Thoughts on this used welder?

[k0ua]

Well, guys, I have done a lot of reading about the difference between stick welders and flux-core welders, and bottom line: it seems to me like this Ward AC/DC stick welder is a heck of a deal at that price, whereas I don't see much in the way of flux-core welders in the same price range, never mind the same apparent value-for-money. When I search around, it seems like people are asking $100-150 for AC-only stick welders in similar amp ranges. I checked this evening, and the Ward AC/DC I linked to above is still available a week later, so I bet I can get the guy to take a little less than $100 for it. But even if he sticks at $100, it seems like a real steal and I think I will go for it. What do y'all think?

I also thought through the 220-volt issue, and I realized that the concrete pad behind my house would probably be perfect for welding. It's flat if I need to square up anything big; it's enclosed on three sides (leads to a daylight basement) so nobody will be inadvertently exposed to the arc; there's nothing flammable nearby, like there is in my barn/wood shop; and best of all, it is RIGHT by the electric meter and main service panel, so if I one day want to put an outdoor-rated 220 receptacle in, there should be absolutely minimal wiring. Maybe I'll have the electrician put in the generator transfer switch while I'm at it...

I say buy the AC/DC welder, as long as it works, it is a steal at 100. I want more than that for my AC only tombstone. (I don't use it any more after getting my Everlast) Give it a go, and have fun.

James K0UA

 

[joshuabardwell]

I say buy the AC/DC welder, as long as it works, it is a steal at 100. I want more than that for my AC only tombstone. (I don't use it any more after getting my Everlast) Give it a go, and have fun.

You want more than that, like, in terms of output? How thick metal are you working with?

 

[dex3361]

Well, guys, I have done a lot of reading about the difference between stick welders and flux-core welders, and bottom line: it seems to me like this Ward AC/DC stick welder is a heck of a deal at that price, whereas I don't see much in the way of flux-core welders in the same price range, never mind the same apparent value-for-money. When I search around, it seems like people are asking $100-150 for AC-only stick welders in similar amp ranges. I checked this evening, and the Ward AC/DC I linked to above is still available a week later, so I bet I can get the guy to take a little less than $100 for it. But even if he sticks at $100, it seems like a real steal and I think I will go for it. What do y'all think?

I also thought through the 220-volt issue, and I realized that the concrete pad behind my house would probably be perfect for welding. It's flat if I need to square up anything big; it's enclosed on three sides (leads to a daylight basement) so nobody will be inadvertently exposed to the arc; there's nothing flammable nearby, like there is in my barn/wood shop; and best of all, it is RIGHT by the electric meter and main service panel, so if I one day want to put an outdoor-rated 220 receptacle in, there should be absolutely minimal wiring. Maybe I'll have the electrician put in the generator transfer switch while I'm at it...

I welded with an AC only buzz box welder for about 15 years. You will thank yourself a thousand times over for buying the MW AC/DC welder. DC is so much easier to learn with.

 

[dex3361]

You want more than that, like, in terms of output? How thick metal are you working with?

I think he means that his AC welder is worth more than $100 to him and it is AC only. So he is saying your find is a great deal.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I think he means that his AC welder is worth more than $100 to him and it is AC only. So he is saying your find is a great deal.

Oh! I see now.

Well, cross my fingers it's still around tomorrow when I get back in town. Double-cross my fingers I can talk him into taking $80 for it :devil:

 

[k0ua]

You want more than that, like, in terms of output? How thick metal are you working with?

I meant I want more money than $100 for my AC tombstone (it is for sale).. or in other words. the AC/DC machine you are looking at, is a good value, and a more desirable machine, (because of the DC capability) than my AC only machine. After getting my DC machine I had very little interest in welding any more with my AC only machine.. Sure it will weld, and the more experience you have, you can make pretty good looking welds with it. In my opinion a DC welder is a better start for a beginner than an AC only machine. Of course opinions may vary...but that mine.

