Surplus welders

C.R. · Apr 12, 2016

So, I had the chance to buy surplus welders from the high school that I work for. I got three old but still working welders. I want to keep a Miller Thunderbold, and find someone that wants the other two. One is a Lincolon Idealarc 300-300 tig, the other is a big old Mig welder Mint green that has Union Carbide lables on it. I have about $200 invested. How did I do? Is this old stuff worth anything?

Mike(NEOhio) · Apr 12, 2016

The Lincoln is probably a good solid machine. The UC is probably very old, if it works is could be used till it dies. If even one works it was a good buy. My brother got a Lincoln from a vocational school, it was full of cigarette butts.

C.R. · Apr 12, 2016

Ha, those kids must have been sneaking butts in the welding booth ,probably some in these machiens too !

Mike M · Apr 12, 2016

Put an ad on craigslist.

Stan in Oly, WA · Apr 12, 2016

The Idealarc is in a different league than the Miller you have decided to keep. It is sort of an entry level welding shop welder---high quality, but not the fanciest welder available, even when it was new---while the Thunderbolt is more of a home shop quality welder. Since any TIG welder will also run stick, it would be worth your while to give some serious thought about which one to keep---except for one thing: The Idealarc is likely to be three phase, but the Thunderbolt isn't. If the Lincoln turns out to be three phase, then for all practical purposes it's of no use to you, but, unfortunately, it will also be harder to sell.

Good luck,

Stan

moresmoke · Apr 12, 2016

I had one of those Lincoln at one time. It was a really good welder for the age of it. I did have one board go out in it, but found an outfit that was able to fix it.

KF · Apr 15, 2016

I have an Idealarc 300 TIG. It is multiple voltage, but single phase as is most welders you are likely to find. It is not a fancy welder with frequency and pulse controls. It is, however, a very good welder for some one doing a varity of welding processes out of their garage or workshop. It will beat the pants off of that Thunderbolt. Get a gas hookup and one can weld aluminum and stainless with the tig option. I do. I even use it to power a Porta-Wire wire mig welder. I have it on a 240 volt 100 amp circuit. One can burn rods with it also and it has good controls for that and the power to use some of the larger rods. If everything is working on it they are simple and easy to use for a fraction of what would be paid for a newer welder. My 2 cents worth.

Surplus welders

C.R.

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Mike(NEOhio)

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C.R.

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Mike M

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Stan in Oly, WA

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moresmoke

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KF

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