Another welder

[OnlyStihl]

I don't know about other Europeans, but this is always a weird sight to me.
I guess it is a 110/120Volt area thing?!

We plug any 220Volt single phase appliance into any 220Volt outlet and it has to run/support it.
Of course, there are exceptions where electrical installations apparently weren't up to code and chittt happened - but that is another story.

Welding is different. If it were a range/stove absolutely. With welding all things come into consideration. In my situation coming out of the breaker box is 6AWG, the weakest link. But it's only 3 feet in length, and a 50% duty cycle should allow a temporary/small overload. At least that's how I understand it all. May only be academic, as I burned 1/8 rod at 70amps the other day. This machine feels like it will run a 1/4 rod, were I to weld a steel bridge. Not likely.

For my own reference (off back of MY machine) :

Input @Breaker (plate on the back)	Output @Electrode Dial Setting	%Duty Cycle
38Amps	140Amps (1)	100%
55Amps (2)	200Amps	50%
68Amps (3)	250Amps	30%

(1) Max so far 70Amps, 1/8" rod, 6011
(2) Swap garage breaker with 60Amp
(3) Probably just leave it all alone. (i.e. Don't Use!!!)

If things are linear or close enough, then at the dial 70Amps, I am only taxing my electrical set up at maybe at 1/3 capacity.

Not sure what I was looking at yesterday (refreshing above table data). Probably the same machine but without the power factor capacitors.
On MY machine ->

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Welding is different. If it were a range/stove absolutely. With welding all things come into consideration. In my situation coming out of the breaker box is 6AWG, the weakest link. But it's only 2 feet in length, and a 30% duty cycle should allow a small overload. At least that's how I understand it all. May only be academic, as I burned 1/8 rod at 70amps the other day. This machine feels like it will run a 1/4 rod, were I to weld a bridge. Not likely. That 60amp breaker is going to get returned. Not needed!

You can weld any thickness metal with 1/8-5/32” rod just takes longer. Big rod doesn’t increase welding capacity In fact most tests and job procedures will specify no larger than 5/32” rod on even big welds. Did a 24” deep beam with 2” thick flanges and a 1” web, the procedure was preheat to 300 and weld with 1/8” or 5/32” 7018 max. Small rods allow for better control

 

[OnlyStihl]

You can weld any thickness metal with 1/8-5/32” rod just takes longer. Big rod doesn’t increase welding capacity In fact most tests and job procedures will specify no larger than 5/32” rod on even big welds. Did a 24” deep beam with 2” thick flanges and a 1” web, the procedure was preheat to 300 and weld with 1/8” or 5/32” 7018 max. Small rods allow for better control

Good to know. I was watching NBSWelding on YT burn a 1/4 rod with an ArcCaptain 205MP. Looked like he was using a blow torch. I have never seen a 1/4 or knew of such a thing til viewing his vid. And yeah, I'm thinking my 50Amp electrical setup is more than enough to run my IdealArc on just about anything I might weld.

NBSWelding burning a 1/4 rod ->

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Good to know. I was watching NBSWelding on YT burn a 1/4 rod with an ArcCaptain 205MP. Looked like he was using a blow torch. I have never seen a 1/4 or knew of such a thing til viewing his vid. And yeah, I'm thinking my 50Amp electrical setup is more than enough to run my IdealArc on just about anything I might weld.

NBSWelding burning a 1/4 rod ->

I’ve ran lots of 1/4” 7024 “jet rod” on thick stack caps at the mine but the reason was to save time on our job because of the amount of flat welding that needed to be done and it didn’t matter if it was a perfect x-ray quality weld.

 

[Da dog man]

 

[Da dog man]

 

[lehman live edge slab]

View attachment 458073

Very nice welds

 

[Da dog man]

Thank you sir. Ive had a couple decades to practice Will trade welds for port work lol and no I don't have access to a ac Tig machine so I can't repair cases

 

[OnlyStihl]

The

Thank you sir. Ive had a couple decades to practice Will trade welds for port work lol and no I don't have access to a ac Tig machine so I can't repair cases

Nice. Looks like the factory machine welds on my expensive Gary Fisher Mountain Bike. Hand welds that look that good are of another world.

 

[Da dog man]

Those are roll outs so they are a Lil easier to keep consistently pretty lol roll out means a positioner spins it as you weld so u stay at the top the whole time used for shop fab mainly or tanks

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Those are roll outs so they are a Lil easier to keep consistently pretty lol roll out means a positioner spins it as you weld so u stay at the top the whole time used for shop fab mainly or tanks

Thought it may have been positioner welding, still very nice. I’m going to play with some case welding this summer. I have a thermal arc gtsw 300 inverter with high frequency ac to weld aluminum and magnesium. I’ve tigged aluminum a few times but need practice still. Was all stick and wire at work and now I’m on a sub arc doing repair and build up. Honestly if you have an aluminum trailer or something in need of repair the Hobart 4043 aluminum stick works well on that stuff actually. Preheat anything thicker than a 1/4” and I’ve welded
1/8” aluminum fenders uphill with it just takes a bit of practice.

 

[Bill G]

You can weld any thickness metal with 1/8-5/32” rod just takes longer. Big rod doesn’t increase welding capacity In fact most tests and job procedures will specify no larger than 5/32” rod on even big welds. Did a 24” deep beam with 2” thick flanges and a 1” web, the procedure was preheat to 300 and weld with 1/8” or 5/32” 7018 max. Small rods allow for better control

I fully agree. The 1/8/-5/32 will do whatever needs done

 

[Da dog man]

Bill an Lehman are correct multipass welding will do anything u want if you got the time u can weld infinite thickness material 300 amp inverter is perfect for aluminum. They key to learning aluminum Tig is clean it 7 times lol doesn't matter how many amps u hit it with you won't get the results your looking for any help I can be w a welding question I'd be happy to help anyone any process or material