Need advice on buying welder(s)

[Sublifer]

Mark, would the 160amp on stick with the iMig200 be sufficient for 1/2" mild steel? I think even 200 amp I'd have to bevel edges... Maybe I should just start with a stick unit.. much as I'd rather do mig or tig...
I looked at some torch sets. Seems you can get a medium duty set for ~200 or a heavy duty set for ~350. Add tanks and I'd be near the cost of a Everlast plasma cutter.

 

[IslandTractor]

Mark, would the 160amp on stick with the iMig200 be sufficient for 1/2" mild steel? I think even 200 amp I'd have to bevel edges... Maybe I should just start with a stick unit.. much as I'd rather do mig or tig...
I looked at some torch sets. Seems you can get a medium duty set for ~200 or a heavy duty set for ~350. Add tanks and I'd be near the cost of a Everlast plasma cutter.

An Oxyfuel setup can be had used off Craigslist for about 300-400 bucks complete. A cheap plasma cutter is about $600-700. Different tools really. For cutting, except in the field, plasma is almost always better though you are more limited in the thickness you can cut. The utility of an oxyfuel set up is the ability to weld, cut and braze with the same setup and without need for electricity.

If you are just interested in welding and cutting 1/2 steel most efficiently, you really are going to need to increase your budget and power supply. If you will do those things only occasionally then beveling before welding and severing rather than precise cutting with a sub $1500 plasma cutter is what you will need to compromise on. I'm not so sure that a limit cut with a plasma cutter is going to be any cleaner than with acetylene or propane. Maybe a bit cleaner but not the precise cuts that we all marvel at when thinking about a plasma cutter. Besides more $$$ you need more power to get a clean cut on 1/2 steel with a plasma cutter. The Everlast 50 which is possibly powerful enough (right at the edge) requires 35amps at 220 to get that 1/2 inch cut. Your 5500W generator only puts out in the 27amp range which would not be enough.

Edit: correction. 5500watt generator puts out 25 amps max at 220v so clearly cannot power a quality 1/2" cut.

 

[Sublifer]

I would probably run a plasma cutter off of shop 220 rather than the generator. At least until I ever got a bigger generator lol. But yes, that would limit work in the field but I can't think how much I'd ever want to go out in the middle of no where to cut steel either.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would probably run a plasma cutter off of shop 220 rather than the generator. At least until I ever got a bigger generator lol. But yes, that would limit work in the field but I can't think how much I'd ever want to go out in the middle of no where to cut steel either.

Yep. You'd need a 50amp 220v circuit or minimum 8000watt generator. Or, a simple oxyfuel torch, maybe propane for cutting. That propane setup would be very inexpensive and flexible.

 

[Sublifer]

Not sure I've heard of propane for cutting before. Do you have a link to a rig for that?

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Never buy new if you aren't in business for welding. Watch for any and all places where there are ads. I have recently added a mig to complete my lineup. I have my old lincoln tombstone, an AC/DC with tig scratch start, a gas powered canox and now a lincoln mig. All used but not abused and I still am under 800 bucks. These will be used here on the farm and will be passed on to my son who will use them likely for another 20 or 30 yrs after I die. I have watched kijiji, the local radio has a dial a deal and then there are actual mags that deal strickly in classified ads. Keep your eyes open and be patient but ready to pounce.

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I forgot about the propane, which I also use. You replace the tip on your cutting torch so it mixes right and normally you're good to go. threads on the tanks are same left hand thread but I've heard that the hoses have to be compatible with propane. You cant use your small tips that you'd normally bronze with but I just use my cutting torch and set it to low heat and finesse my way through whatever it is. I'm only doing stuff for myself so it doesn't have to be pretty, just strong and functional.

 

[IslandTractor]

Not sure I've heard of propane for cutting before. Do you have a link to a rig for that?

Google it. Lots written. As noted above, the equipment is essentially the same except for the cutting tip and different hoses. I imagine it would add another $75 to the cost of a used oxyacetylene setup. You use the same oxygen tank but substitute a standard BBQ propane tank for the acetylene. Saves big bucks on gas if you do much cutting. For just occasional cuts it probably makes sense to use the acetylene if you already have it. Propane cutting is very popular for cutting scrap and has the other advantage that when you run out of gas on a weekend you just go get another 20lb tank at the gas station or Home Depot.

Cuts as effectively as acetylene but uses slightly different technique as the hottest part of the flame is not near the tip.

 

[Sublifer]

I was out of the house earlier. I'll google it. Is acetylene that much more expensive than propane?

 

[IslandTractor]

I was out of the house earlier. I'll google it. Is acetylene that much more expensive than propane?

About three or four times as expensive. Still, if you are only doing occasional oxyfuel cutting, it might make sense to stick with acetylene. I did check on the price of the propane cutting tip which is only about $15 and the "all fuel" hoses cost about $30.