwould]

Hmm. I'd really like to start out being able to run DC. I keep hearing how much easier and smoother it is.

I agree, this machine is over priced. Not sure If I can justify the price when I could by an older Lincoln AC225 for $150 (currently the cheapest welder I've found in my area).

The C-man is also being sold as-is by the store, no opportunity to test or even turn it on. Which seems like bull**** at the price point. Not sure if they'd let me take the cover off to look at the transformer.

 

[sberry]

Taking the cover off wont help much, a test is the thing but most of them still work. I agree, some places the 300 is hi, some not so much. A new one is 2x. If an AC is going for 150 this is worth 150 more than that.

 

[PBCampbell]

Some tools, like welders, either work or they don't and that needs to factored into the price. Proof that it works or a guarantee with return is the only way to sell or purchase. Even with one of those three bills seems a bit high for what it is. Didn't Sears rebrand Century welders from late 70s on?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

In my neck of the woods, an AC/DC welder like that one usually goes for around $300.00. I won't say that it's a steal, but it's old (heavier copper), clean, looks complete, looks like it comes with a mobile cart, and has a hand crank for the weld current set point.
IMO: Offer $200.00 cash if you can return it if it doesn't work. The seller may want to move it to open up space.

 

[sourwould]

Taking the cover off wont help much, a test is the thing but most of them still work. I agree, some places the 300 is hi, some not so much. A new one is 2x. If an AC is going for 150 this is worth 150 more than that.

If I take the cover off, I should be able to see the transformer, right?

 

[sberry]

If I take the cover off, I should be able to see the transformer, right?

You could,,,, What would you be able to figure out,,, yup its a ******? But,,,, I been at this a while and I cant even remember ever seeing one of these that didn't work. I cant recall ever seeing a burnt up buzzer. I am sure it has happened but I havnt seen it.

 

[sourwould]

You could,,,, What would you be able to figure out,,, yup its a ******? But,,,, I been at this a while and I cant even remember ever seeing one of these that didn't work. I cant recall ever seeing a burnt up buzzer. I am sure it has happened but I havnt seen it.

Copper v aluminium

 

[sberry]

Still not an issue if you want a welder. It is likely a Century.

 

[sourwould]

Still not an issue if you want a welder. It is likely a Century.

Fair enough

 

[sourwould]

I'm thinking this might be a century 110114

 

[sberry]

Most of us are not familiar with all particular models from every mfg. These were made to fit the parameters of a welder circuit. Century made a lot of them for Sears and Wards, I may have used a couple, not regular but never heard a bad word. It was a joke (or not) in construction, spend another 100 on a welder and never have to buy rods.

 

[John in OH]

So, I've been thinking some more about the $300 price .....

If the welder is in good condition that really isn't too bad a price for a used AC/DC welder. You don't list your location (you should add that to your profile so responses can be more accurately taylored with respect to local), but if AC/DC welders are scarce in your area, then so ahead and buy it. If you don't like it, or need a welder with a higher service factor, you can always resell it and recoup most, if not all, of your money.

 

[WWShop]

There is a Lincoln tombstone ac/dc in my area for $200. That is the lowest I have seen one of those on CL. Idk, but $300 seems high. Are they willing to negotiate?

 

[jaker10]

Here is a list of who built sears items


LISTING OF SOURCES BY SOURCE NUMBER

For many products, the first three numbers of the Model Number (usually followed by a decimal point) indicate the actual manufacturer of the product. For instance 316.43234 is a cordless drill built by Ryobi. The following is a partial list of such numbers.


