MIG for site work

[Welderpaul]

Been searching round on and off for an inverter MIG for site work that will work on 110V (up to 32A). I'm now informed by my new foreman that it is imperative that we have one to save us time (Results of his time and motion study i understand). Anyway, he's right.
We have a Genset and 500 miles of leads, but it is not always the best animal for the job.

I spoke with the rep at Pennine today, and he was recommending a Thermadyne machine. You can't help but fall over them when you walk in their front door; they seem to sell a lot.
Does anyone have any experience of these machines? Much cop?

Are there any other makes that are worth a look at? Lorch don't do them, Kemppi dont, not seen anything by Murex/Esab either.

Ta.

 

[oilcooled :)]

would you be using it gasless ? wouldnt be near as clean as stick welding ? my only advice to you would be as your using 110v if using it off any long length of a lead the inverter may decide to have its period due to a voltage drop and give you a serious headache ?

 

[Welderpaul]

No, with shielding gas.

We have the 'problem' with inverter sticks so aware of the problem. The sites we work on are pretty good for temporary power - 10kva transformers at 10m intervals!

 

[madkayaker]

could you write a meathod statement to use a 110V to 230V tranny (with RCD on secondry) and then use any 230V mig of your choice. remember that 17th eddition does allow 230V on site these days

 

[Hitch]

could you write a meathod statement to use a 110V to 230V tranny (with RCD on secondry) and then use any 230V mig of your choice. remember that 17th eddition does allow 230V on site these days

Although it may be allowed, some sites 'exceed' the basic rules and don't allow 240 regardless.

Good idea though, worth investigating I reckon.

 

[madkayaker]

thats fine but on what basis? were the only country in the world that use a reduced voltage on site. i bet many company are just blindly following old, out dated and poorly considered rules. it the same as kids not been allowed to play conkers and firms blindly PAT every bit of kit every 12 months becouse they think they have to

 

[Hitch]

On the basis that they run the site and its up to them, usually.
That was the case on the biggest site i've been on.

 

[Welderpaul]

Fair points Dale, but it's never going to happen on site - the ones we work on anyway.

 

[madkayaker]

true but worth a ask. what about a wire feeder that runns of stick?

 

[madkayaker]

put the mig and the transformer in one big box then its a 110V mig!

 

[Welderpaul]

This is the fella.

Whatcha think?

Or.... This one?

 

[madkayaker]

First one looks good. Second one looks a bit toy town for you

 

[bpcoryton]

if you got a gen set&cables,use a 'suit case' murex and lincon make them depending on what wire etc thay can be used with or without gas.used them myself on site useing duel shield on both structural steel&pipe line,run all day long used both makes with no problems at all.
the thing you find with 110v powerd sets you have to keep the primary lead very short mainly what the set is supplyed with,after that thay have no guts to them.
just my two pence worth...

 

[Welderpaul]

The work we do doesnt always suit running heavy cables out and having a Genset banging away all day (inner city sites mainly) so a small inverter mig is what we need.

 

[gavuk]

Have you seen this video Paul?, youtube....have they not got a demo model for a top customer like you?....Lorch would

 

[cecotto479]

Want one of those. I spoke with the very nice man at Weldequip who speaks highly of it and didn't try to talk me out of it in favour of a Portamig.

I've not bought anything from him yet, but he took some time to offer genuine, honest advice and depending on the outcome of the Kempak Tig saga, I'll be purchasing one of these (Kempak is a paperweight after all) or a Portamig (if the Kempak is fixable cheaply).

 

[Welderpaul]

Have you seen this video Paul?, youtube....have they not got a demo model for a top customer like you?....Lorch would

Yeah, been offered a demo on it, just never had experience with that machine to know ehther it is decent or garbage.

God that ad is so annoying leave it with us for a week or two....we'll test it properly............

 

[gavuk]

Just read the small print on the warranty,your lads will kill it quick if its garbage ....do you have stickers down the car of the plant thats died?...........how many is it now

 

[Welderpaul]

Where did you see the warranty Gav?

We have most of our power tools on a deal with Hilti now..if they break within two years, they get repaired or replaced FOC. The rep is round ferrying tools about twice a month on average... Certainly on a winner with that deal.

 

[gavuk]

Where did you see the warranty Gav?

I didn't ........sale of goods act covers that.......you could go the aldi/lidl route they have 3 years.....just found this pdf......you won't be impressed with the duty cycles