to buy a dinosaur Lincoln tig 300/300 as back up for new 3 in 1 chinese welder?

[sd455dan]

Purchased a Lotos LTPDC2000d 3 in 1 50 amp plasma cut/ 200 amp tig/ 200 amp MMA and so far it has worked great.---b-u-t

I may have an opportunity to buy a Linoln Idealarc Tig 300/300 1960s? model in unknown condition (the guy was told it worked and has never hooked it up to test it.)

I still need to confirm that it is a 240 volt single phase and not a 3 phase unit.
The price is good and if there is a good way to load it into a pick up ?? the info seems to suggest these weigh between 850 and 1000 lbs. i do have an engine cherry picker so maybe if it can lift high enough?!

If I had more long term confidence in the LOTOS combo- there wouldn't be a real need ( have read both good and bad) and I do have an old 1980s Harbor freight (italian built) Powermig 150 that has always worked very well and a 1960s victor Oxy/Acetylene torch that always works to.

the 1 big advantage I see for the Lincoln is welding aluminum-
i would really like to be able to tig aluminum, and it looks like the Lincoln can do that, once set up.
does anyone have one of these Lincolns and if so how do you like it?

 

[Stimw]

I got a deal on a 1979 unit, $125.00 with torch, water tank on wheels.
I found that it had a bad board in it and emailed Lincoln and was told machine was obsolete, no parts available!
A welder repair guy told me those machines were inefficient from that start and used full power no matter what setting!
The stick welder part still worked so I sold it for what I had in it. I didn't need yard art!!

 

[Mysfyt]

My neighbor has a 70's version of the welder your looking at and it is absolutely bulletproof. It's his go to welder for tig welding aluminum but he is limited by only feeding it with 60 amps. That machine will pull 100 amps in a heart beat on 240 single phase. Keep this in mind when making your decision.

 

[yomax4]

Can't turn that 300/300 down worth a crap though. Just know that. Very poor low amp tig.

 

[sd455dan]

I got a deal on a 1979 unit, $125.00 with torch, water tank on wheels.
I found that it had a bad board in it and emailed Lincoln and was told machine was obsolete, no parts available!
A welder repair guy told me those machines were inefficient from that start and used full power no matter what setting!
The stick welder part still worked so I sold it for what I had in it. I didn't need yard art!!

Ok no new boards available-sounds like some of the new chinese built welders like the one I bought.
I have the garage set up with 100 amp box but actually ran 200 amp supply wire, and don't anticipate cranking this machine up near its max.
I don't believe the idle current is the same as max draw current when welding?

I f the 300 is doa will probably salvage the copper- checked last night and it is over $2 per pound on the spot check price-if they pay $ a third that at the recycler i still won't lose anything but time and fuel.

 

[sd455dan]

My neighbor has a 70's version of the welder your looking at and it is absolutely bulletproof. It's his go to welder for tig welding aluminum but he is limited by only feeding it with 60 amps. That machine will pull 100 amps in a heart beat on 240 single phase. Keep this in mind when making your decision.

Good to hear they have a good reliability rep- made the deal this morning and should have it tommorrow:thumbsup:
I was also able to confirm it is the 230 volt single phase unit and comes with the regulator and the tig torch.

I am hopeful it is a working machine- and I will be able to compare the arc welding quality to my new Inverter welder which has laid down some decent welds although occasionally it seems to stutter? or i may be keeping the arc length to short after reading that this is the way some of these new high frequency inverters weld best.
Also very interested to see if, and how well the tig functions and Very happy to hear your neighbor is happy with the tig functions on his 300

 

[sd455dan]

Can't turn that 300/300 down worth a crap though. Just know that. Very poor low amp tig.

So I won't be welding razor blades or pop cans together, ok got it.
How about things like say cracked au fenders on a trailer?? that is about the only thin material that I actually have a need for at the moment?

 

[Shield Arc]

I never tried this. An engineer on another site posted this years ago. He passed a way a few years ago. A very knowledgeable welder!

Dropper resistor trick for CC constant current machines only!
You need to use a dropper resistor made from a piece of 3/32" or 1/8" filler rod, depending on the amount of amps you want to drop.
Attach the 1/8" filler rod to the welding bench with a vise-grip and let it hang vertical then attach the ground clamp to the other end of the filler rod.
As the arc is established the filler rod (dropper resistor) will begin to heat thus lowering out-put amps at the torch / stinger.
CAUTION as the filler rod can become cherry red depending on the amount of amps being dropped.
To adjust for the correct amount of amps required of the weldment, one could trim the filler rod to different lengths or change the diameter although I've never found this to be necessary.

 

[sd455dan]

Thanks,
shield arc-
If this welder functions I may have to try that, and make sure I know where my leg is in reference to the filler rod :laughing
I take it that this is a way to improve the low setting welding quality when tigging

have to admit that I am pretty excited to get my hands on this machine :cool2:

 

[Shield Arc]

I take it that this is a way to improve the low setting welding quality when tigging

Yes, that is correct!
I've used so many welding machines in my life, I can't keep all the names and numbers straight in my head. I'd have to see a picture of the welder you want to buy, to have a chance at remembering if I ever ran one before.