On the subject of classic unbeatable welding machines, I really do like those Ideal-Arc three phase machines. The 400 amp unit I got to use a few times was my favorite transformer welder I've ever used. But the machine that felt like it literally welded perfectly no matter what you did was an old Lincoln SAC 500 torpedo welder. I had a friend that taught welding at the local manpower education center for a little over a year who broke one out of storage. I'm sure it was bloody murder on the power bill as it was a three phase generator driven by a three phase motor, but for a stable and smooth arc that started right then and there was nothing else even close. It even ran a little better than a well used Hobart ford inline 6 powered 600 amp rated welder I got to use a couple of times.
