LINCOLN 225

[DXN1EL]

Hello everyone. :newhere: and so far, I love this forum.!

I am currently searching :reading: for my first welder :cool2:

I really like the Lincoln 225 (some called "TOMBSTONE") is really sharp looking welder.
AC-225 and AC/DC 225/125 Stick Welders | Lincoln Electric

Don't Know what model to chose :banghead:

What is the difference? (A/C D/C)

Any help is appreciated

 

[Arc weld]

Look at an inverter from Everlast or longevity. Way better machine and about half the price. You want DC current. Much easier to weld with.

 

[groundcover]

I have had an ac 225 for over thirty years, try that with your neverlast !

 

[DXN1EL]

Thanks for your reply
I was thinking about a Chinese crap, but the I realize

one of those junks barely weight 25lb
the "Tombstone" is 125lb

 

[k0ua]

Hello everyone. :newhere: and so far, I love this forum.!

I am currently searching :reading: for my first welder :cool2:

I really like the Lincoln 225 (some called "TOMBSTONE") is really sharp looking welder.
AC-225 and AC/DC 225/125 Stick Welders | Lincoln Electric

Don't Know what model to chose :banghead:

What is the difference? (A/C D/C)

Any help is appreciated

Well, if you ask 10 weldors, about welders, you will get at least 10 different answers, some defended to the death. What I am saying is this is a contentious subject. But since you asked. Ok.. well an AC only welder will make welds, but an DC welder makes a lot nicer welds with less spatter and offers a larger selection of electrodes that will run on DC I have a nice AC225 Lincoln. looks good, and is about 20 years old. It served me well. I gave about $210 for it about 20 years ago they are about $300 now. I gave $269 for an Everlast PA160, a little 160 amp DC only inverter welder and it is so much better of a welder it is not even in the same class. Its capability's are far greater, its ease of use is far greater. It is the size of a lunch box AND it is made in China!..That fact alone is enough to have me thrown into the depths of hades by some people on this forum, and if you buy a Chinese inverter welder, you too will be despised by a few here. However a lot of these little Chinese welders work very well. Now, how long will they last? I dunno. I have used mine for about 2 years There is nothing in the box on the Lincoln, a transformer, a fan a switch, maybe a choke, and that is about it. The Everlast is full of electronics. All I can tell you is I haven't bothered to use the Lincoln since I got the Everlast, an the Everlast has made my welding so much better it is not even funny. The Lincoln is for sale, it is mounted on a rubber tired hand truck, and I put 30 foot welding leads on it. (original 10 foot) $150 and come and get it.. I will help load it. It is heavy. I can tuck the Everlast under my arm and walk off with it literally, and its duty cycle is more robust than the Lincoln. Would I buy either of the AC225 AC only or even the AC/DC unit.. uh. no I would not. Others on here will call me "shill", "fanboy" or insinuate that I am paid by Everlast or Longivity or so some guy in China. I will assure you I work for Windstream Communications and am just a hobby weldor, and have no finincial interest in or receive ANYTHING from either Everlast or Longivity. Rigs I would look at IF I were you. Everlast PA140 PA160sth PA200 PA300. Longivity Stickweld 250 . There you have heard my rant, and undoubtedly will hear others Here is some pix of the welder, and the buckethook is welded with 7018 ( a DC rod) and the broken little stanly hook was TIG'd with the Everlast (yes you can TIG with a DC stick welder)

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

Yep... Chinese "crap".. uh huh...yep.. Come get my Lincoln.. $150 I will help load it.. comes with a helmet , long leads, a handful of rods, and a hand truck. That is what I think of it.

 

[DXN1EL]

Thanks, James for the offer but I live not to close :hissyfit:
I guess I going to pass

 

[flyerdan]

The Lincoln tombstones have been around for a long time and there are a lot of them out there, as they were the entry level machine for decades. They seem to run forever if treated halfway right, the biggest complaint I had with the one I had was it tended to stick the rod a lot when striking an arc, especially on a new rod. I picked up an Airco 300 from a neighbor, has a much higher ocv so it starts and runs a lot smoother. Now I have a Tigwave 250 that runs stick as well quite nicely. Transformer machines show up on craigslist quite often, and fairly cheap as well. Just make sure you have enough circuit to run it as they do like the amps.

