230 ac arc

[scapegoat]

I have a Century 230 ac arc welder and I was wondering if anybody is familiar with this welder. The manufacturing date is 1996. I bought it for about a hundred bucks. I have used it a couple of times and it makes good solid quality welds. I was just curious if anyone know how the quality is for this brand and model. It looked brand new when I bought it so I figured it was worth a hundred bucks. Would a DC arc welder make better welds or should I just stay with this one?

[Hotfoot]

I'd stick (yuk, yuk) with it. Its a low price brand, and not the same level as mileer, Lincoln, Horbart, etc., but heck, if it welding decent, keep it! You could have gotten a new Lincoln tombstone for another $125 or so, but I doubt if you'll see any difference. I'd always say get the better stuff, but "buzz boxes" seem the most forgiving of all the welder types for brand differences.
If I understand the DC difference for a home user, you get smoother deposition and easier out position welds - particularly overhead.
The equipment keeps getting better as the price goes up, and Man, it can go WAY up if you want. Get good with what you've got, then wait for that killer deal on someone's used stuff to pop up - because when it does, you've got about 16 minutes to score it before someone else does...the good stuff sells FAST. You'll always be able to get $100 for your Century if its clean, not dented, and runs smooth.

[Timinmb]

I have a Century 230 ac arc welder and I was wondering if anybody is familiar with this welder. The manufacturing date is 1996. I bought it for about a hundred bucks. I have used it a couple of times and it makes good solid quality welds. I was just curious if anyone know how the quality is for this brand and model. It looked brand new when I bought it so I figured it was worth a hundred bucks. Would a DC arc welder make better welds or should I just stay with this one?

Is it the one with the slide handle that you squeeze to unlock? If so, they are ok welders. They rattle and buzz a lot, and some of them wear out and the locking mechanism keeps creeping off the setting. My Canadian Tire 230 amp welder is made by Century for Canadian Tire. Its got to be 20 or more years old and still going strong.

[scapegoat]

yep its the on with the slide handle that you squeeze to unlock and it has a high and low port for the stick holder. It is seriously like brand new. Its all glossy and clean.

[W8KI]

I had one just like it but.... MUCH older (and uglier!!!)... She is still in use at a local farm. The farmer also bought one of my old autodark helmets... He had a shade 13 where he could never see the puddle ;-)... He has welded more in the last year then he has in the past 20. Regarding the century-old-century. He'd fight ya over it! ;-) ;-) ;-) Anything is better than nothing.. Glossy & clean - wow.