001 Stevens
002 Lemont Industries
071 Agri-Fab Corp
093 Ametek
002 Lemont Industries
101 Atlas Press Co.
102 Walker Turner
103 Sarlo Power Mower Inc.
106 Whirlpool
108 Covel Mfg. Co.
109 AA Engineering
110 Whirlpool
111 Watson Mfg Co.
112 Parks Tool Co. (Woodworking equipment)
113 Emerson Electric Co.
114 Pioneer Gen-E-Motor
115 Rixon
116 Matsushita
119 Frigidaire
121 Dille & McGuire
122 Blair Mfg.
123 Yard-Man
128 E.T. Rugg
129 Mono Mfg. Co
131 Rally/Roper Lawn (American Yard Prod.)
133 American Yard Products
135 Skil/Bosch
136 Toro Mfg. Co
137 Rexon
139 Chamberlain
143 Tecumseh (Lauson Power Prod. Co.)
144 Trane
145 Country Manufacturing
147 Village Blacksmith (Div. of McGraw Edison)
149 Amt
150 White Consolidated
153 State Industries
155 Preway
160 Wisconsin Magneto
161 Nakajima
171 Vermont American
174 Caloric
175 Bissell
176 Murata
180 Lambert Corp.
187 White Consolidated
190 Pioneer
198 Whirlpool
202 Gannon Mfg. Co.
204 Iona
214 Bissell
216 Phonemate
217 Eska Outboards
219 MTD
222 Panasonic Video/Audio
225 Outboard by Chrysler/Force
233 Broan
234 Beard-Poulon & Lazy Boy
235 Ingersoll Rand
241 Fimco
247 MTD-Modern Tool and Die (not MID)
250 J.I. Case
253 Gibson (now Frigidare)
256 Emerson Electric
257 Allegretti & Co. & Paramount
264 Emerson Electric
268 Brother International
271 Kioritz Corp. - Echo
274 RCA
278 GE
281 Electro-Aire
283 Thomas Industries
289 Sharp
291 American Lawn Mower
292 Lennox
294 Tunturi
302 IBM
304 Funai
306 Belsaw
312 GTE
315 Ryobi
317 Makita
319 Hand Tools International
329 Inventa
330 Apple
328 McLane
329 Ametek
334 Commodore
335 Amana
336 Electrolux
340 Necchi
342 York
351 Colovos Co.
253 White Consolidated
355 Roper Outdoor
358 Beaird - Poulan, Inc.
359 Bolens Products Div.
362 General Electric
363 General Electric
365 US Lawn
366 Koss Eletronics
367 AT&T
372 Zeus Generator Co.
374 Diversified Products
378 Omark (Oregon)
380 Moto-Mower, Inc./Subsidiary of Dura Corp.
385 Jamac
387 White Rodgers
390 King-O-Lawn
401 Bissell
410 John Bean Food Mach. & Chem.
415 Char Broil
417 Stover Engine Works
426 Parker Sweeper
445 Melmer
452 AT&T
457 Code-A-Phone
459 Technics
464 Maytag
471 Bionaire
472 Dremel
473 Quincy Compressor
474 Sony
476 Coleman
480 Bose
484 Airtemp
486 Agri-Fab
490 Indiana Steel
498 Didier Mfg. Co.
500 Briggs & Stratton Corp.
502 Murray Ohio
509 Payne
517 Homelite/Jacobsen
521 E Z Rake Co.
523 MGM Technology
534 Clausing Lathe (Former Atlas Press Co.)
536 Western Tool & Stamping (Before AMF Lawn & Garden Div.)
538 AMF and or Murray
549 Midwest Ind
552 Cobra
562 Toshiba
564 Sanyo
565 Sanyo
566 Packard Bell
568 Panasonic
572 Dremel
575 Sharp
576 D & M (now Frigidaire)
580 Generac Corporation
582 Clinton Engine Co.
583 Remington/Desa
586 Panasonic Office Equip.
587 White Consolidated
596 Amana
604 Digital Equipment Co.
610 Ohio Steel Fabrication
613 Consolidated Technologies
619 Arps Corp.
620 Enviro-Research
621 Bryant
622 Kelvinator
625 Ecodyne
626 Magnavox (Philips)
628 White Consolidated
629 Jenn-Air
636 Echo
639 King-O-Lawn
640 Cerwin Vega
647 Roper
651 O.M.C. Dist. (also Standard Eng.)
654 Mott
663 Air Cap Industries
665 Whirlpool
666 Kitchenaid
668 Echowater
678 Vac Appliances, LTD
680 Generac
683 Philco (Italy)
704 Royal
705 Canon
716 H.H.Scott/Emerson
719 Tappan
721 LG Electronics
723 Yamaha
733 Fairbanks Morse
739 Onan
745 0 & R Engines
747 Litton
757 Brinly-Hardy Co., Inc.
758 Emerson Electric
761 Whirlpool
767 Marvel
768 Technics (Matsushita)
769 Mercury Clutch Division
773 Marantz
775 Johnson
778 Comet Industries
785 General Power (Magna America Corp.)
789 DefiAnce
790 Frigid Ire
791 Tappan
793 Ford
798 Speed King
802 Baker Mfg Co.
809 AMF
815 Daewoo
831 Welso Inc/U.T.S.
832 Xerox
835 Roper
840 Friedrich
842 Haban Mfg.
846 Epson
850 Whirlpool (Chambers?)
854 White Farm Equipment Corp. (formerly Oliver
855 ILG
860 Eureka Company
864 Zenith
867 Climette
871 Smith Corona
879 Rheem/Rudd
900 Black and Decker
911 General Electric
917 Roper Corp. (American Yard Prod.
919 DeVilbiss
922 Original Tractor Cab Co.
923 Hewlett Packard
934 Century Mfg Co.
937 Sunbeam (now Air Cap Ind.)
950 Laser (V-TECH)
960 Caloric
973 Ryobi
987 Troy Bilt/Garden Way
988 Kubota
989 McCullogh
990 Ford
991 Lawnboy
2018 Furnas Electric (Reversing Switch)
7075 Prestolite Battery
7287 Emerson Electric
7296 Emerson Electric
Hand Tools - Danaher
FSP - Replacement parts for Whirlpool & Maytag

