AC-DC Miller Thunderbolt Welder

ecbaatz · May 18, 2015

I found a posting on craig's list for a AC-DC Miller Thunderbolt welder. The seller is asking $300 for it. It sounds like a good price as new on line is $653. But my question is, is this a good welder and even better is the price reasonable?

Welder-AC-DC Miller Thunderbolt

Thanks for the help,

Eric

k0ua · May 18, 2015

ecbaatz said:
I found a posting on craig's list for a AC-DC Miller Thunderbolt welder. The seller is asking $300 for it. It sounds like a good price as new on line is $653. But my question is, is this a good welder and even better is the price reasonable?

Welder-AC-DC Miller Thunderbolt

Thanks for the help,

Eric

I have never welded with one, but I have heard they are pretty decent. You have continuous control of current instead of steps that are often too cold or too hot.

Fawken · May 19, 2015

I think everyone on this forum has a stick machine. I'm not familiar with that one so I would ask what is the max amperage output? Most of my stick weld projects are on 12ga steel and thicker so I use around 130A- 175A most often, but it's good to have 200A or more available for heavy implement repair. So, I guess it depends on if you'll do more sheet metal work or heavy fabricating like building trailer frames etc.

grsthegreat · May 19, 2015

I bought a new one a few years ago. Wonderful machine.

skylarkguy · May 19, 2015

I like mine...it does what i need it to do. I replaced the cooling fan in mine but other than that it has had no problems. I paid 1/3 the price they are asking...bit mine looks uglier than that one.

ecbaatz · May 21, 2015

Thank you all for the replies. I will have to go look at it.

stihlman · May 29, 2015

I'm sure they are great welders and will serve you well. I might suggest if you don't purchase the Thunderbolt is to watch Craigslist or your local sources for a used Miller Dialarc 250 or Lincoln Idealarc 250, these are truly commercial grade machines that can be had in the $400-$600 range used and will literally last a lifetime. They will run fine on a 50 amp service if you have that available. I just bought a 1960 Lincoln Idealarc 250 recently that looked rough cosmetically but welded great. Just a suggestion

Big Barn · May 29, 2015

stihlman said:
I'm sure they are great welders and will serve you well. I might suggest if you don't purchase the Thunderbolt is to watch Craigslist or your local sources for a used Miller Dialarc 250 or Lincoln Idealarc 250, these are truly commercial grade machines that can be had in the $400-$600 range used and will literally last a lifetime. They will run fine on a 50 amp service if you have that available. I just bought a 1960 Lincoln Idealarc 250 recently that looked rough cosmetically but welded great. Just a suggestion

I agree. I recently picked up an Idealarc 250-250 with 50' leads for $$300.
It welds really nice. It's currently one of my restoration projects.
Here's a pic of it after pressure washing.

Terry

Shield Arc · May 29, 2015

I think you could drop those Idealarcs out of an airplane, and they would still work. Only thing I've ever heard that seems to go wrong with them. Is the on / off switch goes out, but generally not for the first 100-years.:laughing:
I have a 1937 Idealarc 300, still welds like a dream!:cool2:

Fawken · May 29, 2015

Restoring a welder in the age of throw-away-n-buy-new. Well have you ever hand re-wound the stator on a 1976 Craftsman 10" Radial Arm Saw? Was my favorite shop tool and the new ones are crud.