oxford/tec arc/portamig duty cycle

[Deltic]

Thinking about buying one of the above migs in their 180amp versions. I'm just wondering if anyone has an idea of what the duty cycle is flat out. Don't really want to buy one that only welds for a few seconds if i do bump it up to max sometimes. The transformer machines all seem to have quite poor duty cycles.

I have a little 160 amp arc inverter so I'm only interested in using this mig for up to 3mm sheet and some usage for say 5mm but only short runs such as pieces of angle iron. Does this size seem suitable? Or should i bump the budget up a bit and go for one of the bigger models?

Thanks in advance
Deltic

 

[GrahamGKD]

The info for the Portamig is given here.

.... except it doesn't give what duty you will get at full current!

 

[TomCGB]

I have the 180 amp oxford migmaker. I've welded at 180 amps a fair bit and its never cut out. Although I would say the 180 amp is plenty for your needs, I would advise going for the 200 amp version. It may have changed since I got mine, but the 180amp oxford only comes with 6 voltage increments whereas the 200 comes with 12. I haven't found it a major problem and I have been very happy with the machine overall.

 

[arther dailey]

I have the tecarc 180 version, secondhand, has 12 steps power, no problems with it cutting out the times ive used it flat out, throws a loverly smooth arc.if in doubt go bigger,up to about 230 amp they still have lowest starting of 15/20 amp.Arther