Welding Experts!

[T-top87GN]

Hey guys!

I have a line on what seems like a REAL nice welder.

It's a Lincoln DC250 with MIG, TIG, and stick. It's single phase and comes with a boom feeder, sticks, and EVERYTHING.

I mean EVERYTHING! except the foot pedal attachment for the TIG.

Guy is asking $800 for the whole setup including the table.

This sounds a little too good to be true, I know. But I went an checked it out today. I need to go back and hook it up to check it out.

Anything I should look out for? Is this really way to good to be true or what?

 

[blackplague]

good welder, but

What are your intentions for it? The reason i ask is, that machine is a DC only welder. That means you'll only be able to weld steels. Aluminum \ Magnesium will be out of the question, unless you can get a spool gun attachment {for mig welding aluminum}.

I also believe that in tig mode that will be a scratch start {like a match stick} because it lacks a frequency module to get the arc started.

 

[T-top87GN]

Oh ok. So if I did want to do any fine aluminum work I would need a diferent setup. Ok

Well, I just wanted to be able to fix just about anything, but still have stuff to play around with I guess. I really want to learn to tig but from what you are saying, I am gonna need a diferent machine.

I would like a machine that could stick and mig. That was I have a choice.

I guess about the heaviest stuff I will be doing is frame work on cars. I figured I would want a stick welder for that.

Do you have anything you recommend that won't cost me an arm and a leg?

I'm trying to save up for a paint job for my car, but I know I am going to be doing some welding and figured this was a good a time as any to get a welder.

Gimme the lowdown on what you know! I'm all ears!

 

[blackplague]

For aluminum work

you can go two ways. 1. Mig weld it. There are plenty of newer mig machines that can cange over to aluminum {either a spool gun attachment or a mig gun liner change w\ new drive rollers}. The only real draw backs to mig welding aluminum is bead appearance and you won't be really able to do real thin sheet aluminum. You'll also be able to do your frame work.

2. Tig weld it. Tig welding is about control. I've welded aluminum radiator tubes that were clipped lightly by a fan blade with no problems to aluminum cylinder heads with combustion chambers blown out of them. If they make a filler rod for it, it can be welded with tig. Tig welding power sources also have the ability to stick weld. The problems with tig are the learning curve, inital cost of the machine, time it takes to weld {tig is a slow process}.

I wish they made a all in one machine too, but it's all trade off's.

I like either lincoln or miller welders. Ebay is a good source to look for newer used welders. Local auctions are another good place to find stuff.

 

[T-top87GN]

Thanks for the info Mike.

I guess I'll just be starting with a MIG welder. I know the TIG stuff is expensive. I can practice on one of the TIG welders we have here at work. I guess eventually I would like to own my own TIG setup but that is just not in my near future right now.

Also, thanks for your product suggestions. I'm going to talk to a couple of the guy here at work that buy the welders for the assembly lines and see what kind of an employee discount they can give me on a new unit.

 

[blackplague]

For the 800.

The dc250 is a great deal, especially with all the extra's. I don't think you could go wrong. there is your mig welder and a stick welder right there. You can still play with tig with that welder, it just won't be aluminum.

Find out what the amp draw of the machine is before purchasing to make sure your house service can handle it.

When your ready to tig aluminum, The miller dynasty 200 and the lincoln invatec 205v are awesome. The thermal tech 200 inverter is a good choice too.