Lincoln Idealarc 250 Welder

[OnlyStihl]

So so tempted. Lots of old people dying in my area, and there are lots of deals to be had.

If priced right I might have to take a long drive and purchase this.

Moovin' On Estate sale June 11-12th Chief Looking Glass - garage & moving sales - yard estate sale - craigslist

Quality items, Brought to you by Moovin' On Estate Sales. We are Estate Liquidators, Our Sales are Fast Paced and Fun. No Early Sales and No prices given out prior to the sale. No numbers or lines,...

missoula.craigslist.org

AC only. Under $150 -- is that possible.

The outfit that runs these sales, moves a lot of used stuff in a short time and prices items to be gone fast.

My biggest concern is the weight. 350 to 500 pounds to load and unload.

 

[wap13]

I've got one of these we no longer use since stepping up to a 300 amp ac/dc but it has literally sat in a leaky pole barn pretty exposed to the elements and i always welds. I had no idea what it was it is so rusty but I do know its AC only and looks exactly like the one above minus the pain and stickers.

 

[blades]

The old buzz box standard. Ebay $200-500 got a lot hours on one of those. Not much to go south inside.

 

[OnlyStihl]

The old buzz box standard. Ebay $200-500 got a lot hours on one of those. Not much to go south inside.

Same as I'm seeing. Discounted from there, $150 to $300. They are pigs at the wall outlet, and require 240V so may not be a lot of interests in such things. Still they are somewhat rare and vintage for some old guys (like me), so really the price might be anything. Just the copper could justify a price tag up there beyond it's value as a welder. Might be worth a drive....

About 3 months ago I went to another Estate Sale, one hosted by the deceased children and grandchildren. I carted off a lot of goods all at bargain prices. For example 40' of 3/8 70 grade logging chain for $10. My best score was a 34" saw mill blade for $5, that I later sold for $150 on craigslist. That purchase/sale paid for everything else I bought, including gas to go to the Estate Sale.

 

[Bill G]

That is a quality made machine. It is nothing like what there is today. I get a bit pissed off when folks refer to that machine as a "tombstone". It is not a tombstone it is a mailbox. There is a world of difference and no comparison between the two. That machine is much better constructed, a ton heavier, and will last a lifetime. What you do not see in that picture is the eyelet in the top as it is covered up. The eyelet is there so you can put the crane hook in it and move it to where you need it. You will not pick that machine up by hand and put it in your truck like you can a tombstone. The only drawback is being AC only. Honestly until I saw that pic I was not aware they had AC only ones. Everyone here had a AC/DC/DC-. They were made to withstand heavy industrial use.

This will provide you a bit of perspective. In 1978 the Idealarc AC/DC model sold for a whopping $1000 new. My father bought one used. That same year in June, he ordered a new Ford F150 4x4. It cost $5500. Now compare that to today's prices. The machine was quality. In the Fall of 1978 he bought a new 14ft jon boat to use trapping in the drainage ditches. Well come January 1979 we got two huge snows one after another.....much like this year. In any event Dad was pushing snow with the dozer and forgot where he put the boat. He sheared one of the rear corners off. We had a neighbor that had a Airco high freq adapter on his Idealarc so he could TIG. He welded the boat back together and to this day it still does not leak.

I still have some cast aluminum here that was welded up with our machine just using arc rod. They are a wonderful machine and they are not buzz boxes or tombstones.

 

[Bill G]

This is a tombstone

 

[Bill G]

This is a mailbox

 

[drf256]

One of the most “buttery” welders you will find. I am referring to the puddle you will get.

You may be able to add a rectifier to make DC, not sure.

We called those “round tops”

Best stick welder I’ve ever personally used. Too bad it’s AC only. I had the one Bill is showing.

 

[Bill G]

We all have different terms. Here they are mailboxes cause they look like one and bult like one.

 

[Yukon Stihl]

I have a grey one that is similar but it has AC or DC
Nicest welder I’ve used. The buttery puddle is what a friend always said about it.
Here is one I bought 3 years ago for $300.
Just drug it out of the shed it’s been in since I got it going. Fired right up. The batteries were even still charged

 

[Bill G]

I prefer Miller for wire but I believe Lincoln was superior in arc.

 

[Al Smith]

That comment about the "tombstones " goes back decades .The newer units are wound aluminum with a cooling fan .The old duffers are copper wound with such heavy windings they don't need a fan .I've got a movable core 250 amp Lincoln circa 1940 ish ,weighes a bloody ton but that thing will burn rods continuously and never miss a beat . .Like 5/32" 7024 and really lay down the weld metal .$40 at an auction with 2 100 foot leads .Right place right time .I'm pretty much well appointed at my shop. At my home I have an old Marquette 225 buzz box that came over on the Mayflower . It does okay for a buzz box and also weighs a ton .

 

[Bill G]

That comment about the "tombstones " goes back decades .The newer units are wound aluminum with a cooling fan .The old duffers are copper wound with such heavy windings they don't need a fan .I've got a movable core 250 amp Lincoln circa 1940 ish ,weighes a bloody ton but that thing will burn rods continuously and never miss a beat . .Like 5/32" 7024 and really lay down the weld metal .$40 at an auction with 2 100 foot leads .Right place right time .I'm pretty much well appointed at my shop. At my home I have an old Marquette 225 buzz box that came over on the Mayflower . It does okay for a buzz box and also weighs a ton .

I never saw a "tombstone" without cooling. Hell any decent welder.