New Welder Advice

[Dan777]

Hello,
I would be grateful for some advice please.

I need to get a new welder for a metal workshop. It will be used to make cages out of 20mm and 16mm high tensile reinforcement bar and will be working all day, every day.

What are the brands to go for and what should I avoid? I have advised to get a 300 amp.

Single phase and budget of circa £2000.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Richard.]

Single phase 300amp is an ambitious request. The budget gives you loads of scope but at 300 amp out put your into 3phase territory.

 

[Jim Davey]

Not a problem, there are a few sets out there to cater for this requirement. You are going to need something like a 40-50 amp supply though. Is this something you can accommodate?

 

[wheresmejumper]

New or new new?

 

[Richard.]

Not a problem, there are a few sets out there to cater for this requirement. You are going to need something like a 40-50 amp supply though. Is this something you can accommodate?

What would u suggest.

 

[johnakay]

have a look in here but you still need to install a 16amp fuse box etc(13amp is a no no with these).
I've got the 215 and I've welded 25mm steel with no problem but then again I don't weld continuously .
have look anyway.
http://www.weldequip.com/portamig-hd-mig-welders.htm

 

[Richard.]

Some power there out of a 240v supply. 16amps surely is too light for those, correct me if I'm wrong but the 300/400 amp units want an absalute minimum 32amp supply and probably more. It's a bit out of my expertise this mind so I would say someone with a leccy background would know much better.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Some power there out of a 240v supply. 16amps surely is too light for those, correct me if I'm wrong but the 300/400 amp units want an absalute minimum 32amp supply and probably more. It's a bit out of my expertise this mind so I would say someone with a leccy background would know much better.

OCV of say 25v @ 400amps = 10kw
10kw @ 230v = 43amps

 

[Richard.]

OCV of say 25v @ 400amps = 10kw
10kw @ 230v = 43amps

I'm gonna write that down.
Cheers.
Rich.

 

[wheresmejumper]

Something like a miller xmt,linvoln v350 pro or a thermal arc 400mts would be my choice,with a wire feeder

 

[Bill Edwards]

You might not actually need 300 amps, however you probably need a machine with that kind of output for the duty cycle.
A welder that keeps overheating will be a problem for production work, and probably isn't going to survive well.

 

[Jim Davey]

I'm awaiting a response from my supplier, they have a 300 amp inverter MIG with a separate wire feeder and a 5 metre interconnection cable in 240 volt and inside of your budget with a 5 year conditional warranty.
I'm just awaiting a response from their technical department to confirm the max current draw is 32 amps.

 

[Dan777]

Thanks for the replies, decided on an INE SFM 300.