lincoln idealarc 250

[Dan S.]

Hello all,

I am new to this site and rather new to welding. I am a machinist by trade, and have set up a nice home shop. My equipment includes a lathe, mill, drillpress, chop and bandsaws, air compressor, ect, ect, and a lincoln Idealarc 250 stick welder.

I am wanting to learn how to tig weld. I thought that I may be able to use my Idealarc as a power source to power the tig. I want to be able to weld mild steel, SS and AL.

Is this a good way to go? How does it compare as far a cost? Can I find a used tig setup for less than the parts it will take to use my welder? How about mig, can I put a wire feed on an Idealarc? Where is the best place to look for the parts I will need used or surplus?

The pics of everyones shops and projects on this site are great! I will have to get the old digital out and show you all what I have put together.

thanks in advance,

Dan

[Sberry]

You can tig from that machine,, I think it is AC/DC. You will need a hi freq unit to do Al. You will not be able to use it for wire feed. My choice in feeders since you are a tool guy is MM210. Buy a brand new one and it will last you forever.

[Franz]

Idealarc was used as a power supply early on in TIG process, and will work, presuming yours is AC/DC, BUT, is it worth it? You'll need to add a torch and gas valve, and if you want to do aluminum, a Hi Freq box. Since your Lincoln wasn't originally set up for TIG from the factory, you will play hell building a sloping amperage control.
Since you state you are into machining, I doubt the Idealarc will give you the type of TIG results I think you're looking for.

Can the machine power MIG, yes, if you set it up to power a suitcase type mig that is capable of operating from either CC or CV power. Beyond that, it isn't a MIG power supply.

[Customwelds]

We have older Idealarc 300/300's at our school and they TIG VERY nicely, aluminum and steel. I havn't gotten to weld stainless yet, though. I think ours have HF units in them and are set up to TIG from the factory. I'm not sure of the differences in your machine and ours though.