The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Need Stick Welder Advice

I've got a great Lincoln Mig Welder for use on my Stovebolts, but we bought a farm last year and I need to weld some pipe fences and other items on the farm. I've wired the shop there with a 50 Amp 220V circuit for use with an arc welder. I need recommendations here. Hobart, Lincoln, etc. AC or AC/DC. Used or new. My budget is $275-375. I got a unit from Harbor Freight that turned out to DOA, so HF is definitely out. I can get a new Lincoln AC 225 from local Home Depot for $269 or a Hobart Stickmate 235 for $248 from TSC. Do I really need an AC/DC Welder for farm use? Any advice appreciated.

I have an old Miller that dates back to the early 70s,think the price was $95. back then. it still works as new. Several of my friends have the Lincoln ACs that work very well also.Going for a new one today I would definitly go with the Miller,because Lincoln now uses alluminum transformers,whereas Miller still uses Copper ones.

Let me add a little more. An AC welder is fine for most flat welding withn the proper welding rods.However if you are planning on doing a lot of vertical up or overhead welding you should definitly go with a DC welder.Of course that involves more money.

i would go used and get one that looks like new and get a ac/dc some people get them and never use them

my old Lincoln buzzbox works great. I use it all the time and I've also got a Lincoln MIG.

These old buzzboxes last forever.

I bought my Lincoln AC welder used back in 1986 and its still going strong. Back then I paid 100 bucks at a yard sale.

I was looking at a Lincoln buzzbox that an old fisherman had here..it was as old as the hills, pretty beat looking and still going strong.

I wonder when that little welder was first built by Lincoln..I bet more than a few are still in use. They kept the fisheries going here.

Those old Lincoln buzboxes were just great.A friend of mine bought his around 1960.When I started loking for a welder they sold for $85. new.Now most of the Lincoln stuff has been cheapened up, Alluminum coils,etc.What I liked about the Miller when I got mine was the infinite amp control.

I also have an old Lincoln 225 AC that I bought new around 1977 and it still works great.

I haven't tried my new Miller 180 Mig yet. It's been way too cold out, and I still have to finish wiring my garage.

John

I learned on a Lincoln 225 AC/DC, since I don't have any electric out in the barn now, I'm using an old gasoline portable I picked up a few years ago. I've got an ancient Marquette(spelling) that I'll hook up after I get the barn wired. It looks to be in good condition for it's age, and it was free LOL.

I scored a Miller AE-AD200 portable with 50ft leads for $400 a couple of years ago...

I've got a 30 year old Forney welder still going strong. Hit a few farm sales/auctions and see if you can get lucky,
Scott

i got my linclon welder from a friend who was moving and got it for only 20 bucks it works and ive found that a 30 amp circut was adequate for regular welding the lincoln welder is a plugin and the old/new to ne welder im getting from a friend is gasoline and decades before my time i agree that welding overhead is easier with dc and my suggestion is to invest in a good book on rods if you dont already have one and buy yourself some 7018 for some fun in the future be safe and dont look directly in the arc without a hood and have fun

I would go with AC/DC if able just to have the option. It has been my experience that whenever I short myself because I never see me using some option on a piece of equipment I find after a while that I should have gone ahead and got it. If you opt for an AC only model make sure you get that book on rods and know which ones will work for AC and which are DC only. Every number on those rods mean something and you need to know what it is for the best results.

For a farm, I think I would throw out that budget. If you want to weld fence, it can be difficult at times to bring the fence to the welder. You're going to pay a little more, OK a lot more, but it will be more useful by far. If the power goes out or you need 120/220 temporary power anywhere on your farm, you've got it. You can weld anywhere on the farm or even at a friends. Someone on this forum bought this engine powered Hobart several years ago and loved it.
Hobart gas powered

For myself, I would look around for a used one or preferably a Lincoln. My neighbor needed to raise and lengthen his car port to accommodate his new motorhome. I have an old Craftsman 220V sputter box and a Lincoln TIG, also 220V and couldn't help him. I don't have a 120' 220V extension. His brother came by with a Lincoln Ranger 8 and he was in business.

Clint: If your looking at overhead or vertical welds with a stick, DC is hard to beat, although it can be done with practice using AC. We have an old Miller AC, still a good welder, and a 80's era Century AC,DC. We use the Century all the time as most of the implement manufacturers use higher carbon steels and a DC welder works good on them, (Low hydrogen rods) One thing I would look for though is infinitly variable output as the presets on the cheaper ones are never quite right for the heat you need. Look around at farm sales etc. a good 30 year old Lincoln or Miller is usually a good buy. They used copper wound transformers and large diodes with heat sinks, made to last forever. They usually have a better duty cycle than the newer ones do to.