Dayton welder 3Z564 ????

[John White]

Does any one know any thing about this welder. I have a chance to get it pretty reasonable. Question is I have had 2 or 3 AC DC welders and all of them are about 30 to 40% less on DC. This one says 250 amd AC or DC.DAYTON Welder, AC/DC - Arc Welders - 3Z564|3Z564 - Grainger Industrial Supply

[mjncad]

Since Grainger's website says it's no longer available, I assume you are looking at a closeout unit or a used one. Unless the price is too good to pass up; I'd rather apply the money towards a Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart where getting parts and service if need be is pretty easy. I have no idea who made this welder for Grainger/Dayton.

[John White]

Some say it is made by Century. I never seen a Century look like that. I had a Miller Thunder bolt. I got a good offer on it and bought a Sear AC DC. It welds better than the Miller. Older one pretty heavy. I think Century made the same welder for Montogmery ward. Most small welders are 235 amp on AC and around 140 0n DC. This one is 250 on AC & DC.

[Shield Arc]

I think someone here told me this one is made by Century too.

[Tractor Seabee]

I think someone here told me this one is made by Century too.

That one looks just like my Wards unit. It works great on DC except have to watch the duty cycle when wide open (where I am most of the time). I run 5/32 6010 on heavy material with no problem.

Ron

[John White]

I think someone here told me this one is made by Century too.

That is exactly like my Sears. They made them for Wards too, I am sure of. I like it better than the Miller Thunderbolt I had

[Shield Arc]

I can't say I've ever run a Miller Thunderbolt, in fact not sure I've ever seen one in person.
Yeah that Montgomery Wards welder has a very nice arc, use to do a lot of Tig welding with it too.

[John White]

Well, I finally had a snow day and went and looked at it. The fellow was asking $200. It is brand new. He bought it a few years back and never used it. I finally got him down to $170. When I got home I took the case apart to just look inside. It looks to be very well made and very heavy copper wound. As a rule most arc welders seem to work for years without brakeing down. I havent had time to do any welding with it yet but if it welds as good as the Sears and as Shield Arc says his Wards does, I will be happy. I use to think a welder was a welder but it seems like some of them will have a smooth arc and others will not. I remember years ago I had a 20th century 180 amp, ac only and it seemed to really weld good for a AC. I wanted a little heaiver welder and run on to a 240amp 20th cenntury and I never could weld a good bead. I know that alot of it is in the guy doing the welding. I had a old Miller a few years ago I think it was around a 300 amp and weighed about 250 lbs. I was welding up some teeth on a backhoe and bulding up the cutting edge on a dozer blade and it was just like spreading butter, it welded so smooth. After I was done with the job, I just didnt need a welder that big (I should have kept it) a fellow come along that was doing alot of heavy welding and he said he burnt 2 or 3 Linclons up, and offered me $100 more than I paid for it. I had a Miller Thunderbolt for awhile. I dont think they put a heavy enough fan in it because after welding a short time it would shut down. Fan never seemed move that much air ( yes I checked the fan) compared to other weldeers I have had.