TonyWilk
2-Pint Welder
- Messages
- 114
Hi,
Some of you might be interested in my findings having recently bought a HIGHWELD AC/DC-WIG/MMA 160 AMP/CUT40 combination welder on eBay...
This one was on auction and I got it for 360 quid + shipping from Germany.
The unit is made by MAO's Electric Co. China (see: http://www.maoselectric.com/en/index.asp) and is re-badged by several suppliers (e.g. Highweld, Riland, Jasic, Mitech)
I strongly suspect this one was put on auction because it was a returned unit... I found the 'AC' function simply didn't work and had to take it apart.
The board behind the front panel controls had been repaired for one fault, maybe they didn't spot this second fault - both probably due to the control knobs being bashed in at some point.
Having spent the last 30 years in electronics, and it being a simple fault, it didn't take long to fix. A complex fault without any schematics could be a bit tricky.
Also, the foot-pedal connector on the front panel isn't wired to anything inside the unit - having just done some training on welding aluminium I would find it extremely difficult without current control (Ok, I'm just a novice, but on a fixed current that's reasonable to get started, I found it far too hot after 2"-3" of weld on 3mm plate) So it's usefulness for welding aluminium might be limited (depending on your skills) - in my case, I'm going to add a foot pedal one way or another.
The plasma cutter function is a good toy (I've never used one before), but, as far as I understand, it is a bit basic. I found it tricky to get working (there's no manual to speak of) - always full current and just shy of 2bar air seems to work for me. The torch has to start in contact with the work and has to be dragged to give good results - I did set up a test to lift the tip by 1.5mm after the arc struck (by riding the tip edge over a strip of plastic) and found the result disappointing. Always cutting in contact does mean buying some more of those consumable tips. On steel, 3mm cuts fine, 5mm is slow but reasonably clean, 10mm is real slow and pretty raggy - so slow that I reckon you'd burn a tip out in no time. Cutting 3mm aluminium left loads of dross.
That's just what I've found - my experience with plasma cutters numbers (1) and a total of about 2 hours.
The torches look a bit cheap (now having used some 'real proper' ones) with switches held on with ty-raps. The connectors weren't insulated - but a couple of rubber handlebar grips fixed that. I'd also guess the TIG torch and cable is a bit light for 160A. Good thing is the TIG torch threads are standard - it's a lot nicer to use with a gas lense fitted (shame I had to give it back to my welding instructor ).
Overall... was it a bargain ?
Well, ask me in a year or two and, if it's still working, I'll say yes
If I didn't happen to be an electronics engineer, I wouldn't be such a happy bunny.
Yours,
Tony Wilk
Some of you might be interested in my findings having recently bought a HIGHWELD AC/DC-WIG/MMA 160 AMP/CUT40 combination welder on eBay...
This one was on auction and I got it for 360 quid + shipping from Germany.
The unit is made by MAO's Electric Co. China (see: http://www.maoselectric.com/en/index.asp) and is re-badged by several suppliers (e.g. Highweld, Riland, Jasic, Mitech)
I strongly suspect this one was put on auction because it was a returned unit... I found the 'AC' function simply didn't work and had to take it apart.
The board behind the front panel controls had been repaired for one fault, maybe they didn't spot this second fault - both probably due to the control knobs being bashed in at some point.
Having spent the last 30 years in electronics, and it being a simple fault, it didn't take long to fix. A complex fault without any schematics could be a bit tricky.
Also, the foot-pedal connector on the front panel isn't wired to anything inside the unit - having just done some training on welding aluminium I would find it extremely difficult without current control (Ok, I'm just a novice, but on a fixed current that's reasonable to get started, I found it far too hot after 2"-3" of weld on 3mm plate) So it's usefulness for welding aluminium might be limited (depending on your skills) - in my case, I'm going to add a foot pedal one way or another.
The plasma cutter function is a good toy (I've never used one before), but, as far as I understand, it is a bit basic. I found it tricky to get working (there's no manual to speak of) - always full current and just shy of 2bar air seems to work for me. The torch has to start in contact with the work and has to be dragged to give good results - I did set up a test to lift the tip by 1.5mm after the arc struck (by riding the tip edge over a strip of plastic) and found the result disappointing. Always cutting in contact does mean buying some more of those consumable tips. On steel, 3mm cuts fine, 5mm is slow but reasonably clean, 10mm is real slow and pretty raggy - so slow that I reckon you'd burn a tip out in no time. Cutting 3mm aluminium left loads of dross.
That's just what I've found - my experience with plasma cutters numbers (1) and a total of about 2 hours.
The torches look a bit cheap (now having used some 'real proper' ones) with switches held on with ty-raps. The connectors weren't insulated - but a couple of rubber handlebar grips fixed that. I'd also guess the TIG torch and cable is a bit light for 160A. Good thing is the TIG torch threads are standard - it's a lot nicer to use with a gas lense fitted (shame I had to give it back to my welding instructor ).
Overall... was it a bargain ?
Well, ask me in a year or two and, if it's still working, I'll say yes
If I didn't happen to be an electronics engineer, I wouldn't be such a happy bunny.
Yours,
Tony Wilk