James K0UA

 

[Shield Arc]

Now you realize that machine is only 140-amps at 20% duty cycle on DC? So this means you're not going to be able to rock & roll with 1/8-inch 7018! 3/32-inch 7018, and 1/8-inch 6010 and 11 yes.
First thing you're gonna want to do when you get that machine home is take some sand paper to the welding lead male lugs that plug into the welder. Maybe take a battery lug wire brush and clean the female ends in the machine too. And I'd pitch that ground clamp! In time you may want to add on to those welding leads, I always use this type of welding lead connector. I have yet to buy these on line, when you add shipping my local welding supplier is always cheaper!

1-WPC Tweco Cable Connector No. 9425-1125 - Buyweld.com

 

[joshuabardwell]

Well, I bought it! Woo hoo! The story he told is that he got it from a buddy of his thinking to learn to weld but never got around to it. Anyway, I asked him if he could lay down a bead for me, just to see it work, and he said he couldn't. He doesn't even have a 220 outlet. But he said if I get it home and it doesn't work, he'll take it back. Only problem is, I don't have a mask or electrodes yet. So... I dunno... can I just, like, tap the two clamps together like jumper cables and see if there's a spark? :shocked: Eh. I'll probably go get the other supplies this weekend.

 

[Shield Arc]

dunno... can I just, like, tap the two clamps together like jumper cables and see if there's a spark? :shocked:

I've done that a few times, but not on purpose!:laughing:

 

[joshuabardwell]

Question: the welder has a 3-prong 50 amp plug. My generator has a 4-prong twist-lock plug. Adapters are pretty dear, but it looks like the welder's plug would come right off with some screws. Can I just buy a 4-prong twist-lock plug and put it on the end of the cable (keeping the 3-prong for when I eventually get 240 service, of course).

 

[k0ua]

I've done that a few times, but not on purpose!:laughing:

Agreed... refrain from doing that at all costs:shocked:.. hey the 50 dollar auto dimming mask from Northern tool is not bad for what it is.. I have one. Granted you can get a non-auto dimming mask for less. BUT.. you will weld SOOO much better and have SO much less frustration with an auto-dimming mask.. as a beginner.

it is much easier to get the idea of striking an arc, if you can actually see...A lot of real pro's I think still weld with fixed glass hoods, but I ain't no pro.. and neither are you. yet..

Wel-Bilt Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet | Welding Helmets| Northern Tool + Equipment

Good luck.
james K0UA

 

[Shield Arc]

Well I'm not a pro either, and I was against the auto hoods for years. Main reason was the cost of the clear cover lenses, and the few I had tried I didn't like the head gear. But I bought a fixed shade auto lens that fits my hood, I couldn't be happier! Good thing I'm not a pro huh?

 

[dex3361]

Question: the welder has a 3-prong 50 amp plug. My generator has a 4-prong twist-lock plug. Adapters are pretty dear, but it looks like the welder's plug would come right off with some screws. Can I just buy a 4-prong twist-lock plug and put it on the end of the cable (keeping the 3-prong for when I eventually get 240 service, of course).

This will work just make sure you trace out which is the ground and which is the neutral. Your welder doesn't use a neutral.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Thanks everybody for your assistance on this. I'd love to post y'all some pictures of my first crappy beads (because I know TBN's policy on photos) but the welder has cleaned out the last of my spending money for a bit. Before I can weld, I'm gonna have to get a 240 supply that can actually plug into the thing, and I'm gonna have to pick up a helmet and other various accessories. It looks like the "swap out the plug" plan isn't going to work. I found a twist-lock connector, but it only takes up to 8 AWG and the welder, if memory serves, is 5 AGW, so I think I would have to actually build a pigtail adapter, which would run around $50. So pictures and further progress will have to wait, but again, thanks so much for the assistance.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Just got an estimate from a local electrician of about $150-175 to put a 240 receptacle in next to my meter. It's just a ballpark, as I didn't want him to come out for a proper quote before I was ready to pull the trigger, but at that price, I don't think I'll fuss around with adapters and pigtails. That's only 3x or so the cost of an adapter or pigtail to let me run the welder off my generator--at half capacity no less. Maybe I can get him to put a transfer panel in for my generator while he's messing around back there.

