Is an arc welder that can do 3.2 rods at it's max enough?

[Bornfree]

I am not anti 3.2mm rods, that said I don’t see the point in using them on thicker plate if more amps are available and 4mm rods are sat there. If the welder has a shoulder strap and plugs into a 13 amp socket I would imagine a 3.2 rod is all it will burn anyway.

Bob

With a welders fuse in the plug it's surprising how well they run 4mm rods.

 

[Bornfree]

With a welders fuse in the plug it's surprising how well they run 4mm rods.View attachment 516663

Iam not sure but I think it's 200amp slow blow

 

[Turbo]

A thinner rod will put in a better root on thick plate but a thicker rod and suitable amps will be a lot quicker for the cap runs.

Rarely use anything bigger than 3.2 as I find larger rods unwieldy because of the longer length.

 

[Bornfree]

I use quite a lot of 4mm rods. Welding 30mm thick trailer drawbar eyes on. I've got a SIP 250amp 1ph inverter that runs 4mm rods at 160amps all day but it's pulling 25amps hence the big fuse.

 

[Erie Fred]

Sounds like gas shielded all position flux core might be a good alternative.

 

[premmington]

I use quite a lot of 4mm rods. Welding 30mm thick trailer drawbar eyes on. I've got a SIP 250amp 1ph inverter that runs 4mm rods at 160amps all day but it's pulling 25amps hence the big fuse.

I don't stock 4.0mm rods - I just don't weld things that heavy together - but when I have used them - I like the way they really leave some metal down.

I have used - 6.0mm's in the past - I think these were iron powder high deposit things 7024's

 

[Mick Annick]

The

I am not anti 3.2mm rods, that said I don’t see the point in using them on thicker plate if more amps are available and 4mm rods are sat there. If the welder has a shoulder strap and plugs into a 13 amp socket I would imagine a 3.2 rod is all it will burn anyway.

Bob

The Micorstick 160 will go up to 4.00mm according to the spec sheet, not that I’ve tried it.

 

[8ob]

The

The Micorstick 160 will go up to 4.00mm according to the spec sheet, not that I’ve tried it.

Just looked at the spec sheet for that, its an impressive bit of kit. Its 100% duty cycle on the lower end of where a 3.2 rod will run and about 30% duty cycle where a 4mm rod needs to be..

Bob

 

[Munkul]

Just looked at the spec sheet for that, its an impressive bit of kit. Its 100% duty cycle on the lower end of where a 3.2 rod will run and about 30% duty cycle where a 4mm rod needs to be..

Bob

I've never tripped any of the lorch machines I've used. I'm not sure you'll believe me, but honestly, I've ran half a dozen 4.0mm rods at a time on the micorstick, using 13 amp plugs and a 50m extension. Proper 13 amp fuses too, not "welders fuses" lol
They run 4.0 murex low hys at 130 to 140 amps perfectly.

 

[Turbo]

The inverter fusion briefcase welders also have a 100% duty cycle on 3.2's.

The 160 amp will run 4mm no bother.

 

[Smallfry]

My little 120 amp Parweld inverter runs 3.2s on max power without cutting out at all

Last thing I did with it, was to butt weld in a pair of tractor wheel centres after turning out the old ones. Was probably about five metres in all (both sides) didnt even stack the welds. Hasn't broken yet !