SA-200

[bdog]

School me on these welders. I know they are the welders of choice for the pipeliners. Virtually every welding truck you see in the oil patch has one on the back.

I have read that the older ones have copper windings and are sought after. (red face)

My question is how suitable are these machines for non pipeline welding? Things like general portable farm repairs, building fences, steel buildings, etc.

I don't know why but I have always been somewhat fascinated with these machines and have wanted one for a long time though I know I don't really need one.

I currently have a trailblazer 302 which is basically the next step up from a bobcat. It works great and does everything I want but I am thinking of possibly trading it with some cash for a really nice 1960's red face SA-200.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've owned up to 5 SA-200s at one time. Down to only 3 now. At one time I owned a Miller Trailblazer 55-D. The 100% copper generator SA-200s have an arc of there own. These new inverters welders come very close to the same arc.
All welding machines weld, just like all cars will get you down the road. But some cars, as with welders make it so much nicer.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you can get a good deal on an LN-25, here is what my Red face can do with self shielded flux core wire.
First picture is .045" Lincoln NR-212.
Second picture is 1/16" Hobart 21-B.

 

[muddstopper]

bdog, if you feel like a little road trip, I have a 1971 sa200 I have ready to be reassembled. It is a octagon barrel which suggests clad windings, but not necessary so. Supposely the octagon barrels came out in 1972 with tht clad winding, but I have been told thats not necessary true that all octagon barrel machines had the clad winding. The 1971 is supposed to be a octagon barrel that wasnt truned down to round to save on machining cost. Havent been able to verify and some will loudy say that isnt true, but when I check the with a ohm meter, the winding check out all copper. Anyways, Machine is dissassembled, and ready to go back together with all new engine parts. Engine is a f163 continenial. frame and side panels sand blasted and primered. I can get you the numbers on the face plate, barrel and engine if your interested.

 

[mikehaugen]

My question is how suitable are these machines for non pipeline welding? Things like general portable farm repairs, building fences, steel buildings, etc..

I currently have a trailblazer 302 ......
It works great and does everything I want

I am kind of in the same boat... but if I already had a trailblazer I probably wouldn't bother. I would like to get a portable welder, and would consider the sa200 because of the cult-like following, but I think that also brings the resale a little too high. If you aren't a pipeliner and may not even notice the difference, the trailblazer is much more versatile imho.

Just for disclosure... I have never ran an sa-200 but use a trailblazer at work and am satisfied with it. It may be one of those "I don't know what I'm missing" kind of things.

Again, I don't own a portable welder but when the time comes those will be the two at the top of my list, and I think the trailblazer would have a slight edge.

I'm sure I will now get flamed by the real pipeliners!

 

[bdog]

bdog, if you feel like a little road trip, I have a 1971 sa200 I have ready to be reassembled. It is a octagon barrel which suggests clad windings, but not necessary so. Supposely the octagon barrels came out in 1972 with tht clad winding, but I have been told thats not necessary true that all octagon barrel machines had the clad winding. The 1971 is supposed to be a octagon barrel that wasnt truned down to round to save on machining cost. Havent been able to verify and some will loudy say that isnt true, but when I check the with a ohm meter, the winding check out all copper. Anyways, Machine is dissassembled, and ready to go back together with all new engine parts. Engine is a f163 continenial. frame and side panels sand blasted and primered. I can get you the numbers on the face plate, barrel and engine if your interested.

Thanks for the offer but You are way to far from me. If you had a $5000 machine you were giving away for free I probably wouldn't drive that far for it. I drive a lot for work and hate driving.

 

[Shield Arc]

bdog if it makes you feel any better, I paid $200.00 for this 1966 Red face.

 

[bdog]

bdog if it makes you feel any better, I paid $200.00 for this 1966 Red face.

Want to double your money ? Lol!

That is really nice and I am sure you put a ton of work into it.

 

[Shield Arc]

Actually all I did was replace the hood, and paint it. I have it tore down now, the engine is being rebuilt.

I paid $250.00 for this 1948 Short hood.

 

[firemanmike69]

I had a '68 redface that I sold than other member on here, now I have a bobcat 250. I'll give a run down if the differences.
1968 redface
GOOD: awesome arc, quiet, low rpm water cooled motor, 4+ quarts of oil, pretty mechanically simple
BAD: the motor was pretty thirsty for fuel, it's a heavy girl-1200lbs, it has limited 3kw DC ONLY aux power, no 220 power, some had cv for running mig mine did not.

2004 bobcat 250
GOOD: light weight-500lbs, 10kw of aux power, 45 amps of 220 power, has cv for mig and even AC weld output. Takes up less room in the truck than the SA-200
BAD: noisy 3600rpm motor with 2qts of oil for cooling and lubrication, the arc is not nearly as nice as the redface,