Craigslist score - AC/DC stick welder

[EuropaChris]

So I had some time on my hands Thursday afternoon....and I was sitting on the sofa with the laptop and the dog next to me looking around on Craigslist. My "buzzbox" is AC only, and I've read about the "joy" of DC stick welding. But, I really don't have that much welding to do and I can't justify buying a new welder just to have DC. I didn't expect to find much on Craigslist because as we all know, most stick welders for sale are usually AC only.

Low and behold, I came across one only an hour's drive away - a 230 amp AC/ 140 amp DC Dayton welder. Didn't have cables, but that's no problem since I already have a set. I just needed another set of lead plugs since I wanted to keep my "custom" set for the Marquette's non-standard size - $22 for the pair. I brought my DVM along to check the welder outputs and it was fine. Sold.

Price - $108.

It was made in 1988, assembled in Mexico, and aluminum wound. Nicely built unit, but not as solid as the Marquette. Haven't lit an arc yet, but that's next.

First picture is the Marquette. It's pretty f-ugly, but works fine. It was a lot worse before I stripped it down and cleaned it up. Second pic is the Dayton. It's really clean. I'm rather pleased, hopefully it welds as good as it looks. I'll have to build a cart/running gear for it, so that will give me a nice project to weld.

Chris

 

[EuropaChris]

Update: Tried a few rods tonight with some various settings. The welder has an interesting setup of "high voltage-low current" and "low voltage-high current" taps, and recommends the low voltage mode for 6013. It does seem to make a difference even when both modes are set to the same current (of course who knows if the setting marks are accurate). I had a lot more success running 7018AC on AC tonight, but still need practice on that particular rod. The Marquette welder won't run it worth poop.

Then I tried DC. Ummm, WOW! I ran some 6011 on DC+ and I was amazed at the penetration and heat I was putting into the 1/4" plate. The arc practically started itself, was quieter, and much less spatter. Totally different welding experience. It seems that unless I need more than the 140 amp capacity of the machine on DC, I'll not be using AC anytime soon.

 

[dstig1]

Oooo. Nice score, but I'm goign to have to 1-up you I got a Lincoln tombstone AC/DC including cables plus a stack of rods (7014, 6011, 6013 and some 7018 that is probably worthless as it was sitting out) that totaled 7-8 lbs of rods, plus a weld shield, and a cheapo autodarkening weld shield, and 50' of 8/3 extension cord for the welder all for $150 on a CL sale last week. It needed a bit of work to clean up things like the cord connection and blowing out dust, but that was no more than 30 min of time and zero dollars. Plus I needed to wire an outlet in for it. That's a good problem to have

That was the steal of the century! Haven't tried it yet as I have nothing to weld on right now and other projects are taking all my time, but it powers up fine. Hopefully this week I can get to running it.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Use the high voltage, low current setting for the 6010/ 6011's. That'll help burn those better.

 

[EuropaChris]

Definitely nice score on that tombstone! The Dayton only had like 6' of cord out the back and no plug, but the Marquette had (I'm not kidding) at least 50' of 8/3, if not 75'. I don't know who put that much on it, but it was way way more than I needed. I just cut it in half and left the Marquette end bare and wired in the other half of cord/plug up to the Dayton. Voila.

Mark - you are correct - I tried the 6011 on the low voltage side and it did not run nearly as well, and vice versa for the 6013.

My next project will be welding up the base for the boiler/stoker project and that will be some 1/8" angle and 14ga. sheet. I'm thinking some 6013 3/32" rod on DC will be the schiznit!

 

[dstig1]

Yeah, it's really cool what you can find on CL sometimes, but you gotta be quick. I just happened to be home and looking and caught this one within 30 min of posting. By the time I got there, the guy said 3 other people had called and a couple said they could beat me there, even! But he stuck to his word, which was cool.

Have fun with your new welders!

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I think you could hook a 6013 up to an electric fence charger and it would run nice. But now is the time to go by and pick up a small pack of 6010 5P and give them a try...If it will run good with it, then you have a great machine.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think you could hook a 6013 up to an electric fence charger and it would run nice.

:laughing::laughing::drink:
larry

 

[EuropaChris]

I think you could hook a 6013 up to an electric fence charger and it would run nice. But now is the time to go by and pick up a small pack of 6010 5P and give them a try...If it will run good with it, then you have a great machine.

I'll have to find a source of the 5P. The local welding shop carried some brand of rods I didn't recognize out on the floor display. I didn't ask if they carried any "real" rods - but I'll call them and see if they have it in anything less than 50# cans. I get Hobart rods from Farm and Fleet, and they carry a pretty nice selection - don't recall if I saw any 6010 there, tho.

 

[luscsmith]

Then I tried DC. Ummm, WOW! I ran some 6011 on DC+ and I was amazed at the penetration and heat I was putting into the 1/4" plate. The arc practically started itself, was quieter, and much less spatter. Totally different welding experience. It seems that unless I need more than the 140 amp capacity of the machine on DC, I'll not be using AC anytime soon.[/QUOTE]

I bought a lincoln 225 a/c 30+ years ago to stick things together with. I used what ever rod was laying around damp, greasy or whatever and I was able to stick things together. About 5 years ago I bougt a 325 miller ac/dc hf, when I struck my first arc on dc I thought da** I can weld. I still do not have it mastered but will keep trying.

Scott