Arc Welders - Cheap vs Expensive

[irondarren]

In all honesty mug, with 6013 weld rods (the normal ones), i really dont see it being much of a problem, yep it will be slightly hard to get an arc than a good inverter. Practice normally takes care of that anyway (inverters make you lazy).
The only real problem i can see is when using 7018's and 7024's they normally like a higher OCV and dont usually like AC. But then again i can see you getting a phone call say can you repair a bridge. Not sure about NiFe (cast iron rods) as to ocv requirements or the liking or disliking of AC. For general repairs and fabrication to mild steel with plain ordinary rods it will be fine

 

[madkayaker]

Hello and welcome. Might be worth posting that in a new post so that it gets seen. A few have been avoiding this post!

 

[madkayaker]

bugger it moved

 

[simon718]

mk who are you welcoming

has georgeB dissapeared?!

 

[madkayaker]

no boatwelderwayupnorth or the like ! Not seam him for a while

 

[madkayaker]

to late drains its moved has its own thread

 

[Drains]

OY, MEDDLING MODS - MOVE MY POST PLEASE!

Grrr.

 

[madkayaker]

lets put this one back to sleep

 

[boatwayupnorth]

Hi Madkayaker,
was your message ment for me? i can't see my own message in the thread - did I do something wrong?

Walter (boatwayupnorth)

 

[madkayaker]

it was meant for you. You have been moved into your own thread in the MIG section

 

[malcolm]

I moved your thread over here:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9423 for a better chance of a good response.

Caused a lot of confusion though so please excuse the odd replies.

 

[madkayaker]

good move Malcolm

 

[GeorgeB]

Back to the subject...cheap vs expensive arc welders. I think this eBay auction outcome looks very expensive for what it is:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=280301858797

An old Cosmo 200 arc welder just sold for £52.50. You could get an Oxford oil cooled set for that! Lucky seller? I may be quite pleased with my Cosmo 150 welder and able to live within its limitations but, as you may have read in the Group test thread, others were not so easily impressed. I doubt very much if the Cosmo 200 is anywhere near 200 amps, either. 180 amps perhaps? Mine is called Cosmo 150 and it's maximum stated output is 140 amps. What a marketing con! On the group test, other members doubted even the 140 amp rating and they may be right.

 

[irondarren]

It does seem a lot for an Air cooled Arc welder, oxfords do seem to hold a good second hand value, probaly a bit more than £50 though

 

[syborg]

wolf arc welders rule.lol good for welding rebar,lol
on the subject, anyone had any experience with procraft welders, i bought a 100 amp hobby welder years and years ago, no good for heavy gauge but bloody super dooper for thinner stuff..."1.5-2mm".
peace

syborg.

 

[fridgeman999]

Just got to ask

Hi,

I know this is an old thread, but having spent hours reading this, i have just got to ask, was there a "weld off" near london, with George B ?
If so what was the outcome?

Thanks Chris.

 

[GeorgeB]

Hi,

I know this is an old thread, but having spent hours reading this, i have just got to ask, was there a "weld off" near london, with George B ?
If so what was the outcome?

Yes, there was. It was good fun and was well documented here. I agreed with many of the conclusions, apart from the harsh criticism of my Wolf arc welder buzz box, of course.

 

[fridgeman999]

Thanks George,
I think i know the outcome.
Have to admit it did make me smile.

Regards Chris.

 

[syborg]

dont worry george.

i too have a wolf arc welder, so dont worry mate,lol so your not the only one receiving copious amounts of flack and abuse,lol

ive had mine nearly a year and its doin ok.

saying that i have been welding on and off for the last 15yrs so i do know some of the basics.

keep at it mate, if u can weld with a cheapy imagine how good you,ll be on a pricey one!!!

peace

syborg

 

[GeorgeB]

keep at it mate, if u can weld with a cheapy imagine how good you,ll be on a pricey one!!!

That was my thinking, too. I heard recently that it takes longer to learn to touch type (properly) than it does to learn to fly an aircraft, so not all things are easy to learn, but still worth doing, if only to save money.