mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 My wife went to a yard sale saturday and bought me a 300 amp welder Its an old Montgomery wards stick welder that was made by Century I've been thinking about getting a wire feeder for it,I've found used voltage sensing feeders for $400-$500 but I wonder if its worth it. I've read that some older machines won't run a feeder very well and if it does run one I might have to run dual shield to get it to weld right. A 300 amp MIG would be nice but I already have a 125 amp mig so I may just run it as a stick welder. Anybody have any advice,opinions,ect........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepers Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 ive got an old NAPA 225 amp stick welder . its strong and a breese to weld with ,but i also have a weld pac 3200hd lincon mig . the mig is awsome for the finer things in most of my builds,but the stick is great for the big jobs ,steering, axle swaps,ect ect. but a 300amp mig.............wow that would rock ,never heard of it ,but i have seen converters for stick to mig at my local welding supply store..a bit pricy but i think it would be worth it . just my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 We have a 375 amp Miller at work with a feeder on it,it welds nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 If your happy with the 125 amp MIG and it does what you want it to, then why do you need a 300 amp mig converter for? If you just want a new toy and you got the coins, then go for it. Otherwise, why bother? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 The 125 works good for somethings but I would like more power, on thicker material I usually do mock up with the 125 then take it to work to weld it up. It would be nice to do it all at home. I'm pretty handy with a stick welder so I could use it as is but I like the idea of having a larger mig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Seems like to me , you answered your own question. Get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 I know I would like to do it,I'm just concerned it won't work right with my welder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Can't you find someone around there with the same combination and ask them their opinion?Try a welding supply house. They should have some names, recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 I've looked around online a bit,I figured I would post here and get some opinions and to show off what the wife got me. I might check out some welding shops aswell when I get more serious about converting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 My wife went to a yard sale saturday and bought me a 300 amp welder Its an old Montgomery wards stick welder that was made by Century I've been thinking about getting a wire feeder for it,I've found used voltage sensing feeders for $400-$500 but I wonder if its worth it. I've read that some older machines won't run a feeder very well and if it does run one I might have to run dual shield to get it to weld right. A 300 amp MIG would be nice but I already have a 125 amp mig so I may just run it as a stick welder. Anybody have any advice,opinions,ect........... That thing looks brand new, what she pay for it? I don't have fancy welders, a 110 gas and a 220 shielded, Id love to have a stick welder for big stuff. Unless you got to spend money, In which case then I'd just get a bigger mig, then I'd run it the way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 It couldn't have been used much.I'm guessing someone bought it for a project,then it just sat. From what I can tell its around 20-25 years old,so its in great shape. She paid $100 for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dechion Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Nice find. :cheers: For what it's worth, I was asking myself the same question a few years back. I have a 100 amp wirefeed that I use for small projects and a 300 amp stick welder I use for the big stuff. In my case I use the wirefeed for most of what I do. If it can't handle the job then I mock up with the wirefeed and burn it together with the stick welder for more/better penetration. Thats just me though, I'm a cheapskate. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 That's definitly the cheaper option,I may do that till I can get a good deal on a feeder. I've heard stories of people getting feeders dirt cheap because people think they are small mig welders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I wanted to fabricate a grill guard, winch mount for my Jeep using heavy (6 inch) steel plate. After diligently searching for a welder big enough to do the job and coming up empty handed I decided to take manners into my own hands and build one. First obtained a 50,000 amp generator, navy surplus and a 454 engine to drive it with. Unfortunately the engine couldn't hack it so I got a Santa Fe railroad surplus diesel locomotive GN-9 and modified it. 4 inch welding cables are expensive. I thought about making it a stick welder but decided wire feed was the only way to go so I got 25.000 feet of 1/2 steel cable, wire rope from a abandoned mine near me. Using the 454 to feed the wire, er, cable with. Think I screwed up tho by trying to weld the assembly on the MJ instead of on the ground and then mounting it. Had the ground lead attached to the rear bumper. When I struck a spark the whole d*mn thing disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Maybe I should have drained the gas tank first. Anybody want to buy a surplus railroad locomotive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Next time I run to my dads place in colorado I will swing by and pick it up,I hope it fits in the Mj :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepers Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 joesmel ,wow good story, ill take it ,more power for a manche....lol :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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