AC 225 said: (quoted from post at 01:44:24 04/17/11) Just because it can be used at a higher duty cycle on a lower setting, doesn't mean it isn't rated as a 20% duty cycle machine. Otherwise every machine made would say 100% duty cycle. I think the AC 225 can be used at 100% for only one 10 minute period and then has to cool off. Duty cycle isn't continuous. "Darn near indestructable". Maybe in a farm or hobby shop with occassional use it could last a long time. In a welding shop it could be toast in 5 minutes.
A lower cost way to cut metal? How about a thin cutting disc in a grinder. Faster, highly accurate and much cheaper than using a 220 volt welder. Everybody that welds should have a grinder. A sawzall does a nice job too.
I made a slight error on the smaller version AC 225. It's an AC 225 GLM with lower duty cycle rating than the standard AC 225.
The 100% duty cyle rating is at 75 amps only. Even at a lower 60 amps or 40 amps setting you are back to 20% duty cycle rating again. I forget the exact details, but it has something to do with how the transformer is wired at that one particular setting - something like it is almost a straight pass through the larger primary windings and the smaller secondary windings are bypassed at that setting so that the duty cycle goes to 100% rating at that one setting only.
I doubt any true professional welding shop would be considering a AC225. It was and always has been a hobby, homeowner, farmer, very light industrial type machine and nothing more. Lincoln markets it accordingly in its literature. It will hold up fine to that market if used as recommended.
As for cutting: If you do not have other cutting tools it will work both fast and cheap for some applications - there are even instructions in the Lincoln manual for recommended technique to use when cutting/piercing metal. Really thin sheet metal can be cut with almost zero slag with practice and some ingenuity by providing a straight edge guide. I do have a 4.5 angle grinder with 0.045" disc that I also use for cutting (FWIW thin discs seem to have increased in price within the last couple of months by approximately 30%). Also have a sawzall which I use on steel and wood, but quality blades are not cheap for it either. I also have a chop saw that I use sometimes, but it is mostly useless on anything except new stock - not so good on an item that already exists.
All my cutting tools have their place - even my manual hacksaw. I try to choose the method that will be easiest on me as the operator, provide my required results, in conjuction with being the cheapest in regards to consumables destroyed in the process since consumables cost me money to replace. In a backyard repair shop, low cost is frequently a necessity. In a business for profit environment, the needs are sometimes very different - quality, appearance, and speed are much more important so better more expensive equipment is very easily justified. In the business world the cost for better equipment can be spread over numerous product lines so it becomes affordable to a business in that regard.
This post was edited by rankrank1 at 19:30:11 04/16/11 3 times.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Pitfalls of Tractor Engine Rebuilds - by Chris Pratt. The first pop after you have put the machine together with your own hands is exciting and pleasing. The whole experience can be marred if one moves too fast and makes too many assumptions that they can just use "as is" some parts they should be closely scrutinizing and possibly attended to. In such cases, rework makes what could have been a fun project turn into an irritant or even a nightmare. Minor Irritants To give you an example of an minor but irritating proble
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
