Bought a new to me Airco Dip/Stick 160 multiprocess welder

[H80N]

Aeronca41.... think we are both also experienced (old..??) enough to have learned the color code jingles for resistor stripes & dot colors for "domino" mica bakelite caps

remember

B-B-R-O-Y-G-B-V-G-W

[ryanjones2150]

ok, now you're just showing off....

...old guys...uh hem, I mean, distinguished gentlemen.

[H80N]

ok, now you're just showing off....

...old guys...uh hem, I mean, distinguished gentlemen.

....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0kVgSPAkcg

l

[ryanjones2150]

nice!

[Aeronca41]

Ryan, I've been called a lot of things but very seldom distinguished...... :-)

H80N,That pic of the mica cap did dredge up old memories. I think I still have some of those in the drawer next to 50 year old Sprague Orange Drops. And I still have my old Allied Radio (from their first instantiation before Radio Shack) book with all the handy color codes, wire tables, and even tube characteristics.

[Hondacivic247]

I enjoy old equipment as well that's why I picked up this welder, I also restored my big 80gal. Quincy 325 compressor along with a 80's 5hp Rolair and 5hp Emglo both which I sold to fund the Quincy. Like you guys I always try to buy USA made tools except I really like gearwrench sockets and ratchets.

I ended up with some Sprague 10000uf 50 vdc caps, I got 5 for $75 + shipping which will leave me with some left over cash if I need to fix something else. One of the guys I work with thought maybe this welder has a rheostat but I'm unsure if it does, I believe the only rheostat is for the wire feeder adjustment knob. He said it could also be a bad connection somewhere but I pulled a few an all looked clean. The copper coils they actually unwound them and used them as solid wire straight to the selector switch.

When I crank my amperage it slides a shunt with a magnet between the low voltage and high voltage windings, is that how most of these normally work that are transformer based?

[Aeronca41]

Cheap..?? you cared enough to invest in a Dynasty 200DX... the pinnacle of TIG machines as far as I am concerned... and not inexpensive...

would maybe call your spending guidelines....as being "Prudent"..... and value driven...

Like to think I only "cheap out" on non-critical or low value stuff and only then when no safety issues. (Like Chinese cut-off wheels). My wife just likes to tease me about some of my methods to save a buck. I like the price Hondacivic247 found on the caps; have to find out where he got them. Didn't even look at Inverter welders other than the Dynasty 200 once I learned about it. The half or 2/3 the price competitors were just too expensive to take a risk. I just bought Miller based on the quality of the company and the rep for making things right-even if it did mean saving longer. Knowing what I know now I might have taken a chance on HTP -they seem like a real quality outfit-but still glad I spent the extra bucks for Miller.

[Aeronca41]

I enjoy old equipment as well that's why I picked up this welder, I also restored my big 80gal. Quincy 325 compressor along with a 80's 5hp Rolair and 5hp Emglo both which I sold to fund the Quincy. Like you guys I always try to buy USA made tools except I really like gearwrench sockets and ratchets.

I ended up with some Sprague 10000uf 50 vdc caps, I got 5 for $75 + shipping which will leave me with some left over cash if I need to fix something else. One of the guys I work with thought maybe this welder has a rheostat but I'm unsure if it does, I believe the only rheostat is for the wire feeder adjustment knob. He said it could also be a bad connection somewhere but I pulled a few an all looked clean. The copper coils they actually unwound them and used them as solid wire straight to the selector switch.

When I crank my amperage it slides a shunt with a magnet between the low voltage and high voltage windings, is that how most of these normally work that are transformer based?

Sliding magnetic couplings were a very common method of controlling welding current in transformer based machines. Way less parts than switches and rheostats (thus pretty bulletproof), and are still used today in Thunderbolt/Stickmate and other lower cost transformer based welders. In that stick welding class, many people prefer them to their somewhat less expensive competitor, the Lincoln "tombstone" that switches between taps on a transformer. It is always nicer to have continuously variable control as opposed to steps that often seem either too hot or too cold but seldom quite right. Not to put down the Lincoln-you can make fine welds with it but have to do "fine control" of heat by changing arc length. (Longer = hotter) In both cases, there are no expensive PC boards to fail. Modern electronics has made control by a simple knob attached to a potentiometer possible at a reasonable cost, like the old transformer-based MM211, and now the next step, inverter technology, which is a whole different animal, is really taking over. The inverters are really cool, but can never have the long-term reliability of welders like your old Airco. It's just math. More parts, no matter how good and how well designed, always means more failures in the long term. Keep your dinosaur. Buy a more modern machine to supplement it if you want. One guy's opinion. BTW, where did you end up buying your caps? That was a great price.

[Hondacivic247]

I found them on tedss.com

[Aeronca41]

Thanks! We're all anxious to hear how your machine works with the new caps. All in all I think you got quite a deal on that welder.

[Hondacivic247]

What a beautiful morning in upstate NY it's almost 70 out, was a good moring to jump on my cbr600rr and rip it to work to print some labels for the day

[Hondacivic247]

Thanks! We're all anxious to hear how your machine works with the new caps. All in all I think you got quite a deal on that welder.

I feel like it was a good deal even tho I had to spend the money on a new whip but most old machines your going to have to anyways to have easy to get consumables. I seen the same welders on Craigslist and eBay in way worse shape for 500-700. I'll be 680 into mine that's in good shape with a new whip and caps.

I had a issue ordering the caps last night so I'm going to call back today and speak with the women I talked to yesterday and get them

[H80N]

What a beautiful morning in upstate NY it's almost 70 out, was a good moring to jump on my cbr600rr and rip it to work to print some labels for the day

Where are you located...???... there is a river road here that some riders cruise... others Howl on... might be close... we border Broome

[aametalmaster]

What a beautiful morning in upstate NY it's almost 70 out, was a good moring to jump on my cbr600rr and rip it to work to print some labels for the day

About the same temp here in NE Ohio. Great morning to be selling Miller parts. Been pretty busy considering the beginning of a holiday weekend..Bob

[Hondacivic247]

I live outside of Saratoga Springs in Malta where the AMD tech park is located