Will Grandpa's 50-Year-Old Tombstone Welder Work?

[@hardwurkindaddy]

I love my old tombstone. It was my grandfather's too.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Wowers my dad has one. Very cool restoration. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friends. Weld on. Fab on. Keep making. God bless.

[@aaronbugaiski2487]

Just scored one at a garage sale a couple weeks back it’s probably as old. Brought it home plugged into it in and it welds like it was new outta the box. First welder i learned to weld in my grandfather’s work shop about 32 years ago with one of these. I have welded tig and mig professionally and it was a lot of fun just stepping back with an old tombstone. Very capable welders👍

[@Jason-wc3fh]

I have an old one similar to this. I think mine goes up to 225 tho. I did a complete teardown and full restoration on it. I removed the old junker cooling fan and replaced it with a modern larger sized computer fan that moves more air. I also added a rectifier and choke to make it a combination AC/DC welder with an included overheat illumination for if it gets too hot on the diodes in DC operation.

[@deankirby5966]

Would love to see a schematic and pictures of your mod.

[@suntzu5836]

This is what I started with back in 1980 when I started my apprenticeship with Local 98 Columbus Ohio.....

[@83flhs]

I bought my tombstone when I was a young man. Now I’m a grandpa. Still works like the day I bought it new.

[@TorBoy9]

Awesome tombstone, May it live for another 50 years! Inside is so simple..

[@BCole-bj4lv]

They still sell this in 225 amps. I just took mine apart and cleaned it. I've used it for 37 years. It does the job very well.

[@Comm0ut]

BTW the original "tombstones" are the ROUND top Lincolns so designed because that style top sheds water. They actually look like a tombstone but the name spread in later years (forty years ago IS later years for Lincoln!) to what was and often still is referred to as a "buzz box" (term also common to Mille, Hobart, Sears and Dayton etc simple transformer machines). The little AC-125 and AC-125/DC-225 are much newer but especially the older copper transformer units like your inherited welder have a VERY nice arc. I bought one in the late 1980s and though I've added many more welders since it's been well worth keeping. It's well worth buying a rectifier to add DC to the AC versions (commercial rectifiers are cheap) and many add modern panel QD fittings (Airgas etc are not expensive) to extend the leads with any other leads you have handy. If it ever dies fifty years from now it would be easy to hand-wind the old transformer core. These machines are dead simple.

[@seanseoltoir]

Well, other than the fact that there is not a positive and negative in house wiring since it is AC, not DC...

[@eePatCox]

Of course Tim has a 50-year old welder just laying around...

[@mtwseneca]

I routinely run little 1/16 rods (usually from HF) in mine, run either 40 amps or 60 for them. I don't have a MIG. Bought it in the late 60s did a LOT of projects with it from building trailers to motorized bikes to a hot rod.

[@dondondon5695]

The 70 Amp position is circled because at that setting it can be used to thaw frozen pipes. The instructions were a bit sketchy, as it said to disconnect the building's ground wire while you were doing this. There's also instructions to change some wiring around to compensate for low line voltage.

[@YR7A]

Absolutely dead wrong, & perhaps fictitious. The 75 amp selection is circled, as that is what the machine can be used at with 100% duty cycle. As you increase the amperage adjustment from there, the duty cycle tapers down to 20% @ 225a on the AC-225 machines.

[@mikehilbig8280]

The circled amp marking on the dial indicates the 100% duty cycle amp rating. 70 amps at 100%. The later 225 model has a 90 amp at 100% rating.

[@dondondon5695]

www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/servicenavigator-public/lincoln3/im232.pdf This is a link to an owners manual that describes the procedure for thawing pipes.

[@dondondon5695]

@@YR7A www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/servicenavigator-public/lincoln3/im232.pdf

[@祝海兰]

so cool ,i love it

[@jamespetty9545]

Lincoln sold a billion of these things. I would love to know how many semi trucks of rods were used in the 50years

[@rawbacon]

I used the AC/DC version professionally for several years and probably went thru over a ton of rod in that 5-6 year period.

[@jvazquez53]

Those things are indestructible! The only drawback is how heavy they are.

[@seanseoltoir]

And it gets heavier as you get older... :)

[@rogerclark9285]

That's like asking of the sun will come up in the morning.

[@inspireonex]

Not sure why it was ever in question

[@jessekern4957]

Mines from 1959, and I love it. $100 at auction

[@zulubravo9434]

"Master fabricator" having a hard time starting a stick electrode and pecking away at the slag from his weld like a drunk pigeon? Master........ right.

[@morenothing4u]

What are the specs of the capacitor in this?

[@jackmorgan3498]

Sanding to clean the contacts would have made a world of difference,

[@seanseoltoir]

Considering the fact that it is just a tap on the transformer, the OCV is going to change depending upon the amperage...

[@kevinthorrington2131]

Those old welders had solid copper wire, the new 225 tombstones have copper coated aluminum wire. Those old welders are way better than the new ones.

[@GoldSrc_]

I've read that some old (1970's) entry level Lincoln Electric ones had aluminium wire. Rugged, yes, but I'm not sure about "better", transformer welders have a horrible power factor which isn't good for the electric grid. Inverter welders are better.

