New Welder
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:40
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Member - Pesty (SA)
Hi forumites,
I am in the market for a new welder after a lifetime with a good s/h arc I have decided to get a more modern and more portable unit.
I do most of my welding outside or under open shelter and so a mig is useless in the wind so I am looking at a shoebox welder (DC or Inverter welder.)
I would like about 150 - 160 amp and with 70 - 100% duty cycle with 3.2 mm rods.
I have found several, one being a, Gysmi 164, made in france, for $850.
I have seen others some intergrated into mig units, but want just a DC welder.
I would like to keep it under a grand if I can, so if anyone has any ideas I would look forward to them.
It will be used as small business repair work and light engineering.
Thanks Pesty
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:51
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:51
You'll need a bloody biggun if you're gunna try to keep that bucket of bolts of yours on the road mate...hahahaha
Look forward to seeing the responses though cos I'm still trying to work out what sort to get too.
Cya tomorra
AnswerID:
92493
Reply By: glenno(bris) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:59
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 20:24
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 20:24
Pesty,
Bunnings stock an Ozito Inverter welder for $299. From what I understand, it is capable of welding smaller gauge steel than normal arc welder. Its very small and portable. But I've had no experience with it. Anybody used one??
Cheers
Phil
AnswerID:
92507
Reply By: Glenn (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 21:06
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 21:06
I know this might not help you in your quest, but I know a REAL welder.....his name is Al Grierson.
Cheers
AnswerID:
92516
Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 15:52
Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 15:52
Yes I believe Al is a Real welder, and I am also a Real welder, obviously your NOT!!
FollowupID:
352070
Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:06
Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:06
Qualified? Willing to guarantee work carried out? Warranty on work performed? I would like to see that FC....hahahahhahahahaha
FollowupID:
352104
Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:41
Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:41
All the above, obviously your NOT!!
FollowupID:
352111
Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:56
Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 19:56
Like a broken record...like a broken record
I would love to see "All the above" in writing FC
FollowupID:
352113
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 22:28
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 22:28
Pesty,
Would stick to brands like Cigweld, Lincoln or WIA. But the "others" can beat them on price!
We had a "chippy' here some months ago, putting in a cottage, and he had a littl;e CIG Inverter, run 3.2 mm rods, about size of shoe box. Don't remember the duty cycle, but he used to work it hard. Thought he said about $1200.
Look up "A Mans' Toyshop" site, they should give you some idea of price, though they are in Rocky!!! www.amanstoyshop.com
Hooroo...
AnswerID:
92534
Reply By: fatboy - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 22:40
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 22:40
Hi Pesty , if you are after a good inverter I would recomend a eutectic , have used one in our workshop for last 11 years and can not fault it, will pull a genuine 140 amps from a 10 amp outlet , capable of running 4 mm rods if the need arises , only one draw back is that they are extremely expensive but it would pay to
shop around .
Regards
fatboy
AnswerID:
92541
Follow Up By: beatit - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 10:36
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 10:36
G'day fatboy,
Hope you don't mind if this mug asks you a question. Basically looking at upgrading my old arc welder (been using it for lots of years) been thinking of a mig (versatility, cleaner welds etc) but just reading these post opened up another option, looked up the eutectic and I like what I saw. I know its not a mig but it seems a great lightweight unit. I noticed it has a max power requirement @ 100% of 3.8 KVA, do you think it would do basic welding from a 2 KVA genie? I also have the option to link 2 x 2KVA to give me 4.
Just like the notion of taking it with me when I travel.
Kind regards
FollowupID:
351486
Follow Up By: fatboy - Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 22:12
Friday, Jan 14, 2005 at 22:12
Hi beatit , sorry for the lack of reply have not been close to the computer, I am not rael sure but I think you will find the welder won't run at all of the 2 kva , we have had power supply problems here in Mt Isa and have not been getting the full voltage to our building and had all sorts of problems with all of our electronically controlled welders, I would personally only buy a mig welder if you can run 3 phase power or you are only wanting to weld very light steel as all of the smaller migs I have used only ran .6 wire which is probably equivalent to a 2mm or maybe a 1.6 mm rod and I was not real im[pressed with the gasless wires , Have seen them used in a line borer I.D welder and while they produced a neat enough weld I don't think it got the penetration needed for any type of structural welding. Hope this helps
Regards
Fatboy
FollowupID:
352128
Follow Up By: beatit - Monday, Jan 17, 2005 at 10:17
Monday, Jan 17, 2005 at 10:17
Thanks heaps, don't have 3 phase so looks like I will be getting the eutectic.
Kind regards
FollowupID:
352531
Reply By: banjodog - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:23
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:23
Another place to start looking is -
http://www.totaltools.com.au/catalogue/ProductDetails.html?id=9316571108917&sesid=ca7706a51e18ebe1444a4e3b17042a0f
For me I prefer the 200 amp Flowarc - Australian made, 10 year warranty with 4 copper coils. But it's not a portable as it weighs 48kg - it's a trolley style and requires 15amp input. Will easially drive 4mm rods.
Normally the portable welders are aluminium coils or the DC welders have a PC board that must have good clean power or it'll get spiked and the replacement board is about 80% of the purchase price (so I was told).
But no matter which welder you buy
check the duty cycle rating. Some may be 140amp rated but it's duty cycle is 10% at 80amps - not really good if you need to really hammer it.
AnswerID:
92590
Reply By: Member - Bradley- Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 13:25
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 13:25
Hi Pesty, when i was working in the mines and quarries i used a few of the 'shoebox' types various brands , but they were all pretty good,some had some real long cables fitted and didn't mind, not cheap though at an average of $1000 each. BUT damn portable and lightweight and seem to love a good workout. Best things ever when you have to scamper up catwalks and safety ladders with it over your shoulder. But you know whats even better? - a speedglass helmet, yeah baby..
AnswerID:
92633
Reply By: awill4x4 - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 20:20
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 20:20
As a full time welder (specialist Tig welder in the motorsports industry) I would recommend a good quality inverter machine. WIA, Esab, Fronius, Kemppi, BOC/CIG and not necessarily in that order.
If you get a good quality inverter machine it can double up as a Tig welding setup which is suitable for welding steel, stainless steel, Chrome/Moly and most ferrous metals. NOTE: DC only machines are not suitable for welding aluminium, for aluminium you need an AC/DC machine at a price of around $4000 for a good AC/DC invertor machine.
The beauty of
inverters is the fact that they draw much less power through the plug and are less likely to melt the plug off the wall compared to the old AC stick welding machines of the past.
Regards Andrew.
AnswerID:
92704
Reply By: Geoff - Thursday, Jan 13, 2005 at 15:52
Thursday, Jan 13, 2005 at 15:52
An inverter unit would be the tops.Mig welder can be used outside if using gasless wire...
check it out!Could be cheaper.
AnswerID:
92828
Reply By: beatit - Monday, Jan 31, 2005 at 10:29
Monday, Jan 31, 2005 at 10:29
G'day Pesty,
A little late maybe but thought I would share anyway, bought a Eutectic Ultramax $850 as a result of this thread. It is only rated to 110 amps and weighs 3.7 Kg.
Great little unit I must say, spent the weekend giving it a thorough workout. The best thing was that I was able to run it off my 2Kva Honda for short bursts (the welders spec calls for 2.2Kva and the genie will produce 2.7Kva for short periods). This means it will be traveling with me when 4 wheeling.
Thanks for raising the question and if you haven't decided yet can recommend this one.
Kind regards
AnswerID:
95798