Welder for a Blacksmith?

[North_Welding]

Hello all,

I'm interested in buying a new welder, preferably MMA. At the moment I've been using a 180amp Oxford Bantam, but you as you can image its quite a chore to heft about on site.
I'd need something that can reliably weld off a 13amp plug as I often work in domestic areas where that's the only power source available, but at the same time I can be welding fairly large sections back at the forge.
I've been looking at MMA inverters from the Parweld, Inverter Fusion, Plasma Part, NewArc and Tech-Arc ranges - but I'm undecided on what would best in the long run. My maximum budget is £500.

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NickyEng]

Parweld 161xti quite a few folks on here have those, lift tig on it. Nice little machine.
GYS E200 FV nice machine
Lincoln invertec 170s lovely machine
There's a lot to choose from.

 

[Kent]

I have run a little 180 esab buddy for some five years doing just that burned lord knows how many boxes of rods in all sorts of conditions
Stick to 2.5 rods if you can't access the fuse board to reset a breaker and carry a pack of spare 13 amp fuses in your gear
Got better plants in the shop but very fit for purpose you intend cheap enough to not be over bothered about
Most won't do what they say on the box and blurb most will do 6013 and 7018 3.2 mm and not a lot greater but after that level you are certainly going to be using up fuses

 

[BrokenBiker]

i have a parweld xti160, good little machine, its my second one after the first got nicked. will run a 2.5 all day long, will easily run 3.2's without tripping breakers and i have run 4mm rods on my first one on 13amps.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Same answer to most others - a 160A will do exactly what you need & with a budget around £500 you'll get one that'll last for years to come.

Take a look at the EWM Pico 162. They're within your budget, lovely machine @ they last forever.

 

[Sarto]

If you are concerned a lot about 13Amps, look for welders with PFC (power factor correction), like the GYS E200 FV or other machines so equipped.
They "should" absorb less current, and with less spikes when starting the arc.
At least this is my understanding.

My Telwin managed to burn a 4mm 7018 on 16 amperes line at a 180A output.

SARTo

 

[blenkie1]

I have a par weld runs 3.2s and has never blew a fuse. Weldequip was selling them for under £200

 

[Jim Davey]

Tom beat me to it, but that kind of money buys you a dual voltage EWM Pico 162 on offer at the moment. I wouldn't go as far as to say they last forever, everything dies eventually, but they have a 3 year warranty and they are very well made.

 

[steve t]

Ive got a parweld 160 as well, cant fault it, cant fault rivets and collars either for blacksmiths

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I've a thermal arc 175te and rate it very highly. Will happily burn 4mm rods on 16a supply and I've not tripped it running 3.2 on 13a yet, well no I have but that's due to the customer firing three kettles up to feed the calves and it was a farm supply notorious for dodgy wiring!!

 

[Kent]

I've a thermal arc 175te and rate it very highly. Will happily burn 4mm rods on 16a supply and I've not tripped it running 3.2 on 13a yet, well no I have but that's due to the customer firing three kettles up to feed the calves and it was a farm supply notorious for dodgy wiring!!

there lies the rub, different supply quality. Not only can it lead to popping fuses but to me often more important I can get fade with the plant. My new micor might help this issue.
one area I work in the power will go out about 4 pm for a bit when kids come back from school and lights go on in homes and farm buildings. Its like the 70s all over again!

 

[dan.taylor.1]

To be fair I did one job near the kettles which tripped the breaker, did another nearer the input supply and didn't trip it, I can run 450mm 3.2s in my workshop on 13a all day long no issue.

 

[Sarto]

Is there a difference in the current needs using 3,2mm rods 350mm or 450mm long?
Never tried the latter.

 

[Kent]

Is there a difference in the current needs using 3,2mm rods 350mm or 450mm long?
Never tried the latter.

Do we turn our amps down as the rod shortens?

 

[dan.taylor.1]

No difference, just a longer weld so longer draw of current from the supply.

 

[Sarto]

I thought so.