DC Machine, Opinions Please

[cumbriasteve]

Evening All

I am having to do the occasional welding away from base, all above 5mm, so arc more than suitable.

My prehistoric buzz box will do the trick but I am getting sick of humping it around, am thinking of a new machine and noticed the light weight, small Dc sets.. especially the TEC-ARC 165i Inverter Arc Welder which seems ideal.

Anyone any experience with them ?

What do you think?

Is there a big difference in using a DC set, although I have been arcing for nearly 40 years on and off I have never tried an inverter.

Not keen on the Fleabay deals for guarantee reasons.

Cheers

 

[Shox Dr]

The Company I'm sub'ing to at the moment bought one a few weeks ago. Not as smooth as my Kemmpi, but a nice little machine. The leads are next to useless, been only about 1.5mtrs long. I think the idea is you sling it over your shoulder. However the Amp control knob doesn't index, and sticks out, so you tend to knock it. But other than that. Thumbs up

 

[cumbriasteve]

Cheers..so far so good

 

[Shox Dr]

Just remember!!! The BIGGEST killer of Inverters (TIG Plasma etc) is dust. Esp grinding dust. So if you get one, make a filter for it. I posted up a filter I made from scrap mesh for a Plasma I bought, easy found with a search

 

[cumbriasteve]

Just remember!!! The BIGGEST killer of Inverters (TIG Plasma etc) is dust. Esp grinding dust. So if you get one, make a filter for it. I posted up a filter I made from scrap mesh for a Plasma I bought, easy found with a search

Great info..because I did not know that...Cheers

 

[matt1978]

Just remember!!! The BIGGEST killer of Inverters (TIG Plasma etc) is dust. Esp grinding dust.

And dropping.

 

[madkayaker]

and use a nice big extention lead

 

[PTvor]

I've no experience of that inverter, but unless you have a particular need for one you can use slung over your shoulder and climb up ladders with etc. I'd say the short leads were a liability meaning you can't easily keep the welder away from grinding dust and particles from the weld, when you are using it not slung over your shoulder. Also with metal cased inverters it's pretty easy to carelessly let the rod touch the case, when it will burn a hole in it and spray the inside with metal particles, if the earth return lead is connected to something which is also a mains electrical earth. Easier still with short leads.

I'd be more inclined to go for its big brother with a two year guarantee, 3 metre leads and a bit better duty cycle for the extra, but it's twice the weight.

Inverters vs buzz boxes have less problems with rods, lo-hy and stainless, or cheap mild steel, easier striking and it's easier to maintain the arc and there may be features such as crater fill. They typically have much better duty cycles than equivalent buzz boxes and you can use them rod +ve or rod -ve. It seems to be a smoother arc. They are more efficient so you can get a bit more out of a 13A socket.

But if you've been using buzz boxes for 40 years and got on with them these features may not amount to much for you.

Inverters won't take the knocking about or dirt or being left in seriously damp conditions that buzz boxes put up with.

I'm not sure about the filter idea, on the one hand it keeps out the dust, on the other it impedes the air flow.

 

[Dogbreath23]

I got the tecarc 166i off of weldequipt a couple of years ago and to be honest the only thing I can fault it on is the cheapo plastic handle is a bit small for when Im wearing welding gloves! It blasts away and Ive never had it cut out on me.Well worth the 300 quid.

 

[cumbriasteve]

To all..thanks for the info..it's all helping.

 

[pete23]

i got a murex tradesarc, great bit of kit, had it for about 6yrs now, but not in daily use.

 

[Shox Dr]

And dropping.

Really

I'm not sure about the filter idea, on the one hand it keeps out the dust, on the other it impedes the air flow.

I've been running home made filters on TIG and Plasma sets for the last 6 yrs. With no problems at all. The amount of dust they stop even with one days use is amazing.
As for air flow restriction all these sets have thermal cut out. I've never had one set trip. So I don't believe the filter is reducing air flow to unsafe levels.

Like most things. It only works if you look after it.

 

[madkayaker]

proper air filter material is designed to be as free flowing as possible

 

[cumbriasteve]

i got a murex tradesarc, great bit of kit, had it for about 6yrs now, but not in daily use.

Nice machine but double the price, which I would pay if using enough but it will sometimes not be used for weeks and probably less than 20 hours a year, hence why cheap and small to store appeals.

I have a Portamig 235 at home which does all I need so the arc set would be stored away in the warmth and dry when not in use, she won;t let me keep it in the display cabinet!!

 

[Robotstar5]

And dropping.

Didn't seem to hurt the Lorch one you demo'd dropping last year!

 

[matt1978]

Really

Yes really

Not because of the obvious, but some of the cheaper Inverter units use a Quartz crystal that resonates at a given frequency, which in turn tells the Invertor to switch on/off, when the unit is dropped, it can damage the slither of Quartz and this then sends erratic signals for the on/off switching cycle and ultimately causes the unit to fail.

 

[Tigman]

Ive got a Thermalarc 130 , had it for a long time now its done me well , nice and light !

 

[Shox Dr]

Yes really

Not because of the obvious, but some of the cheaper Inverter units use a Quartz crystal that resonates at a given frequency, which in turn tells the Invertor to switch on/off, when the unit is dropped, it can damage the slither of Quartz and this then sends erratic signals for the on/off switching cycle and ultimately causes the unit to fail.

Worth knowing that

 

[cumbriasteve]

Ive got a Thermalarc 130 , had it for a long time now its done me well , nice and light !

Cant seem to find much about them, Price etc