Improving your welding?

[Scooby074]

Do you not have 240 at work and in your house?

To add a 240 receptacle at home, assuming a "reasonable" length of wire to run between the panel and the plug, would cost under $150, likely under $100. To me it seems penny wise pound foolish to have a very good 240v welder there and not be using it to its potential.

As to welding in the woods from a generator, well that is the one great advantage to these dual voltage units, but I wouldnt make a habit of welding anything 3/16" or above from a 120v welder, doubly so if it will be "interacting" with the public.

Realistically in 120v mode, its an under 3/16" welder. Miller rates them as such.

 

[k0ua]

Do you not have 240 at work and in your house?

To add a 240 receptacle at home, assuming a "reasonable" length of wire to run between the panel and the plug, would cost under $150, likely under $100. To me it seems penny wise pound foolish to have a very good 240v welder there and not be using it to its potential.

As to welding in the woods from a generator, well that is the one great advantage to these dual voltage units, but I wouldnt make a habit of welding anything 3/16" or above from a 120v welder, doubly so if it will be "interacting" with the public.

Realistically in 120v mode, its an under 3/16" welder. Miller rates them as such.

I ran two 240 volt receptacles in my house for less than $100, including the one outside was a weatherproof housing and including the breakers. Of course the wire lengths were very short as they were both near the breaker box. I realize if your breaker box was already full or the wire lengths were long that would raise the price some, but there are such things as double breakers to free up space in a box. If I had a 120/240 volt capable machine I for darn sure would have 240 volts available somewhere to make the most of the machines capability's.

 

[k0ua]

Do you not have 240 at work and in your house?

To add a 240 receptacle at home, assuming a "reasonable" length of wire to run between the panel and the plug, would cost under $150, likely under $100. To me it seems penny wise pound foolish to have a very good 240v welder there and not be using it to its potential.

As to welding in the woods from a generator, well that is the one great advantage to these dual voltage units, but I wouldnt make a habit of welding anything 3/16" or above from a 120v welder, doubly so if it will be "interacting" with the public.

Realistically in 120v mode, its an under 3/16" welder. Miller rates them as such.

I ran two 240 volt receptacles in my house for less than $100, including the one outside was a weatherproof housing and including the breakers. Of course the wire lengths were very short as they were both near the breaker box. I realize if your breaker box was already full or the wire lengths were long that would raise the price some, but there are such things as double breakers to free up space in a box. If I had a 120/240 volt capable machine I for darn sure would have 240 volts available somewhere to make the most of the machines capability's.

 

[Sodo]

My breaker box at home is full, cant add any more circuits. But I can get 220 if slightly motivated. At work, I weld in 2 locations, one is 75ft from the panel, the better location is 125 ft. "In the woods" is where I do 75% of (recent) projects, I have a 10hp (5000W) which maxes out at 1/4" (on 220v). I'd need a 9000w (estimated 15HP?) generator to weld (at full power). 220v costs a lot of money, possibly as much as the machine ($2000?). I would like to have 220v but it doesn't make a lot of sense (yet).

I do not believe that many members weld (often enough) over 1/4" to justify the outlay to ADD 220v. Certainly some do. But this is the reason the MFRs saw a market for 120v welders and the reason people want to buy them. 3/16" is significant material. As I repeat, the bucket and FEL structure on my Kubota B2710 is all 3/16" plate with 1/4" here and there. My car trailer (that I haul a mini-excavator & tractor on) is made of 3/16" and 1/4". Very very few members take on projects larger than those examples. Hence my assertion that 220v should not be a "stopper" for someone who has a desire to weld.

Members who are already certain that their projects will exceed 1/4" material have to get 220v machines, and if they don't have 220, need to add that cost to the eqpt list. My guess $500-$2500 for hiring out & much less for the DIY electricians.

 

[k0ua]

Sodo have you considered putting in 2 double breakers to free up a double slot to put in a 240 volt breaker?

 

[Jim in ICT]

Arc, I think that the majority of us have the ability to sift through some of the BS that is posted and differentiate good advice from bad. Keep it up - for my money, you and Shield Arc are on the right track. I do have to admit to a bit of amusement in the past couple of weeks' posts. Some folks just won't let it go.


"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think that you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" - Mark Twain

 

[CNC Dan]

.....

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think that you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" - Mark Twain

Might not be from Twain:

Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt | Quote Investigator

But it is still one of mt favorite quotes.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Careful, Dan, you may get us off topic. You know what happens then!


I'd always heard it was attributed to MT, like you it's one of my favorites.

 

[KubotainNH]

Like most everything, there's arguments to both sides. To the Arc's point, if I'm making something that needs to be strong and is thick metal I get out the 220v stick welder. I'm not great at it but after 10 or 15 minutes of practice I can get some strong beads down but they may not look super. To Sodo's point, 99% of my needs fall into the 1/8" or thinner range and the wire feed makes quick work of it. I started building a bull bar type piece to bolt to my trucks plow frame so I wouldn't bang my knees so often and it would look a bit better. (I take the upper frame off in the summer but leave the lower part on) I started building this with my 220v stick but got so frustrated I put it aside for a year or 2. Along came some sheet metal work I needed to do on a car which pushed me to buy the 110v wire feed box that was on sale. After a bit of of practice I was getting some decent stitch welds going and seeing some body work come out way stronger and nicer than bondo. I eventually grabbed that bull bar and finished it up easily with the small unit. Final point, I like hearing from all sides and will pull the info I need out of a posting. I'd would rather pass on the bickering.

