Picked up my first welder today

[CNC Dan]

thats a good price if it works....
...and you have the power to run it.

 

[Shield Arc]

I have a chance to buy a used Idealarc 250 tombstone

Is this what you're talking about? If so they're very nice welders, and tough as nails!:thumbsup:

 

[Arc weld]

I have a chance to buy a used Idealarc 250 tombstone for $325.00 on CL. He said he'd take $275.00. The seller doesn't have leads with it, but that's ok because I have them. It's about an hour ride for me. I could sell me little AC/DC and be into the 250 for little to no money. He currently doesn't have a spot to plug it in so I could test it out, but is going to get back to me over the next couple days in hopes he can find a friend who'll allow him to bring it to his shop, plug it in and run it. What do you guys think? Anything to look for in a 250 tombstone when buying used?

I had to respond as soon as I saw this. An Idealarc 250 AC/DC is not a tombstone but some people still call them a tombstone. They are an excellent machine!:thumbsup::thumbsup: Lincoln still makes them and they cost about $2500.00. They weigh about 350 lbs. but are one of the finest single phase welders ever made. Lots of fabrication shops that didn't have 3 phase power used them, as well as a lot of schools. Buying a new one, I'm not so sure with the much cheaper new inverter machines but if you can find a used one around $300, buy it! Not many machines are worth taking a risk on but an Idealarc 250 AC/DC for $300 or less is. I mention AC/DC because they also made an AC only version way back when. You want the AC/DC. If you can try it out is a bonus.:thumbsup:Try it at different settings and see if cranks and welds smoothly. You'll probably want bigger cables than on your current machine. An Idealarc 250 could be the last stick welder you'll ever need.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

This is a pic of it from the ad.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Arc Weld, I picked up some soapstone the other day as you had recommended. Do you guys think the #1 leads I made up for my current welder would work with the 250? They are 40ft with quick connects.

 

[eastexan]

This is a pic of it from the ad. View attachment 374218

I think that's one of the later models of the roundtops, since it has the black amp adjusting wheel. That looks like the one I had.
Mine was a 1989 model and I think they went to the flat tops about 1990.

Your #1 AWG leads will work fine.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Thanks eastexan.

 

[Arc weld]

#1 will be fine unless you want to burn big rods or add longer cables. I think the flat tops were way earlier than 1990. I believe there were flat tops back in the 60's because the school I went to too had some Idealarcs and it opened in 68. The flat tops can be stacked 3 high. Doesn't really matter but I would buy that machine pronto if I was looking for a good welder. :cool2:

 

[Happy Gilmore]

#1 will be fine unless you want to burn big rods or add longer cables. I think the flat tops were way earlier than 1990. I believe there were flat tops back in the 60's because the school I went to too had some Idealarcs and it opened in 68. The flat tops can be stacked 3 high. Doesn't really matter but I would buy that machine pronto if I was looking for a good welder. :cool2:

I'm anxiously waiting for a call back from the seller to let me know if he's found a workshop we can use to run it. If I didn't want to test it, I would have headed over to buy it the day I spoke to him. Is there anything in particular that goes on these machines? Hopefully it doesn't sell before then.

What timeframe was this particular style Idealarc made in?

 

[eastexan]

Happy, I found my owners manual that I downloaded from Lincoln. It's probably the same as yours.

Here's the link.
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/servicenavigator-public/lincoln3/im206.pdf