Northern Industrial Welders?

[Slippy]

Yea, I know, lots of posts about HF and Northern Tools and lack of quality. But I just have to ask if anyone has any experience with the Northern Industrial Inverter welders. They offer 3 different inverter welders and at a lower price than anything else I have seen. Replacement parts is an issue probably. They do offer extra tips, etc. Spec comparison seems about the same compared to others. Limited 3 year warranty, what ever that means, with increase warranty for more $.
I'm thinking that for occassional use as I expect, light weight, low cost, it might be the way to go.

Wirefeed Welders | Wirefeed Welding | Welding | Northern Tool + Equipment

Anyone own, used, or know anything about these units?
Thanks!

 

[Transit]

Which models?

 

[Slippy]

In the link I supplied they offer 3 models; 115, 125 & a 200. So, any of those three. I am probably more interested in the 200. The other two run off 110v.
Thanks!

 

[arrow]

I queried Northern on these welders. Unlike some who sell Chinese branded units, Northern gave me the name of this group in China very readily. I then looked up the factory on the web and I got the impression that this company was well run. The company name began with an "S". I'll look up in my archives and see if I cannot find it.

 

[Transit]

The northern # 164611 is rated at 135 amps peak, 20% duty cycle at 88 amps, 18ga 3/16 steel, FLUX CORE and gas.
NOT Inverter powered. AC transformer with DC rectifier.


The northern # 628572 is rated at 125 amps peak, 20% duty cycle at 80 amps, 18ga 3/16 steel, FLUX CORE ONLY.
NOT Inverter powered. AC transformer with DC rectifier.

The northern # 164745 is rated at 140 amps peak [mig], NO duty cycle, NO thickness range, FLUX CORE and gas.
Estimate; 90 amps @ 20-30% duty cycle, 18ga 4/16 or 1/4 inch.
Stick;
200 amps peak, thickness to 5/16 in.

Inverter powered.


To put thickness into prospective;

3/16 is 1/8 + 1/16.
4/16 is 1/8 + 1/8 or 1/4
5/16 is 1/4 + 1/16

I dont know what you plain to weld and from the questions I suspect you have little welding experience.
Take an adult ed welding course if you can.

The only thing that is INDRUSTRAL is the wording on the box.

The first two are good for sheet metal and some light fabrication, with multi pass to build the weld.

The mig-stick has some potential but is also limited. Stick has a long learning curve.

You will need lots of practice to get decent welds.

 

[Slippy]

Here are the posted specs for the 164745 Mig/Stick 200 Welder:

Volts 230
Amps 140 / 200
Duty Cycle 30% at 160 Amps
Mig Ready Yes
Wire Feed Speed Control Infinite
Weldable Metals MIG (steel, stainless steel, aluminum) Stick (steel, stainless steel, hard surfacing, cast iron)
Weld Thickness (in.) 5/16
Clamp Cable Length (ft.) 10
Regulator and Gas Hose Included Dual gauge
Shielding Gas Required For MIG welding
Welding Wire Diameter (in.) .023 and .035, solid and flux core wire
Power Cord (ft.) 6
Cart No
Dimensions L x W x H (in.) 18 x 9 1/2 x 13 1/2
Manufacturer Warranty 3 year limited warranty
Ship Weight 36.0 lbs


Not sure where you got the numbers you posted or what you ment by the "estimate".
Correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding of these spec is that the unit operates 140 amp for stick and 200 amp for mig, and that the duty cycle at 160 amps is 30%, and it will weld up to 5/16 in metal.

 

[Transit]

Slippy, I used your link to northern tool. The data comes from what is listed on the northern site for each unit.
The 140/200 amps rating is not clear, which belongs to mig or stick. Mig is defiantly DC. The stick may be AC, DC or both. For AC/DC welders the DC current is lower than the AC current.

Given the lack of information, I estimated what a 140 amp mig is capable of.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Transit,

I know the factory in china where it is made. Its DC all the way and the stick is the lower amps. Don't be surprised if if the rating on that unit is fudged 5 amps and about 5%. And the thing about AC being more than dc amps is not always true...only in cheap transformer machines.

 

[frischtr]

I have the 200 model. It is 140 amp stick, 200 amp mig. Works fine for my purposes, as I only use it for small-time fabrication, repair, and hobby work. I wanted the versatility of stick or mig in one machine without buying a much more expensive multi-process welder.

The mig gun is the same style used on the Lincoln mig machines sold at home depot. You can get replacement tips and nozzles easily there. Not sure about the other internal parts. Seems to be plenty durable for light to medium duty and occasional work.

 

[arrow]

Shanghai Hugong Electric Welder Company is the name of the company in China that makes Northern welders. They are online if you want to further scope this welder.