Lincoln Square Wave 255 TIG Welder

**Benesesso** · 02-28-2006, 08:18 PM

I might have a chance to buy one of these. I'd have to buy the foot control extra.

Does this unit have the lift-arc feature? Any owners/users help would be appreciated!

What price is good/fair for a used unit in very good/good condition?

**arcdawg** · 02-28-2006, 09:46 PM

its got the digital display correct......

if its what I think it is BUY IT.......one awesome machine.....!!!!!!

dawg

**Benesesso** · 02-28-2006, 10:07 PM

Yes, it has digital display. I hope I can get it for a good price. I think they're nearly $3000 new-complete.

**TRG-42** · 03-01-2006, 01:14 AM

Excellent machine ( despite being one generation old ). Only known weakness is the membrane / touch panel. Pretty expensive if you bugger it up.

You can get a new footpedal pretty cheap ( K870 is the part # )

No it does not have "lift arc" . It uses conventional HF starting . Only maintainance is to check spark gap for HF unit ( about .013 " )

**Brand X** · 03-01-2006, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by TRG-42

Excellent machine ( despite being one generation old ). Only known weakness is the membrane / touch panel. Pretty expensive if you bugger it up.

You can get a new footpedal pretty cheap ( K870 is the part # )

No it does not have "lift arc" . It uses conventional HF starting . Only maintainance is to check spark gap for HF unit ( about .013 " )

I thought they had one machine between that one and the PT- 275. It had auto balance
and a non touch pad front. I got close to buying one at one time. I picked the
Esab 252 instead for it's layout . I am sure you could not go wrong with that unit.

**out in the shop** · 03-01-2006, 03:21 AM

i have a sq wve 255, i have never tried it but i think you can lift arc,my thought is youd have to route your gas out of the machine, directly to the flowmeter. your torch would have to be valved. my sw255 has local/remote and you can tig in local(panel mt amp control). i only got mine a little while ago. but i am very happy with it. nice pulser, auto or manual balance,315 amps off a 100 amp breaker, has good low amp performance, in my opinion it seems to be a rugged well made machine, and ive heard they are much more desirable than the new pt275, the sw255 also comes standard with a 2 step or 4 step tig mode, its idiot proof. it wont let hf stay on stick welding to damage eqpt. it has some power correction factor to reduce power consumption , nice machine any ? email me

**arcdawg** · 03-01-2006, 08:39 AM

I see that the sheet metal is a little banged up so make sure that you go through the entire machine...try it on ac and dc and try the pulser and run some stick as well..

does it come with the water cooler ?

I was told at lincoln that the reason why they ditched the touch pad controls was cause guys were using the hot end of the filler rod to push the buttons and it was really messing up the controls.....

Im thinking $1500.00

**TRG-42** · 03-01-2006, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Brand X

I thought they had one machine between that one and the PT- 275. It had auto balance
and a non touch pad front. I got close to buying one at one time. I picked the
Esab 252 instead for it's layout . I am sure you could not go wrong with that unit.

You are correct . The SW255 is 2 generations old. There was the Square Wave 275

Thanks for pointing out the error ! Glad someone is paying attention

**Benesesso** · 03-01-2006, 10:52 AM

Here's another pic of it. Unfortunately I won't get a chance to test it--it's an auction item. Tag on it says "Works well".

I'm still confused about the lift-arc feature, which I think is pretty good. Never have used on, and I'm sure not much of a TIG welder, but I just stumbled on this welder.

**out in the shop** · 03-01-2006, 05:13 PM

now i may be wrong, and correct me if i am. but isnt lift arc and scratch start the same? touch the tungsten to energize,lift to establish the arc? if i am correct you can lift arc with any welder, i see pipers do it with bobcats all the time. no hf start.

**TJJ** · 03-01-2006, 05:53 PM

Here's what I understand about scratch vs lift arc.
Scratch arc is what you can do with any dc cc power source. The arc starts the moment the circuit is complete as when the tungsten touches the workpiece. That's why the scratch motion so it doesn't stick but it's still prone to contamination of the tungsten and work. Lift arc is a starting feature that applies power a fraction of a second after the tungsten is lifted off the workpiece. In other words there is no power even as the tungsten is in contact with the workpiece. A definite improvement over scratch since the tungsten is off the work when power is applied.

**out in the shop** · 03-01-2006, 06:56 PM

scratch vs lift, that makes sense,.......no the 255 is not capable of that. but im sure lincoln makes a contacter for the torch, weither it be an amptrol or momentary your option. that machine looks a little beat up externally, dents, faded paint, i wouldnt offer more than 4 or 5 hundy, maybe 6. if it runs its a good machine, appearances arnt everything, but it may be to the buyers advantage

**MMW** · 03-03-2006, 02:51 PM

It has a high frequency start which is preferable to scratch or lift arc. Hold torch close & push on the pedal to start. If you get the machine definitely invest in a pedal---MMW---

**tailshaft56** · 03-03-2006, 08:40 PM

Lift arc is used around sensitive electronics that might be damaged by the HF. Otherwise HF is the way to go.

**Benesesso** · 03-13-2006, 05:23 AM

Thanks for all the good info. Unfortunately I got outbid on all 3 machines. They sold for over $1k each.

Good thing is I don't do much TIG at all.

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