 

[G_P]

I have the AC only version of that machine sitting in my shed. Its a good unit, built very simple and tough.
Even with DC, its not a $300 welder though. Maybe welders just aren't worth much in my area, I tried to give away the AC only unit to someone who could use it and got no bites. Only scrappers who wanted it for its copper.

 

[John in OH]

I have the AC only version of that machine sitting in my shed. Its a good unit, built very simple and tough.
Even with DC, its not a $300 welder though. Maybe welders just aren't worth much in my area, I tried to give away the AC only unit to someone who could use it and got no bites. Only scrappers who wanted it for its copper.

No one was interested??? That's crazy!!

IMHO, AC-only welders get a bad rap. I'll be one of the first to agree that an AC/DC machine is much more flexible, but you can do a lot of good welding work with a simple AC machine running either E6011 or E6013 rod.

The first welder we had on the farm when I was a kid (late 50s) was a 180 amp Forney AC welder. Later, for a gift, my Dad bought me a 180 amp Craftsman AC welder. Between those two machines, with the Forney doing most of the work, we did literally decades of farm maintenance welding. True, we couldn't run low-hydrogen rod and that was a problem occasionally. But, we could easily do 90% of the general repair and fab jobs we needed to do.

Don't get hung up on the "its gotta be AC/DC". If you are just going to do general mild steel welding (angle iron, channel, square tubing, etc.) an AC machine will treat you right.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have that model welder and just used it yesterday to tig up a funnel shaped adaptor for the cyclone on a blast cabinet. I bought it new 30 plus years ago. It was underwater in a flood for several days, drug out, dried, and went back to work. I stick weld with it and use a field tig rig to do scratch start tig welding. I paid $349 for it new if I remember correctly. It has been well worth the money.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I have the AC only version of that machine sitting in my shed. Its a good unit, built very simple and tough.
Even with DC, its not a $300 welder though. Maybe welders just aren't worth much in my area, I tried to give away the AC only unit to someone who could use it and got no bites. Only scrappers who wanted it for its copper.

2 weeks ago, at an estate auction in SW Indiana, a Lincoln AC225 went for $350.