3 phase Idealarc for 250.00 ???

[Corporall Clegg]

IdealArc 250/250 year 1973 for $250.00

It says POWPAK 300 3 phase 50-60 hz on a sticker on the side

What is this and dose it add or decrease asking price of this machine?

Any info would be appreciated.

[turk]

three phase power requirement makes it useless to most people.

[Corporall Clegg]

Most people? Dose that mean it can't be used in a non comerical enviroment or has limitations ,forgive my iggnorance, I am completly new at this and trying to find out if I should purchase this unit to learn to weld so if you could elaborate it would help a great deal.

[welds4d]

If you don't have 3 phase power available, the unit is of no use to you. 3 phase power is found mostly in industrial areas and facilities. If you are not sure that you have 3 phase, then you probably don't have it. Keep looking for a single phase machine.

[turk]

if you don't know what 3 phase power is, then you don't have it available. do not buy the welder.

[Corporall Clegg]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it, you saved me $250.00 can a three phase be run off a battery bank such as 3x12 36 volt system? Any suggestions for a starter rig in that price range? I have a case 580k that needs welding and need to learn so I can afford the upkeep. I'm also off grid and have a 4k Onan Cummings 4300 ie generator and occasional access to 120/240 I'm in Oregon near Roseburg any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Oldendum]

An Idealarc 250/250 isn't a POWPAK 300. A quick search indicates that the POWPAK was an early inverter design possibly built for Thermal Dynamics by Powcon.

Somewhat related thread on a 400 model: http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=6906

RUN AWAY!

Welding and "off-grid" don't go well together unless you have the generating capacity to handle it. I think my Syncrowave 250 is about a 12 kW (22 kVA) unit that would like nearly 100A at full tilt. You can't run 3-phase off batteries directly because batteries are DC. Think Oxy-Acetylene welding.

[Corporall Clegg]

Found this :AIRCO 225 AMP MSM Stinger II-U

I do have occasional access to house power from a neighbor 120/240 my friend who welds told me to get a -DC capable unit for use on backhoe welding for smoother welds deeper penetration.

[soutthpaw]

Best bet for the money if you are off grid is a Broco GoWeld or Ready Welder. Both runn off 12v batteries. Other choice is small inverter welder like the Everlast 140st I have. Stick welding is more difficuilt to learn than mig or flux core which the first 2 I mentioned use. If u go plug in with small generator you absolutely want an inverter not a transformer machine...

[soutthpaw]

Smooth welds and deeper penetration all come from welder skill and not what machine you use. Though many hardfacing rods are DC rods. Almost all stickwelding inverters are DC only. Those that do AC are combo Tig/stick and are expensive compared to straight DC.

[Corporall Clegg]

My welder friend said that stick would work better for heavy machine welds being the 1/2 3/4 up to 1 inch metal involved he has a mig and said it would be better to rent a stick than use the mig I hope he's not messing with me just because he is to lazy to bring his mig over. no comments on the AIRCO in above post for $300.00 I really don't have more than 300.00 to spend.

[Oldendum]

Got an old white-face Syncrowave 250 for $300. locally without bargaining. Probably the oldest unit one could find (based on serial number) but in very nice shape. Of course you need a big circuit to feed it properly.

[soutthpaw]

Ok, I know Ill get flamed for this but get something like this http://www.everlastgenerators.com/Po...---391-pd.html (just an FYI, 140 amps is more than a lincoln Buzzbox on DC (125amp max)
or if you need it to run on 110vac http://www.everlastgenerators.com/Po...T-3915-pd.html
also check longevity equivalents.

This is assuming you want a new machine? Plenty on CL for used IF you know what you are looking at. Powcons are awesome if they are work properly. but once they die they are basically boat anchors. They tend to last for ever but don't buy a non working one.
From everything you have said so far you DO NOT have the power source to run a Transformer Stick welder
If you cannot lift it with one hand its a transformer machine (in the 250amp or less range)

[Corporall Clegg]

How bout this it's a Weldanpower 225 g7 1992 year with onan motor

All help is greatly appreciated

[soutthpaw]

Weldandpowers are great machines. Just be sure to test it works first. Can get expensive to fix. Check both the weld and generator sides of it.

[W123Benz]

Corporall Clegg:

I hate to tell ya this, but buying a "learner" machine will quickly result in your finding its limitations, and just how deep the rabbit-hole of metallurgical welding really is.

Engine-driven machines are expensive, but they do have the advantage of keeping you "off the grid" so long as you feed it gasoline and maintain it. You can sometimes find used machines that are very capable for less than $700-800, but they are fairly few and far between. I just gave a quick look at ebay, the local craigslist (which used to have a $500 older Miller Trailblazer on it), and another local classifieds section, and there's nothing near your price range.

If you get some of that wiring in the house upgraded to at least a 50-amp 240 volt circuit, you can run a plethora of used machines with good power output for $300-$400. That's the way I would go.

Leave the engine-driven machine until you can upgrade your budget to 4 digits. You could also buy any number of (again, used) MIG machines for $300 that will run on a 20-amp 120V circuit, but without a bottle $$$, you're going to be limited to flux-core steel welding only.

Part of the process of learning to weld is learning just how many different processes there are, and how freaking many different kinds of machines there are to do so.

Welding is certainly a form of self-imposed poverty for the hobbyist.

[farmall]

My welder friend said that stick would work better for heavy machine welds being the 1/2 3/4 up to 1 inch metal involved he has a mig and said it would be better to rent a stick than use the mig

He's right.

If you get some of that wiring in the house upgraded to at least a 50-amp 240 volt circuit, you can run a plethora of used machines with good power output for $300-$400. That's the way I would go.

When I moved in I immediately ran an outdoor 50A outlet very close to my breaker panel to keep the cost down. I did this on a previous rental (with permission!) and on the house I lived in prior to this one. It's cheap and handy for welders and compressors. Every home should have 240 outdoors!

Stick works fine outdoors, and old transformer machines survive well if you cover them properly. I still have the pigtail for running my Lincoln buzzbox off my 30A dryer outlet. I can't max it out but don't need to.