TonyWilk
2-Pint Welder
- Messages
- 114
Crossed my fingers and bought this Highweld AC/DC 160A TIG/MMA/Plasma unit off eBay...
The unit is made by WENZHOU MAO'S ELECTRIC CO. in china http://www.maoselectric.com/en/index.asp
and badged "Highweld" by some bunch in Germany.
Won the auction on the 14th, it was delivered (Hull, UK) on the 21st - which is pretty quick.
Took it apart as soon as it arrived to check if anything was loose - one connector had worked partly loose, but that was all. Doesn't look badly built actually.
On the bad side, the manual is a waste of paper, the 8" of air hose is too short for anything, one plasma ceramic was broken and there's no insulation on the torch connectors.
Since I've never welded before in my life, I can't really comment on how well it works yet - but it does melt stuff pretty effectively
(Actually, I've paid for some 1-on-1 tuition from a local guy: Mike English at www.englishwelding.com)
The Plasma Cutter function is pretty cool - but seems really sensitive to current and air flow. I thought it had packed up after the first messy cut I made, it just wouldn't start again. After pratting about for ages, I found the compressed air flow had to be just right for it to start up and run without stuttering.
Dunno if this is a 'kosher' method: but I clipped the return lead on the end of the plasma torch so I could watch the beam as I adjusted current and air... it worked for me.
Basically, it seems best to leave the current up near full whack and then sort the airflow.
I think it's particularly tricky 'cos I have a long coily 6mm i.d. hose from the compressor (a small Clarke oil-free one) which is restricting the flow to the regulator bolted to the back of the machine ... I'll change it for a short length of 8mm hose when I next try it.
Yours,
Tony Wilk
The unit is made by WENZHOU MAO'S ELECTRIC CO. in china http://www.maoselectric.com/en/index.asp
and badged "Highweld" by some bunch in Germany.
Won the auction on the 14th, it was delivered (Hull, UK) on the 21st - which is pretty quick.
Took it apart as soon as it arrived to check if anything was loose - one connector had worked partly loose, but that was all. Doesn't look badly built actually.
On the bad side, the manual is a waste of paper, the 8" of air hose is too short for anything, one plasma ceramic was broken and there's no insulation on the torch connectors.
Since I've never welded before in my life, I can't really comment on how well it works yet - but it does melt stuff pretty effectively
(Actually, I've paid for some 1-on-1 tuition from a local guy: Mike English at www.englishwelding.com)
The Plasma Cutter function is pretty cool - but seems really sensitive to current and air flow. I thought it had packed up after the first messy cut I made, it just wouldn't start again. After pratting about for ages, I found the compressed air flow had to be just right for it to start up and run without stuttering.
Dunno if this is a 'kosher' method: but I clipped the return lead on the end of the plasma torch so I could watch the beam as I adjusted current and air... it worked for me.
Basically, it seems best to leave the current up near full whack and then sort the airflow.
I think it's particularly tricky 'cos I have a long coily 6mm i.d. hose from the compressor (a small Clarke oil-free one) which is restricting the flow to the regulator bolted to the back of the machine ... I'll change it for a short length of 8mm hose when I next try it.
Yours,
Tony Wilk