[@BRENT3143945]

Can't believe it! Jokeing

[@jmyers9853]

back in the 70's that welder went for $98.

[@vitvaa143]

Hi .for lincoln welder AC225. Output 110V is ok ?.thank you

[@pittergomes1993]

A parte negativa de máquinas com controle de corrente por tapes, é que quando se diminui a corrente também diminui a tensão e a tensão é fundamental para abertura do arco elétrico, porém a vantagem é o peso da máquina.

[@DJb-ill219]

Those things are Tanks my Uncle bought one new from like Home Depot or something and I think he paid 4-500 for it but it was a 225 the newer model was wondering will it run 7018 I never got to weld with his machine too much because his wife would always complain about the smoke in the garage but regular Lincoln Excalibur 7018 rods was just curious

[@keeptrying7640]

Question can you change the leads from the straight wire to those plugs mostly all welders Carry nowadays

[@Comm0ut]

Yes! There are different styles of quick-disconnect panel fittings and a step drill bit is all you need to make the holes. You can use either Tweco or Dinse style, and for smaller machines like this Dinse is a good choice but use whatever matches your existing leads unless you want to run thin lead like stock in which case run Dinse. (You can always swap lead male ends or make adapters if desired). Note that on the CABLE connections the cheap Radnor rubbers from Airgas are shit and fall apart without help. The panel connections use hard plastic and are not an issue.

[@sheepdoglogic]

No disrespect meant by saying this but, you should have taken it apart before you ever plugged it in. I am sure you thought that at some point. A friend of mine, decades ago got electrocuted on one of those monster's. His name was Randy, and he lived through it but barely.

[@timwilliams9443]

Hello I have a question I have a Westinghouse flexarc welder and it has a Primary and secondary transformer in it but I'm still working on it do you think it still works or should I give up on it?

[@johnstiles7962]

hey guys. how do you fix one of the settings . I believe it’s the 90 amp setting do you have a video on that

[@Lee_obschevy]

Replace the wire that runs from the transformer to the 90 selection

[@upstatesfinest4256]

I literally just picked up the same one an hour ago for $100 it came with a bunch of rod 3 helmets, and a chipping hammer I couldn't pass up the deal

[@LayLaw]

How much could one of these sell for? Inherited one myself...

[@skepticalobserver7484]

$100-$250 depending on condition for the AC only version.

[@bigdave6447]

Don't draw an arc, dead short it! Arc length makes a big difference!

[@maddnesme01]

Does anybody else sharpen there rods slightly for easy start

[@eweunkettles8207]

bohler bvd series,

[@bdubz5150]

The guy with the beard, Tim, is the dude who once fed his co-worker a dog turd, and the guy ate it thinking it was a candy bar or something.

[@paulhinds328]

He looks and sounds like a skinny Randy Quaid the actor phenomenally he could be Randy’s kid L O L

[@iNdUsTrIaLrOcKeR4U]

The question GREATER. Will you be working in 50 years???

[@bigdave6447]

Anybody who says that old 'STINKIN LINCOLN' is useless ask them to get into a cage welded by one and see if they want you to weld to shut!Any takers???

[@RamYRN]

Why can't it be connected at a house

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Sorry to burst your bubble but that is NOT a Lincoln “Tombstone.” The genuine Lincoln “tombstones” have the old round top and do NOT have tapped amperage settings.

[@n8mail76]

good morning. The term "tombstone welder" is a colloquial nickname and doesn't refer to a specific model or brand. Instead, it's often used to describe portable Stick welding machines with a characteristic shape resembling a tombstone. Various manufacturers produce these compact and portable welders designed for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) or Stick welding. Common brands associated with these types of welders include Lincoln Electric and Miller Electric, among others. Specific models may include the Lincoln AC 225 mentioned earlier, or various Miller Thunderbolt models. However, it's essential to note that the term is more of a descriptive nickname than an official classification for a specific line of welding machines. Always check the specifications and features of a particular welder model to ensure it meets your welding requirements.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@n8mail76 If I cut and paste the above message, then run it through Google, it will show me where you just CUT & PASTED it from. Sorry but the “Tombstone” term was unofficially, yet originally started from old school welders that gave the name to a very specific 250 Amp, plug-in, Lincoln Electric “round top,” red colored stick welder of yesteryear. Every welder that’s been one for at least 40 years, knows this fact. The “Tombstone” was NEVER a reference to the Miller Thunderbolt line, regardless of what you might have picked up from some Internet forum. “Tombstone” was always an unofficial and unique term given to “Lincoln.” Period. Now the term “buzz box” was a term associated unofficially to the various brands of electric powered (non engine driven) Lincoln’s, Montgomery Ward, Miller, Fornney etc… welders. The “farm” shop AC-main plug-in type machines. Maybe that’s where the confusion lies.

[@bigdave6447]

Give that weldor a book of matches so he can start that arc!

[@Hotrodford]

Late 1950’s or early 196o’s makes it older than 50 years

[@myusername111]

I'm sorry to remind you that the fifties aren't 50 years ago anymore

[@Rigoknow]

👍

[@sunflowerisland]

haaar haaar haaar do de dooo