advice on a new MMA welder?

[douchecalamondaes]

So, I have 3 welders currently, 2 electric ones, 130amp jobbies, old, 80-90's technolgy but they are inverter DC machines, they have both decided to break on me and upon looking inside I cant figure out what's failed,

I was under the impression that a new one of these types of machines would be 2-400£ range?

according to ebay they are CHEEP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INVERTER-...840424?hash=item4d44dd5fa8:g:rMkAAOSwo6lWG1uf
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELDING-M...744151?hash=item488e29b857:g:-rMAAOSwe-FU43OQ

are these equivilent/better than my old tradesman DC130 and kempii 130? will they run off 13amps without tripping up to , say 90-100amps?

and also, I have been looking for a mig aswell, one of the above links looks to do both? is this a "thing" as I'd happily spend more to get a gas mig and inverter stick all in one.

thanks in advance all?

 

[addjunkie]

This might be worth a read, you can get 3 in 1 welders. Mig, tig and mma in one box.....
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/3-in-1-plasma-cutter-tig-arc.21245/

 

[douchecalamondaes]

thankyou but none of the links work, I already have a tig, thought I dont plan on starting to learn any time soon,

as for cutters, I need one, but I need one beefy, that will go through 13mm and thicker all day long, so I will hold off on that till I can afford it

 

[Kent]

I don't generally open links but I think go for a thermal arc or esab maybe a parweld

Even on poor supplies and poor wiring at the property your generally ok with 2.5 mm 6013 and 7018 running up to 100 amp. After that stuff depends on stuff!
3.2 mm at 100- 120 are normally ok but cary spare fuses burning them very top end say 140 expect issues
4 mm without a 16 amp plus supply is pushing it on 13 amp but honestly it's a bit much and I recon if your getting what you dial then your lucky
This sort of set also supports tig on lift or hf depending on the set.
I run two inverter stick sets for carry round both are good one esab and one lorch. The Lorch supports cells and is a more stable arc on tig but on 6013 / 7018 there ain't much in it up to a 3.2 mm ( The esab don't like 4 mm) it also doesn't give the power the name suggests it might ( well at least at a workable duty) will do 3.2 pretty much all day mind

 

[douchecalamondaes]

thankyou Kent, I do not intend to use these machines past 130amps until I put in a 32A supply, which will be going in, just not quite yet, also as said, I have a big petrol arc welder so I dont need to push the little one I can just switch over, its just good to get a 180 as its less strained on 2.5rod compared to a 130?

or are their lower powered machines the same for cheaper?

also as they are "off brand" inverters arethey likely to break, are IGBT better (I see that banded around)

 

[Kent]

You don't need a 32 amp to run a little inverter most are16 amp

Frankly the very cheap ones are built to a price totally. They are cheap enough as is for something like the esab. I think I have had mine about 5 years perhaps it's done lord knows how many rods often in bad conditions outside perhaps 1/4 of a tonne of them at a guess. Never been serviced or even blown out. Often on poor supplies
Tom told us of the new parweld theater week that also has a celly capability - that could be worth a look
The Lorch I have retails at a lot more and is a very good set but if I was going to have to fling something about and only needed to go up to 3.2 7018 ishould take the esab Amy day.
Tecarc also do a 250 amp 240 v stick inverter - it's not dear either ( I admit I am a bit of a non believer in way bigger stated
capacity on sets) that said it should walk over a 5 mm or get sent straight back if hooked up to the stated supply

 

[arther dailey]

You don't need a 32 amp to run a little inverter most are16 amp

Frankly the very cheap ones are built to a price totally. They are cheap enough as is for something like the esab. I think I have had mine about 5 years perhaps it's done lord knows how many rods often in bad conditions outside perhaps 1/4 of a tonne of them at a guess. Never been serviced or even blown out. Often on poor supplies
Tom told us of the new parweld theater week that also has a celly capability - that could be worth a look
The Lorch I have retails at a lot more and is a very good set but if I was going to have to fling something about and only needed to go up to 3.2 7018 ishould take the esab Amy day.
Tecarc also do a 250 amp 240 v stick inverter - it's not dear either ( I admit I am a bit of a non believer in way bigger stated
capacity on sets) that said it should walk over a 5 mm or get sent straight back if hooked up to the stated supply

Kent when you say celly capability what does that mean.thanks Arther

 

[arther dailey]

is that the rod type for mis matched metal? excuse my ignorance just getting into arc.thanks

 

[HughF]

cellulose rods, 6010 and 6011. A deep penetrating rod with a forceful arc and a very light slag. Commonly used for vertically down welding of open root pipe joints in the US.

 

[arther dailey]

thankyou, so they sound good rods, presume a lot inverters cant use them?

 

[HughF]

Inverters can run 6011, commonly available here as esab nu5. Few inverters run 6010 well/properly.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

thankyou, so they sound good rods, presume a lot inverters cant use them?

Cellulose rods usually require a high OCV (open circuit voltage) which most machines don't have. The new Parweld machine has a switch which allows the OCV to be increased to run cellulose rods rather than rutile.

 

[Kent]

thankyou, so they sound good rods, presume a lot inverters cant use them?

Pretty specific rod high penetration fast freeze

Nu5 come in a big tin and will set you back around £ 120 or thereabouts

 

[arther dailey]

so basic ie standard run of the mill inverters generally can use only standard run of the mill rods, which is all I would use anyways, thanks

 

[arther dailey]

Cellulose rods usually require a high OCV (open circuit voltage) which most machines don't have. The new Parweld machine has a switch which allows the OCV to be increased to run cellulose rods rather than rutile.

thanks ,appreciated.

 

[6 milli billi]

If you look into the specification you will find the OCV stated (at least you should with a reputable brand) Other functions to look for as below

1. Duty Cycle
2. Voltage tolerance
3. Ability to work with extension leads (either workpiece nad electrode holder or mains lead)
4. Open circuit voltage (higher will help to run different types of electrodes, eg 7018, 6010, 6011 rather than just standard 6013)
5. Hot start function
6. Warranty terms
7. Price
8. Actual manufacturer
9. Back up

Not necessarily in that order, others may add more too.

 

[Kent]

I think every reasonable inverter will run a 7018 within the size limits it will also run 6013
Someone correct me if I am wrong but I have never encountered isdues with any mma plant with lohy within its normal size limits

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think every reasonable inverter will run a 7018 within the size limits it will also run 6013
Someone correct me if I am wrong but I have never encountered isdues with any mma plant with lohy within its normal size limits

my parweld will run them just fine, ive only run up to 3.2mm but no issues apart from the usual re-starting of 7018

 

[HughF]

likewise, cheap n nasty 125A chinese no-brand inverter ran lo-hy just fine and dandy

 

[arther dailey]

If you look into the specification you will find the OCV stated (at least you should with a reputable brand) Other functions to look for as below

1. Duty Cycle
2. Voltage tolerance
3. Ability to work with extension leads (either workpiece nad electrode holder or mains lead)
4. Open circuit voltage (higher will help to run different types of electrodes, eg 7018, 6010, 6011 rather than just standard 6013)
5. Hot start function
6. Warranty terms
7. Price
8. Actual manufacturer
9. Back up

Not necessarily in that order, others may add more too.

Thanks, its the open circuit voltage bit that I didnt know about. good info , thats what makes this forum so good, the willingness of others to educate.and the crack of course!Arther