 

[k0ua]

Just got an estimate from a local electrician of about $150-175 to put a 240 receptacle in next to my meter. It's just a ballpark, as I didn't want him to come out for a proper quote before I was ready to pull the trigger, but at that price, I don't think I'll fuss around with adapters and pigtails. That's only 3x or so the cost of an adapter or pigtail to let me run the welder off my generator--at half capacity no less. Maybe I can get him to put a transfer panel in for my generator while he's messing around back there.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I will be looking forward to you relating your experiences once you get a mask, some supplies, and your power supply set up. You have started down a new path, it will be interesting to follow along with you..

James K0UA

 

[joshuabardwell]

Well, today's task is to take the welder down the road where a distant neighbor has a welding/fabrication shop. I'm going to ask him if he wouldn't mind just plugging it in and running a bead with it to make sure it works. I also have a line on a local guy who has a box of leftover supplies after he got out of welding: hood, jacket, gloves, hammer, a few boxes of rods, and some other misc. stuff. He's asking $40, so even if I can't talk him down a little, it's probably worth it. The helmed isn't auto-darkening, but maybe I can change out the glass or something.

 

[k0ua]

Well, today's task is to take the welder down the road where a distant neighbor has a welding/fabrication shop. I'm going to ask him if he wouldn't mind just plugging it in and running a bead with it to make sure it works. I also have a line on a local guy who has a box of leftover supplies after he got out of welding: hood, jacket, gloves, hammer, a few boxes of rods, and some other misc. stuff. He's asking $40, so even if I can't talk him down a little, it's probably worth it. The helmed isn't auto-darkening, but maybe I can change out the glass or something.

This sounds like a good idea.. check out the machine and the $40 for the supplies sounds good also.. I welded many years without an auto-darkening helmet, and fixed a lot of things, it is just easier with an AD lens. Also perhaps this person that can check out the welder, can help you a little now and then?

James K0UA

 

[joshuabardwell]

This sounds like a good idea.. check out the machine and the $40 for the supplies sounds good also.. I welded many years without an auto-darkening helmet, and fixed a lot of things, it is just easier with an AD lens. Also perhaps this person that can check out the welder, can help you a little now and then?

Yeah. I figure I can always pick up an AD helmet later if I need to. The supplies are probably still worth $40. At least in the beginning, I'm just going to be running beads on scrap, which I suspect is not so critical.

I'm not sure how to establish a relationship with the guy with the fab shop. I talked to him a bit over the phone once about doing some welding work, and he was kind of short and gruff. That's probably just a phone thing, but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable asking him for instruction. I'm sure if the price was right, he'd do it though.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah. I figure I can always pick up an AD helmet later if I need to. The supplies are probably still worth $40. At least in the beginning, I'm just going to be running beads on scrap, which I suspect is not so critical.

I'm not sure how to establish a relationship with the guy with the fab shop. I talked to him a bit over the phone once about doing some welding work, and he was kind of short and gruff. That's probably just a phone thing, but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable asking him for instruction. I'm sure if the price was right, he'd do it though.

Well a lot of professional tradesmen can come off as a little gruff at first. Sometimes it is because a lot of people try to take advantage of them, by wanting something they have to offer for free, or a "brother in law" price. See if you can become friends with him, maybe offer to do something for him, or bring donuts, beer or lunch or something.. A lot of times these ole "curmudgeons" can lighten up a lot, once he gets to know you a little better. Sometimes they can get downright friendly, when they see that you are a "giver not just a taker". Good luck on that front, but it is worth trying, as it can take years off of the learning curve to have someone to show you how to do things instead of just having to learn it all on your own.
Good luck with it all..

James K0UA