Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000???

   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #21  
another thought.
ask them to fire one up while you watch. That many welders someone there must know something about welding.

That is a very good assumption but I would not count on it.
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000???
  • Thread Starter
#22  
Update: Went by there today. It's at a local industrial park... they do some kind of metal fabricating (I think for building structures)

They've got about 10 of them left. I asked what's the deal on them, he said they had another manufacturing plant in Nevada that they were closing down. They had a project (I think in California) and the trucks were coming back empty so over the last couple weeks/months, they stop by Nevada and pick things up to bring them here.

He said he has (and I saw)

Probably a dozen DeWalt chop saws
10 of these welders, the ones left are "about" $800/900 and come without any attachments (no ground, gun, they MIGHT have a plug...)

They have a pallet of MIG wire with the core (my apologies that I don't knoiw the correct terms) He said they refuse to use this at this plant because it's indoors and this wire creates a TON of smoke so he's getting rid of boxes and boxes and BOXES of it (I saw them) He said they're about 50% off normal pricing.

They have a materials handler, I saw it working. Said they have again, "tons" of something, I really don't recall what he called it but it's either the materiaL that they use to make their product, it might be some of the tools to make the product....

None the less.... he said they have tons and tons of stuff and this is just the beginning.

I can't speak to any of the material they have there but this is legit and I had my eyes on everything I mentioned above "as of today"
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #23  
I wonder why they have ground leads and whips removed. Almost like they wanted to deliberately disable them for use.

Perhaps they did that to discourage resale?
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #24  
Kind of strange. Any place I know of that does production welding, wouldn't have an army of basically pro-sumer grade welders.

We have used such lower scale welders, in non production areas, stripped of guns, and using a boom mounted, high quality feeder. Maybe that's how they were used.
 
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   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #25  
Personally I would only consider buying one if I could try it out.



You could end up with a pretty good unit for a fair price OR a boat anchor with new whip, work cable and power cord.
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #26  
Kind of strange. Any place I know of that does production welding, wouldn't have an army of basically pro-sumer grade welders.

We have used such lower scale welders, in non production areas, stripped of guns, and using a boom mounted, high quality feeder. Maybe that's how they were used.

I’ve never experienced any type of industrial setting but that would make sense.
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000???
  • Thread Starter
#27  
He offered to take one inside and fire it up.

He told me this is a heavy duty welder for THEIR needs.... meaning, they take (I have no idea of exactly what they're doing but based on a picture I saw of what I think is one of their projects....)

They take sheet metal (aluminum?) and do LONG line welds on it.... essentially making metal studs, maybe I-beams or something. None the less, he said they use these welders because it lets them.... dang... my lack of knowledge again.... it lets them do more "service weld" with them... meaning, they can take a single weld down the metal for (let's say) 40 feet WITHOUT giving the welder a rest. If they used a smaller welder, then they'd have to give it a break more often.

Sorry that I don't know all the terms but I freely admit my ignorance!!

Anyway, they are doing thin metal welds. I think he said they have them plugged into 30 amp circuits. On the lid, it will go down to (I forget) thickness and up to 1/2" thickness. They use it for the thinner stuff.

I don't really know why they pulled the leads off of them. I didn't ask. If I had to speculate, I'd wonder if those are wear items (??) and if so, maybe they're just keeping them because they know they'll need them (??)

He told me that the motor drive that pulls/pushes the MIG wire is the main thing to look at.... the lessor expensive units, that drive unit was pretty worn... he showed me one unit telling me that the drive unit on this was essentially brand new. Slap the leads on it power it up and you'd have essentially a brand new machine for about 50% of new cost. (I have no idea how accurate or reasonable that may be..... he might have viewed me as shark bait to push something on since I know so little)

Called my brother in law (he's done underwater welding after Katrina according to my wife) anyway, he said I should stay away... just get a DC stick welder and as it happens their OTHER brother has a Miller "Big Blue 400" diesel powered welder. I think it has something like 5,200 hours on meter. He's trying to sell it for $5,000 but said he'd sell it to me for $2,500.

I've had this welder at my house and my other friend used it for me. My friend loved it, said it was a fantastic machine AND, I can use it as a backup generator....which I like the idea of.

My wife thinks it's "redneck clutter" to have that parked out here.....so I'm still working that angle.

Since I know nothing about welders, I'll put it here...

What are your thoughts?

One of these Lincolns, call it $900, plus leads, plus populating it with wire verses my brother in laws trailer mounted Miller 400 for $2,500?

The Miller starts up "right now" and runs smooth as a kittens purr. Came from the rental place, Action? that uses green as their main color scheme. It has been painted OVER the green to go back to the blue.


p.jpg
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #28  
I am unable to offer advice on which would suit your needs best but I am impressed with your experience with the seller.
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000???
  • Thread Starter
#29  
Heck, even "I" can't figure out what suits my needs....

To be a bit more serious.... this is more of a curiosity for me (though the generator has some serious practical value out here)

Anyway, today for example, I need to weld the little "trailer jack stand" back onto my 15' flexwing mower so I can remove it and let it stand on its own. I'm going to weld a SECOND attachment (for same jack) so I can remove jack when it's on tractor and just tuck it out of the way. I've got a couple odds/ends on my (industrial) backhoe that can use to be fixed/welded. I'm living for example, with NO backhoe lock that keeps it from drooping. Well....I don't care. When I park machine, I simply lower to ground so it's not as big of a deal.... but I WOULD like to fix it if I could.

Wife wants to make some metal stairway to go to a room that she's not yet built.... (sigh).... the proverbial stairway to heaven.

Do any of these justify buying a welder?? Not in most reasonable minds. But, if I can find a bargain....I'd like to learn....so why not.

Again, if I had the generator....that's bonus material there as we once had my wife's niece (daughter of brother in law who's done underwater welding) .... she stayed with us for a week. She's 25 years old....but, a special needs gal. in a wheelchair and has health issues.

Don't you know the VERY day she was dropped off, it snowed and we lost power for an entire week. Fortunately my other brother in law (with the Miller) brought a different generator over, wired it up to my box (he's an electrician) AND we killed the main breaker taking us off the grid.

Anyway, we were able to hobble through this week of in home camping with the generator keeping things going as we rotated through washer/dryer, well pump, water heater, dish washer.......

So I kind of view the benefits of a generator high enough to totally erase any aesthetic issues my wife might have about one..... but....there's the issue of peace in the house.... so she's not on board yet.
 
   / Lincoln Power MIG 256 for under $1,000??? #30  
the Big D400 Miller would be a great production outdoor machine. Used several and they were great.
Way over kill for just having around. Not sure how it would do on light duty material. fuel guzzler also.

The other one would be a good indoor all around machine. low to no maintenance. takes up way less room. much quieter as well.

I would still ask the seller if you could take it to a welding store and have them check it out.
 

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