 

[lostcreekranch]

If I was rich!

Air Vantage® 650 Engine Driven Welder

Whoa baby!

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[downsizingnow48]

I bought my Thunderbolt ACDC about 25 years ago, and had a torch before that. For a long time I got along OK with those. Last night finally decided to get a MIG machine, for about the same reasons as KubotainNH. Our house in town has 120, the country place has 240. So I got a dual voltage machine. This has the advantage I didn't have to come down on either side of the debate.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Your thunderbolt is going to be jealous! Lol
Nice machine from what I've heard

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought my Thunderbolt ACDC about 25 years ago, and had a torch before that. For a long time I got along OK with those. Last night finally decided to get a MIG machine, for about the same reasons as KubotainNH. Our house in town has 120, the country place has 240. So I got a dual voltage machine. This has the advantage I didn't have to come down on either side of the debate.

Bingo! That's what I 'settled' on. Even got high marks from Shield Arc! I love the 120/240v ability.

 

[KubotainNH]

So I got a dual voltage machine. This has the advantage I didn't have to come down on either side of the debate.

Sweet. Man, I love tools. I need to get out more...lol.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I started casually investigating MIG welders late 2013, gathering some really educational information, mostly on TBN. Was starting to close in on the Millermatic 211. Happened to run into one of my ranch neighbors who told me he had bought a Lincoln Weld Pak 175 at Home Depot in about 2010 because he thought he "needed" to learn how to weld. Short story is that he lost interest before even opening the box in almost 3 years. He offered to to me for $300. Told him I would take it and picked it up later that week. When I came by to pick it up he had, not only the unused welder, but a cart for it, 2 auto adjust helmets, several rolls of wire (flux core and solid), and a nice collection of magnets, tools etc. I thought he was going to ask extra for the additional but, he gave all to me. Gave him 4 x$100 bills and we both parted smiling. I just need to go get a gas bottle and will be up and running soon. Been busy with business travel so, have not used it yet.

I know that the Lincoln Weld Paks are not great welders from info on the Internet but think it will be sufficient as a " learner" welder.

1. Price was great.

2. It is a 230 Volt machine.

3. I can get my money out of it in a year or two if I want to get a better welder.

Last time I welded was in 1960's in high school shop with stick welders so this is like starting all over again.

Planning to spend some weekend time with local guy who retired and sold his fabrication company (U stamp / R stamp) in Houston. He retired and bought out local welding shop near our ranch. Think he will be a great teacher / mentor if he will take me on.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[ThomasH]

<snip> I know that the Lincoln Weld Paks are not great welders from info on the Internet but think it will be sufficient as a " learner" welder.

I helped a friend do some fab and repair and used his Lincoln Weld Pak 175 (he said it was about 5 years old and hardly used). It worked fine for the 3/16 material I was welding. The only thing was that I had to stop once or twice for a minute and let the welder cool down, but other than that it was fine. I was using ER70-S2 .035 wire and the welds looked nice and were plenty strong. As far as I know he is still using he spring harrow that we fixed.

Sounds like you got a bargain, with all of the accessories/helmets...

Good luck!

 

[ThomasH]

Duplicate...

 

[PhysAssist]

I thought it was a collective of expertise across all the different areas.
I have and will continue to seek out the more experienced advise for my needs. Not saying I can't learn from others by any means, but if I were seeking marriage counseling I would ask the couple who were married for 50 years, not for 5.

What he said!

I look for the folks who know stuff to help me learn stuff.

If I can share my piddling bit of knowledge I try to make sure that I really know what I think I do before posting it.

Being sort of humanoid, I am occasionally proven wrong, and try to accept the lesson gratefully.

Arc, and the rest you pro welders, I for one really appreciate and take to heart the information you present here (and on the Welder's Web when I can get over there) as well as watching and rewatching the videos that are sent out or posted.

It is this forum and the range of folks here that has made me even begin to think that doing some metal joining is not out of my reach, including the advice from the pros, the examples of the not-so-pros who are willing to share their learning process, and being able to read the advice given to them by the pros, hopefully saving me some steps in learning, even though I know that hands on practice is the only way to really get better.

Soapbox mode off...

Thanks to all who contribute.
Thomas

 

[Tor Arne]

If it is thicker than 5mm I use a stick welder 220V 20A. thinner than 5mm I use a mig welder 220 16A 3Ph. It's not often I work with metal that is thinner than 5 mm.

 

[roadhunter]

IMHO it is really low class to come on a forum and make personal attacks. If you want to actually help someone, please do. Otherwise you help no one and run people off with this kind of trash.

Don't bother replying, I am through trying to ask people to be helpful ...

Funny stuff. You tell me I'm low class and what I posted was trash and then not to make personal attacks. What do you call telling someone they are low class and their post is trash? LOL. You need to practice what you preach. I never said anything to you, you chose to quote me. Then you have the nerve to tell me not to respond.

You also tell me only to post if I am going to help and then you turn around and post exactly what you claim you want to stop. And it contributed nothing to the conversation.

You are very good at telling people not to do things and then you go do those exact things yourself. Pretty funny.