New (to me) Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC

[GManBart]

I'm still working on my "ugly beads" from the thread by that name, and as I noted there, was tired of listening to the engine on my Hobart Champion Elite every time I wanted to weld something, so I picked up an Everlast PowerArc 200ST. I'm probably going to be loaning the 200ST to my father for a while because he's got a TIG project coming up, so I was keeping my eye on Craigslist for a decent AC/DC stick machine to take it's place until I get it back. This showed up on CL late yesterday, and I sent the guy a text...it was still available, so I ran by there today and brought it home with me.

1996 Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC with a set of leads, a new 200 amp electrode holder, a little cart with wheels, and about 35lbs of fresh 1/8" Lincoln Excalibur 7018 all for $200. I think I would have bought it even if I wasn't planning to loan out my 200ST.....seemed like that good of a deal. When I got there I found out the guy was getting out of the welding business and selling all but one of his welders. He had it all set up, with a nice piece of 1" thick steel, so we ran a couple of beads with it, and it seemed to work just fine. I've heard these are pretty bullet proof, so I'm not too worried. Anyway, here's a quick pic since we all love pics!

 

[Shield Arc]

I think you could drop those welders out of an airplane, and they would still work:laughing:. This one is almost 40-years old, and still welds like the day it was new.

I've had this Tig rig for about 3-years, so far it has been great!
WP 26V 25R 25' 2Amp Air Cooled w Gas Valve TIG Welding Torch Ready to Go Kit | eBay

 

[GManBart]

I had to give it a try....grabbed some scrap, a 1/8" ESAB Atom Arc 7018, set her on 100amps and let it burn

Not too terrible for the first rod on a new machine...

 

[Shield Arc]

Man oh man have you improved!:thumbsup: Or is it the new welder? Nothing in the world wrong with that weld!

 

[GManBart]

Man oh man have you improved!:thumbsup: Or is it the new welder? Nothing in the world wrong with that weld!

Thanks! All of you kind folks who have commented and provided advice here have made all the difference in the world! That, and I'm stubborn, so it's a good combination :laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

Now you are ready for vertical up hill with 7018!

 

[George2615]

Nice find on that welder and your welds look very good. I bought my Solar brand (lincoln) AC/DC welder at a flea market a couple years ago. Sure is a lot quieter than firing up the Miller Bobcat 250.

 

[stuckmotor]

My first welder was an AC only Thunderbolt. Same color as yours but branded Liquid Air. It had the ground tap and a high frequency and a low frequency tap. I think that's how the salesman explained it someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
The low frequency tap welded better but stopped at maybe 140 amps. I started out without a cutting torch so to cut, I plugged onto the high frequency tap, wound it up to max amps, heated the metal, and pushed the electrode thtough until I'd hacked my way tjrough a very ugly cut. For me the biggest headache was turning the crank to change settings. It welded good.
Enjoy yours,
Stuck

 

[Furu]

Now you are ready for vertical up hill with 7018!

SA
Did you do that with a VU weave? Looks more like a VU stringer. You told me your hand was not that stable anymore. Looks to me like it was plenty stable.

 

[Arc weld]

That machine looks like new and your welding has really improved. Turn the heat a bit and it will perfect. You got a good deal. Just watch that Shield Arc guy, he'll have you doing 6" pipe in the 6G position and making us all look like hacks.

 

[Furu]

.... making us all look like hacks.

You never. The rest of us well.................we are trying to get better.

 

[Shield Arc]

SA
Did you do that with a VU weave? Looks more like a VU stringer. You told me your hand was not that stable anymore. Looks to me like it was plenty stable.

Just a little side to side motion. Pausing on the sides until the puddle fills. I think that weld was done with the PowerArc 300.
Hey I get lucky every once in a while!

 

[RickB]

I bought a Thunderbolt AC/DC a few years ago. I'm very happy with it.

 

[GManBart]

That machine looks like new and your welding has really improved. Turn the heat a bit and it will perfect. You got a good deal. Just watch that Shield Arc guy, he'll have you doing 6" pipe in the 6G position and making us all look like hacks.

Thanks! I thought it was a bit cold, but not terrible for a newbie guessing at settings on a new machine (or any machine really)

No way I'll ever make you guys look like hacks, but I would like to get to the point where a good welder will look at my work and not laugh!

 

[Shield Arc]

I would like to get to the point where a good welder will look at my work and not laugh!

You are already there!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Sure that weld could wet out a little more. Turning up the AMPs would help. Or if you had arc force, turning it down will wet out a weld.

 

[GManBart]

Now you are ready for vertical up hill with 7018!

Did somebody say vertical up hill with 7018?

I was pressed for time, but I had to at least do a quick trial....I think this was too cold, and there's also some undercut. I really haven't spent time on vertical up hill, but I'm going to soon!

I learned something while doing this bead. I thought I was getting burn through, but it was actually what seemed like a reflective dark spot (if that makes sense) forward and to the sides of the puddle....it looked like a hole was opening up, but it wasn't. Because of that I wasn't filling in the edges and got the undercut, and I didn't notice what was really happening until right at the end.

If anything, this is a great lesson that you absolutely need to have a decent mask where you can see what's going on!

 

[Shield Arc]

Not bad at all! Like you said, need to hold the outside edges just a little longer, to get more fill.

 

[jack707]

Go Side To Side And hold on the edges a few sec. Then move on.

 

[GManBart]

Go Side To Side And hold on the edges a few sec. Then move on.

I did some side to side, but didn't hold the edges long enough. I was going to do another, but was out of cut pieces of scrap, and it was dinnertime

 

[jack707]

Try counting 1 1 thousand 2 1 thousand