 

[DXN1EL]

what about this Hobart LX235?

FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Stickmate LX235 AC/DC 230V Arc Welder/Stick Welder — 225 Amp AC Output, 150 Amp DC Output, Model# 500421 | Arc Welders| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Turbys_1700]

Look on Craigslist or peruse your local pawn shops for a used Lincoln tomb box...
They can be had for $100-$125 all day long around here...
Cheap way to get into welding...
Then if you want to get a more advanced machine look into the inverter types...
Those old tombstones are very reliable...
I do not know how reliable the newer inverter types will be in the long run...
We have an old Smith welder my dad bought new in the 50's...
Darn thing still works...
I guess that I was lucky...
I learned to weld on an old AC stick machine...
If you can weld with them you can weld with just about anything...

 

[Shield Arc]

I have concerns about these inverter welding machines lasting. I own three of them. My Miller was over $6,000.00. My Lincoln was over $5,000.00. My Everlast was just over $300.00, which one do you think I'll care the least about if it goes up in smoke?

 

[DXN1EL]

I guess the "Tombstone" is the way to go for my first welder. reliable, heavy, and sharp looking machine.
what kind of rods are good on the tombstone for 1/4 steel?

 

[Shield Arc]

Do yourself a big favor and buy the AC/DC version. Pretty much forget about the AC side.
Far as rods, 3/32-inch 7018, and 1/8-inch 6010, or 6011 will do most anything us hobby type weldors want to do.

 

[DXN1EL]

I wonder if the Tombstone is capable or running on the dryer plug?

 

[Shield Arc]

You'll need 50-amp input power.

 

[dkhntr04]

I would seriously consider one of the small inverter welders from whatever vendor you like. The AC tombstone is far from an ideal welder, and you will be wanting DC current. Do not get the Hobart model linked earlier, I have used the AC/DC version and it is less than impressive. That got replaced by a Thermal Arc 160 STL and the Hobart has become a shop decoration. The small TA welder is great, portable, lightweight, and the arc is very smooth.

 

[Arc weld]

If you're so set on the Lincoln being better because it weighs more and might not be made in China, why are you even asking for anyone else's opinion? To get an AC/DC version of the Lincoln, Miller/Hobart you're going to pay twice what the Everlast costs and have less duty cycle and a bulkier machine that uses more power. Why would discount a machine just because it weighs less and is made in China? It's your first welder and you're asking for opinions. You have some very experienced professional welders giving you great advice about machines but you seem to be in your own little world. Shield Arc wouldn't recommend a machine he wouldn't use himself and he has a collection of the best of the best in his fleet.

 

[DXN1EL]

Arc weld

yes, I am set on the Lincoln "TOMBSTONE" BUT there are two versions of it AC only......... OR.......... AC/DC

Shield Arc suggest the AC/DC

 

[Soundguy]

if you like the looks of the tombstone.. then get the ac/dc model. I have one at work.. weld with it often.

at home i have a hobart ac only machine.

weld with it often too.

ac is fine for me.. dc is fine too.

to some people dc is the only way to go.. and some are brand patriots or even zealots.


your money.. your call.

Hello everyone. :newhere: and so far, I love this forum.!

I am currently searching :reading: for my first welder :cool2:

I really like the Lincoln 225 (some called "TOMBSTONE") is really sharp looking welder.
AC-225 and AC/DC 225/125 Stick Welders | Lincoln Electric

Don't Know what model to chose :banghead:

What is the difference? (A/C D/C)

Any help is appreciated

 

[pjbci]

If your just running an occasional bead or two you will be ok with the lincoln on DC. If you are planning on building something with it then the duty cycle will shut you down on DC. It has a 20% rating. Meaning you can only weld 2 minutes out of every 10. I have one and have left it switched to AC for years at a time for this reason. Now it wont arc on DC+. I have had some other issues with it also. I do not like it and im fixing to replace it. Unless you will be running DC every now and then i would just get the AC version if the price savings is substantial.