inverter welders

[kenmac]

I bought this everlast inverter welder some years back. Is it just me, or are these inverter welders just difficult to grasp ? I have been welding since the 70's with a transformer machine, and I just can't seem to catch on using this inverter machine. If you pull back off the arc just a little the arc goes out ! I have to keep a very close ark to keep the rod burning. What am I doing wrong or is it just the way it is with these inverters /
Thanks !

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I just fired up am inverter welder a cheap one not my better one and had the exact experience. I almost had to bury the arc welding rod in the puddle, unlike my heavy transformer welder.

 

[MoArk Willy]

I bought an inverter welder from Amico and I find it much easier to use.
I hadn't welded in a while so I wanted a small unit I could use to fix equipment and build some projects on my property.
The DC inverter welder is absolutely perfect.
Perhaps like anything else there is a learning curve between the two types of machines.

 

[WranglerX]

Might also have a meaning as to where welder was manufactured and whose "company" specification were followed.... Not all welders are created equal....

 

[kenmac]

Might also have a meaning as to where welder was manufactured and whose "company" specification were followed.... Not all welders are created equal....

If I'm not mistaken, all of them are made in china, or at least the electronics are. This is an Everlast that advertise here, suppose to be better than some others . It is an IGBT unit which are suppose to be the better electronics. So I don't know.

 

[mark in portugal]

I learned on a transformer, but have been using inverters for 20 years. I did 1000 yards of weld on one job (with an inverter).
For the last 5 years I've been using a super cheap ($220) but beefy 200A unit.

I don't have the experience you're describing at all. I can pull the rod back a half inch and the arc is still arcing.

 

[sd455dan]

I bought this everlast inverter welder some years back. Is it just me, or are these inverter welders just difficult to grasp ? I have been welding since the 70's with a transformer machine, and I just can't seem to catch on using this inverter machine. If you pull back off the arc just a little the arc goes out ! I have to keep a very close ark to keep the rod burning. What am I doing wrong or is it just the way it is with these inverters /
Thanks !

If I'm not mistaken, all of them are made in china, or at least the electronics are. This is an Everlast that advertise here, suppose to be better than some others . It is an IGBT unit which are suppose to be the better electronics. So I don't know.

Some Inverters suck especially for say 6010. For MIG I really like my HTP (Italian -STEL) Pro Pulse. For thicker than 3/8's stick welding I still use the Big old 300 amp Ideal Arc TIG / Stick. Of course it cost a bit more for the HTP than some of the Chinese units.

 

[mark in portugal]

I also have an old STEL inverter stick welder. It still works great.

 

[kenmac]

Some Inverters suck especially for say 6010. For MIG I really like my HTP (Italian -STEL) Pro Pulse. For thicker than 3/8's stick welding I still use the Big old 300 amp Ideal Arc TIG / Stick. Of course it cost a bit more for the HTP than some of the Chinese units.

well, I already had a mig and an old stick welder from long ago. so I'm not getting rid of those. I just wanted something I could do tig with so I bought this inverter that does both stick and tig. Everlast machine.
I like the fact that I can also use it on 110 circuit If I need to. But the arc is no better on 220 than 110. and I'm using like a 3/32 6011 rod on 110 v which the welder should burn just fine if they could just get the arc right on these things.

If I were a beginner using this machine, I would just give up because it's just too difficult for a beginner to hold an arc with this machine. There is a kid up the road taking welding at trace school. He ask if he could practice with mine some. I said sure, he sure doesn't say favorable things about this machine. and continues to tell me that something is wrong with your machine ! LOL . I connected my old transformer machine for him and he says ''now, this is a real welder'' LOL

This Everlast isn't really a cheap machine. I really thought it would be an all around welder here a the farm, but I have been really disappointed with this inverter using it as a stick welder.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I have the little Hobart 160i ... My biggest problem is starting a full new stick (probably my inexperience!) ... Once started it's fine, I like 240VAC MUCH better than 120VAC, and like the 7014 rod ... And don't like the 6011, wish I didn't buy the "deal" of 25 Lb boxes of it!

Purple ticks are what I have so far ...

