AC 225 said: (quoted from post at 22:17:20 04/16/11) According to Lincoln the AC 225's have never had copper wires so there's no such thing as a more desireable one. They were always a low end AC machine with 20% duty cycle. There was/is an AC 225 "S" machine that is smaller and has less duty cycle though. The AC 225's are better than some other low end AC machines though. $140 with the other stuff is about the going rate. The machine alone typically sells for around $100 used. The one in the picture looks like it has larger size and longer cables which would cost a little bit to buy if you had to buy them. It was a good price, not a steal though. It will compliment a smaller MIG machine.
Agreed that the Lincoln AC225 never had true copper windings. Some of the older AC225 were copper clad inside which fooled people into thinking real copper.
Disagree on your duty cycle statement: The duty cyle is actually 100% on the older AC225 like pictured at the 75 amp setting (reason why it is circled) and 20% at every other setting. I can only assume the newer AC225's are the same but do not know for sure. Regardless, many welders have welded with total disregard to duty cycle and never hurt these units - darn near indestructable.
As for price paid: They go for $75-$150 on Craigslist for the AC only units. The cheaper ones are usually very rough. You did okay as your welder looks clean and you got some extras to boot. Plus, I would rather have one of the older AC225's like yours than a brand new one anyway as many people do claim the older ones work better. Your welder will never depreciate lower than it is now so you will never lose any money on it. It will still be working for your grandkids.
If all you currently have is a mig welder, then this welder is worth keeping around even if you never even use it to weld. Add a Twin Carbon Arc torch to it (make for free or buy cheap) and you have an almost free source of intense heat to bend metal, braze, silver solder, flame fill weld, etc. Twin Carbon arc can be used flameless style to heat frozen nuts which is great for paint sensitive areas. Twin carbon arc actually can burn up to 1000 degrees hotter than oxy/acetylene without the cost of buying tanks and expensive gas. Twin Carbon arc works best on AC power too. Twin carbon arc will NOT cut metal, but you can use your AC225 to cut metal or pierce holes by simply sticking 6011 in the stinger and crankin up the amps. Granted cuts will not be plasma quality, but perfect for backyard shop. Hard to find a lower cost way to cut metal.
So for $140 you got a welder that will more than likely outlive you. Can actually do more than weld alone since it can be used to heat metal or to cut metal as well. Plus you got one of the more desirable older units that may actually work better than a brand new one. In short, you did quite okay. I have an older AC225 just like yours pictured and a Lincoln SP-135 Mig welder. If I could have only one welder it would be the AC225. I can simply do more with it and do it cheaper too.
This post was edited by rankrank1 at 16:22:28 04/16/11 3 times.
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