Lucky? Find?

[newbiesmith]

I happened across an add for a Lincoln Welder for $50 in our local "iwanna-esc" publication. I called and the guy said it was an old 180 amp box that ran off a 220 outlet. I ran out to see it. It has a little play in the switch (have to wiggle it a little to seat in the amperage slot) but it touched off fairly well, even at the low amperages with the old stick in it that looked like it was in there since he last used it 2 years ago. Granted this is what my buddy told me to do since I have very little clue as to what makes a good welder. I was just looking for a cheap buzz box to get started when I saw this. I ended up walking with it and a couple pounds of old rods and a promise from the guy that as soon as he finds it, he will give me a call to come and pickup the new switch he had bought for the unit, but didn't have time to install.

The son of a gun is heavy as anything for what I was expecting. The guy told me that it's because it's got the old copper core in it. Which from what I've heard is a good thing to have.

So I guess it's a little late to ask but did I get taken for a ride? That and any other advice to someone who is new to welding would be great.

-Dan

[Covforge]

50 Bucks say Thanks you got a good deal
Travis

[jayco]

Newbiesmith.......looks like you got a pretty good deal. I have a Lincoln 225 AC that's about the same vintage as yours. I don't know about your particular model, but a new AC 225 costs $300+.
They're tough old machines.
Oh, by the way, make sure the cooling fan is working!
Good Luck!

[newbiesmith]

Thanks guys. From what I've understand from reading is that with it's vintage and amperage and being a copper core, it doesn't have a cooling fan. I'll need to pop the top and doublecheck. The only noise I hear is a light buzzing from, I believe the transformer.

Unfortunately I've got a little bit of a setback. I just went out to look over the shop/shed and found that there is no 220 outlet out there. My landlord said that he had an old welder he used and it ran off of 220. He used it in his shed back when he was living in the house we are renting off him. I traced a heavy duty wire from the sub-panel out there and found that it ended, hanging on a post, with it’s wires taped over with electrical tape and no box in sight. I am thinking he just grabbed the box and transplanted it to his new house when he moved in there. To say I was more than a little bummed out would be an understatement. But when your getting as nice a house as we have for as cheap a rent as we are then there isn’t really much you can complain about. I will probably be broaching the subject with him in the next couple weeks or so. I’d even be willing to take a stab at wiring the outlet but don’t feel comfortable doing it on someone else’s house.

Alas, it just makes me pick up the real estate books and give them a good look. Which usually educes vomiting and assorted cursing and swearing over the steep housing prices in our area (for what all is in the area).

Anyway thanks a ton guys and I’ll let you know when I get this puppy up and running fulltime.

-Dan

[R Funk]

I do a little digging and find out what happened to the plug.

Is the post outside? Any where near where you want to weld?

Is there a 50 amp breaker in your box?

Do you have any electrical aptitude?

Do you have any freinds with electrical aptitude?

I would not let this stop me.

If it is inside a outlet could be quickly re-installed.

If it is outside the outlet could be installed in a weather tite box and an extension cord run to the garage.

If you have a electric dryer in your house you could make an adapter to adaptor to adapt from the 30 amp dryer circut to a 50 amp plug. This probably would cause some discussion with your local inspector if they find out. But this is probalbly safe as 30 amp breaker will still protect 30 amp wiring to the dryer plug.

A 30 amp breaker will generally hold a Lincoln 180/225 amp unless high amps settings are used. (ask me how I know)

If you are short on cash and not up to spending huge dollars on 50 amp SO cord, you can observe that per the code, #12 AWG Copper THHN is good for either 25 or 30amps (I don't remember which) However it is only good for 20 amps when serving outlets.

I can not recomend that you construct an extension cord made from 2 of 2-12 with ground romex cables to carry 50 amps as this would violate the National Electric Code which does not allow parralleling that small a conductor.

Let us know how this turns out. But don't get in over your head. Electricity can kill and burn down structures.

By the way grat deal on the welder!

[Mills]

Yes that is a good deal. You can put longer leads on the box to reach bigger projects, which I am unable to do with my aluminum core.

I have done as Rfunk suggests and have extension cords that allow me to run from my dryer outlet to the front of the garage. One of the wisest uses of time and money for me to date was to take a code class for home wiring. There were mostly maintenance guys and young wannabe electricians in it. fertile ground indeed. Not only that but I have the Electric codebook and familiarity enough with it that I feel confident on most single phase problems. Pursuing this hobby or vocation means you will be dealing with electric loads more and more.

[ThomasPowers]

Terrible deal; I paid US$40 for my own tombstone---getting close to 10 years ago though. I expect to pass it on to my grandkids someday.

I run mine off the kitchen stove plug via a very heavy extension cord built for it by the previous owner. Usually means that welding has to be planned for when SWMBO is away for a while. I gotta work on getting the shop wired!

[newbiesmith]

Tom was your comment in jest? $40 10 years ago is like $200 now it seems.

-Dan

[Quenchcrack]

Wire it up right. Lowes or Home Depot carries the receptical for the welder: buy two 25 amp breakers and some 6 gage romex. YOu can have it wired up in under an hour for less than $50 and you shouldn't have to worry about a fire in the wall. I have an AC 225 that I am going to sell because I don't want to punch a hole in my brick wall to bring the wires through from the outside of the garage. What were they thinking?

[steve sells]

Originally Posted by R Funk

<snip>
If you are short on cash and not up to spending huge dollars on 50 amp SO cord, you can observe that per the code, #12 AWG Copper THHN is good for either 25 or 30amps (I don't remember which) However it is only good for 20 amps when serving outlets.
<snip>

This is BULL CRAP, it says NO SUCH THING do NOT listen to amatures about electrical; unless you like getting people killed.

#12 copper is rated for 20 amps Max. Period. no exceptions. Many amatures assume that because the NEC chart 310.16 states 25 amps under the insulation rated THHN that is the amperage answer, but that is NOT the rating for Fuse (breaker, same thing) protection. That chart is a starting point of the calculations of voltage drop. #10 is rated for 30 amps. the fuses/breakers are for protecting the wire from over heating and causing a fire. It state this in the fine print at the bottom of the page.

I have had too many jobs replacing burnt wiring from people guessing they can do it them selves. If you have to ask then Hire a professional.

Also beleive it or not, If you jury rig your own stuff, and there IS a fire because of it, not only can you be sued by any one injured, but the Insurance company MAY refuse to pay for "not to code wiring practice". That is why contractor's carry Liability Insurance, because property insurance by the owner does not cover mistakes by installers.


Do what you want to, But I get mad when I see people pretendung to know electrical codes. even tho they may mean well.

and I think QuenchCrask meant a double 50 amp breaker NOT 2 25 amps breakers. I amso know typos when I see them, as I make many of those.

Florida Block rated Master Electrician
IBEW LU# 305 JIW