Oooooold Miller model 250 TIG/ stick welder, need help

[ADR]

I inherited an old (probably 1970's vintage) Miller model 250 TIG welder and need to know if there is a way to convert it to a modern type of controller. The fellow I got it from was an electronics genius and designed a foot operated control with a reversible drill and gear reduction box to drive the current setting and trigger the gas, etc. It had a water cooled torch handle that simply dumped into a drain and was regulated by hand.

I want to update it because the old wiring is brittle and the drill needs work. I also want to know if this is worth messing with. It worked great when I used it 20+ years ago.

Any ideas and comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ADR]

Anyone have a comment?

[tnjind]

I would like to help you out, but I don't even know where to begin. Hopefully someone here will be able to help you.
The setup you have sounds neat but really ,um, different.
Good luck.

[ADR]

I would like to help you out, but I don't even know where to begin. Hopefully someone here will be able to help you.
The setup you have sounds neat but really ,um, different.
Good luck.

Thanks. I just came back in from looking at it a little more and doing some more searching here. It appears to be a late 60s model serial # T447724 and the high frequency gear looks to be homemade so maybe I am headed in the right direction. I'm thinking he copied the design of the HF 250-1 unit's internals because it is not a Miller part. One of my main area of desire is to update the drill controlling the current. I saw where there is an accessory control for varying current from the torch handle, fixed mount or foot control. I can post pics if necessary. I am kind of blind on this so thanks for the help.