Airco AC/DC Welder?

I?m pretty well set up with a 140 and 210 Migs, and an old Lincoln 225 AC Tombstone.
I still use the old Lincoln 225AC a lot, and even with a nonworking fan, I?ve never been able to out weld it. Use 7018ac, 6011 and 6013 rods, but I?ve never really tried DC stick which I hear is better?
I?ve just seen an Airco Easy Arc AC/DC welder for sale. Don?t know much about these. Is it worth upgrading from the Lincoln?.is it even an upgrade? Will I notice much difference with DC?
Thanks,
Chris

If the Machine looks well preserved, do it. The wiring and cables are often ozone cracked and can be a major expense. You will find that DC welding is 50% more controlable and has better penetration, or better heat control if using Reverse polarity. (electrode positive) Welding with Ni-rod or other processes will also be possible. Jim

Hello Chris in SK,

DC welder will make you a better welder. AC has its place but DC reverse polarity makes so much less splatter, and easy to weld overhead and out of position,

Guido.

Airco has been out of business for umpteen years.The electrical division was bought out by ESAB. They provide no support for the old Airco products. There are no parts. It it dies it junk. I've got an Airco TIG machine sitting in the corner now that need a board.Its a boat anchor. Buy a Lincoln.

I have an old Airco gas powered AC/DC welder and it does a good job but as stated there are no parts so you need to buy it cheap.

I used to have a Lincoln AC-DC Tombstone welder. Welding on the DC settings were so buttery smooth compared to AC. With AC there is always so much crackling and spatter. Like one of the other posters said, welding in DC will make you a better welder.

I find DC easier to use on very light steel, say 16ga down, I can maintain a steady spark at 30 amps or so. Nerves aren't steady enough to do that under about 70 with AC. I like to use 3/32 7014 on the light work, reverse DC.

what is the price ?

(quoted from post at 18:52:45 10/07/17) what is the price ?

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That [i:276e9dd5f0]is[/i:276e9dd5f0] the question' little stuff, handy types can find work arounds. If it frys the transformer, no one would buy another one even if it was available. It would cost just about the same as a new welder.

But switches, connectors, even diodes you could make it work.

Chris, Without meaning to disagree outright with the advice you've gotten here, I'd like to put in a word for the usefulness of an AC welder. I consider the Lincoln AC 225 tombstone welder to be one of the best entry level welders ever made. I've run both 7018 (not 7018AC) and 6010 with one. It's not easy, but it can be done. In a copy of Lincoln Electric's catalog of stick electrode products, AC is listed as the preferred polarity for 6011, 6013, 6027, 7014, 7018-H8, 7024, and of course 7018AC. Unless you absolutely need to do something where DC is distinctly superior to AC, such as out of position (vertical up or down, or overhead) welding, why don't you keep your workhorse Lincoln and just buy yourself a Chinese inverter DC welder on Amazon. About a month ago I paid $115 for a six pound 200 amp, 240 volt DC stick welder, and so far it's just fine. (I've got seven other welders, so it wasn't going to leave me high and dry if it wasn't any good.) Although that purchase included a four year warranty through SquareTrade, not the Chinese retailer, I don't intend to count on it too much. But in your case, you would be in about the same boat with an Airco welder that repair parts aren't available for as with a welder from a Chinese company of the here today, gone tomorrow variety. Anyway, I've owned an 80 amp, 120 volt Harbor Freight DC inverter stick welder for about 10 years and used it on dozens of projects and repairs. Its handiness just about makes up for its deficiencies---but it keeps on working.

Stan

Thanks everyone. The asking price on the Airco was $275 or make an offer. It had no leads, and with parts no longer available, I think it's overpriced. I might go and make a low offer and use the leads off my Lincoln. For what that is worth I might as well keep it as well. I'm also going to take a look at the inverter welders. My son just started welding, so can't have enough welders.