DC conversion for AC stick welder

[Dozerash]

Has anyone done the conversion on an old AC stick welder to DC? My brother in law just did one with a 300 amp bridge rectifier. Cost him about $20. I would like to do my Miller Thunderbolt and be able to change it back to AC. Anyone else do this conversion?

 

[kayco53]

Didn't know that could be done. Let us know if it works! I have a miller ac like in the pics given to me. Cabin machine. DC would be nice.

 

[California]

Has anyone done the conversion on an old AC stick welder to DC? My brother in law just did one with a 300 amp bridge rectifier. Cost him about $20. I would like to do my Miller Thunderbolt and be able to change it back to AC. Anyone else do this conversion?

Don here did his Lincoln AC-225 and posted photos. Just a rectifier, an aluminum plate for a heat sink, and a fan.

https://weldingsite.com/threads/lincoln-welder-owner-check-in.13/page-2#post-1216

 

[Dozerash]

I have the parts to build this just haven’t got around to it yet. I hear it works well.

 

[texan939]

what and how do you change the lincoln 225 tombstone ?

 

[kjonxx]

Has anyone done the conversion on an old AC stick welder to DC? My brother in law just did one with a 300 amp bridge rectifier. Cost him about $20. I would like to do my Miller Thunderbolt and be able to change it back to AC. Anyone else do this conversion?

I did this to my ac welder almost identical to your pic and its easy and reversible.

 

[Old Irish]

I did the conversion on a L225, I didn't use a capacitor and was VERY disappointed with the performance. A capacitor would probably much improve it but not worth the cost since YesWelder sells a good welding inverter dc welder for a little over a hundred bucks. I had the 160 amp stick machine and it worked great, my son in law wanted to learn to weld so I gave it to him and my grandson's. I have the 205 mig/stick machine and I like it as well, mostly I use it for scratch tig. I have a Lincoln SW 200 a/c-d/c but the YesWelder is more convenient.
It was a fun project with poor results.

 

[efred]

I would like to do the opposite: convert a multi-process welder (MIG, TIG, Stick) into a AC/DC welder so I can weld aluminum tubing.

Does anyone know how to do it, and what it would cost?

 

[Old Irish]

I would like to do the opposite: convert a multi-process welder (MIG, TIG, Stick) into a AC/DC welder so I can weld aluminum tubing.

Does anyone know how to do it, and what it would cost?

Arc Pig makes stick welding easy

Arc Pig makes stick welding easy.

www.arcpig.com

 

[California]

Arc Pig makes stick welding easy

Arc Pig makes stick welding easy.

www.arcpig.com

$500 but out of stock, (might be No Longer Available?) on ArcPig or Amazon. One, used on Ebay for $375, "not returnable".

Maybe a modern welder with HF built in could be a better choice?

 

[bert47]

I would like to do the opposite: convert a multi-process welder (MIG, TIG, Stick) into a AC/DC welder so I can weld aluminum tubing.

Does anyone know how to do it, and what it would cost?

Im not sure about your question. If you still have the MillerMatic 250, add a gas bottle and a spool gun and go weld aluminum.

 

[kpsp50]

Check out primeweld welders for $500 you'll get a ac/dc mig stick with spool gun for aluminum 3 year warranty. Happy welding

 

[aircommuter]

Lots of good used a/c, d/c machines out there with power factor correction and other factory designed filters that are very smooth. I still have my Lincoln TIG/Stick A/C, D/C 300 amp 1982 I bought new.