I can run the 240 in the garage, or out and about with my 7K portable generator, and only used the 120 setting once in the barn, better to move to the garage or bring the generator out ...

 

[FullMetalBucket]

I have a little Century FC90 inverter welder I bought during the COVID shutdown. It’s a subset of Lincoln. It’s very light at 15 lbs I believe. It seems to do a surprisingly good job, but I’m not an experienced welder. Solid welds on this little work table I made from old bed frames I found in the attic.

 

[Topzide]

Almost sounds like it's not grounding well. Have you got the ground on clean bare metal? Maybe move it closer to where you're welding.

 

[kenmac]

I have the little Hobart 160i ... My biggest problem is starting a full new stick (probably my inexperience!) ... Once started it's fine, I like 240VAC MUCH better than 120VAC, and like the 7014 rod ... And don't like the 6011, wish I didn't buy the "deal" of 25 Lb boxes of it!

Purple ticks are what I have so far ...

View attachment 4751539

I can run the 240 in the garage, or out and about with my 7K portable generator, and only used the 120 setting once in the barn, better to move to the garage or bring the generator out ...

I'm not really new to welding. I did it once in a previous life, so I'm pretty experienced.
If I set the machine hot enough to half way to hold an arc, I have about burn the rod up flux on a white 6011 rod is black ! LOL
If I'm out away from the house where I have 120v. I carry this machine due to it being lighter and not having to drag around the generator.

I sure wouldn't recommend one to someone just starting out . Perhaps I'm just spoiled on the transformer welder

 

[etpm]

As someone who learned on transformer machines and still owns a Miller Goldstar I know how transformer machines work. I also own two Lincoln SP MIG welders, which are both transformer machines. They work great. And I have a Miller 300 amp 60% duty cycle MIG machine, also a transformer unit. It welds better than me. But the welder I use the most is a Lincoln TIG/Stick machine. It is an inverter machine and it works great on both TIG and Stick. I love it. I think your problem is your machine, not inverter machines in general. And not you.
Eric

 

[Cycledude]

Have you tried talking to Everlast about the issues ?

 

[square1]

I can pull the rod back a half inch and the arc is still arcing.

Yeah, I can spray weld like a boss with mine

 

[chim]

Just used my Everlast 200STi yesterday to cobble up a trailer ball mount for the old Ford 1210 because there's a need to use the utility trailer to move pieces of a project from place to place and serve as a temporary work bench. It will be handy to just keep the trailer connected and mobile.

Everything else here was already a male except for Wifey's Oldsmobile. HOWEVER, the Kubota has a receiver on the front (blocked by the snow plow), a 2" ball on the RFM (mower is off for the Winter), and the Trailblazer has receivers front and rear (don't want to tie it up).

After gathering steel and trimming pieces off with the plasma cutter the welder did a better job than I did running 3/32" 7014 rod at around 90A. It runs smooth but I need more stinger time Admittedly I can do "purtier" welds with the Millermatic 175 but stick is fun too.

 

[Gordon Gould]

A lot of inverter machine don't run 6010/11 well. My Everlast PowerARC 200 ST inverter welder has a special ground plug For 6010/11 and runs them fine. I have no trouble holding an arc with any rod I have used.

gg

 

[rangerfredbob]

I wonder if it is that, there's sure a lot of youtube videos on inverter welders not wanting to run 6010 which has had me curious but I never run 6010 just 6011 and not knowledgeable enough to know the difference other than position... If it were me I'd just run 7018 as it's cleaner... but for my uses 6011 is more versatile... my brother got a tiny Yeswelder and it runs 6011 just fine

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I have the little Hobart 160i ... My biggest problem is starting a full new stick (probably my inexperience!) ... Once started it's fine, I like 240VAC MUCH better than 120VAC, and like the 7014 rod ... And don't like the 6011, wish I didn't buy the "deal" of 25 Lb boxes of it!

Purple ticks are what I have so far ...

View attachment 4751539

I can run the 240 in the garage, or out and about with my 7K portable generator, and only used the 120 setting once in the barn, better to move to the garage or bring the generator out ...

That's a handy chart!