MIG questions

[dragoneggs]

O/T...TBN is one of the most popular topic (tractors) related message boards on the entire Internet...It also happens to be one of the best managed boards on the Internet...all those that contribute their time and effort (including plain old members) make it so...my hats off to the Admins and mods etc...etc...

Now back to the (basic) topic...I have a 110V 140A (sold under the 'Snap-On' name) mig welder that has a 100% duty cycle...so why am I seeing so many other 110V welders sold for serious money that have seemingly paltry duty cycles compared to the "snap-on"...?

Wow... interesting. Would love to see/compare specs. Is this a new model? Not that I even close to 100% duty. Personally, I can't keep up with my welder.

 

[aczlan]

Now back to the (basic) topic...I have a 110V 140A (sold under the 'Snap-On' name) mig welder that has a 100% duty cycle...so why am I seeing so many other 110V welders sold for serious money that have seemingly paltry duty cycles compared to the "snap-on"...?

Might want to double check the dataplate? The current one ( MIG140, Welder, MIG, 140 Amp) has a 60% duty cycle at 140A and recommends a 30 amp circuit to power it.

Aaron Z

 

[/pine]

Wow... interesting. Would love to see/compare specs. Is this a new model? Not that I even close to 100% duty. Personally, I can't keep up with my welder.

It's an older model...but the owners manual clearly states 100% duty cycle...

 

[dragoneggs]

It's an older model...but the owners manual clearly states 100% duty cycle...

The question I suppose though is... at what amperage?

 

[/pine]

The question I suppose though is... at what amperage?

sorry to say I do not have the manual currently at my disposal...I will get it out of storage and post the stats ASAP...

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Might want to double check the dataplate? The current one ( MIG140, Welder, MIG, 140 Amp) has a 60% duty cycle at 140A and recommends a 30 amp circuit to power it.

Aaron Z

Interesting, a 140 pound mig welder that puts out 140 amps at 60% duty cycle.
Needs 30 amps 120v input to do it - which I think makes sense considering the duty cycle.

Slightly overbuilt compared to smaller units - should work pretty good.
But still way overpriced regardless - in my opinion.

 

[dragoneggs]

Interesting, a 140 pound mig welder that puts out 140 amps at 60% duty cycle.
Needs 30 amps 120v input to do it - which I think makes sense considering the duty cycle.

Slightly overbuilt compared to smaller units - should work pretty good.
But still way overpriced regardless - in my opinion.

That is a beast... to be fair part of the weight is probably the integrated running gear but still heavy.

 

[MossRoad]

Thread pruned again (even pruned myself). Please continue the original discussion.

 

[/pine]

Interesting, a 140 pound mig welder that puts out 140 amps at 60% duty cycle.
Needs 30 amps 120v input to do it - which I think makes sense considering the duty cycle.

Slightly overbuilt compared to smaller units - should work pretty good.
But still way overpriced regardless - in my opinion.

FWIW...here is an interesting thread from a welding forum on the same model welder I have (FM 140)
snap on welder

read all the replies...

 

[crazyal]

My first mig, a Lincoln weldpak 100 was bought to do bodywork. Before that I was brazing sheet metal when needed. It was only flux core so that's what I learned to work with. It was back in the mid 90s so choices were limited. The flux core will work for doing sheet metal work but you will have to clean the flux after welding. But it's a cheap way to weld and no gas bottles to worry about. As far as gas bottles go, call around. Around here each welding supply company is different. I was able to buy a tank (not sure of the size but it's about 3' tall) from one supplier that was twice the size of what every other supplier would sell me. If I know I'm going to be doing a lot of welding I'll rent a full size bottle for a month. Because I own a tank from them they have no problems with month to month leases.