TIG Stick Welders

[v2cad]

Dave,
I got an inverter type last year and really like it. The one thing that no one else mentioned was the power requirements. The bigger welders have more cabability but they pull alot of amps. I've only got 30 amp service in the garage so that kinda drove my decision.

J.

[Ernie Ferrucci]

Hello J.

Your'e right about the power supplies. That definitely has to be considered. My Lincoln Tig reads 70amps on the input label, but I have to run it on a 100amp breaker. I got that recomendation right from Lincoln. When I first had it on a 70amp feed, it would trip the breaker occasionally, even though it only drew about 20amps while working. The technician at Lincoln told us that the machine will a some points during arc start, create a surge and draw higher than the 70amp breaker. It hasn't tripped the 100amp breaker in 20 years.
Jacin has the same welder, I'm curious what his is hooked up to.

Ernie Ferrucci

Hi Ernie,

At this moment I have mine hooked up to a 60 amp breaker - I can pop that breaker in a heartbeat on 1/4" aluminum if I'm not careful, but for my normal use (less than 1/4" steel - no problems).

I have had it hooked up to 100 amp service - no problems there whatsoever, however seems to me that mine was rated at 90 amps input - if memory serves me. From what I can tell it needs every bit of it if you want to max it out.

Speaking of which - for guys with less service - it doesn't mean you can't run a bigger machine on it - you just won't be able to run it flat out. Leaving you with the option to at least run it at lower settings untill you upgrade (I've needed to for quite a while now ) - point being a smaller machine doesn't use LESS power it merely has less capacity - UNLESS we are talking inverter machines - as I mentioned earlier they draw LESS power per output than a conventional (transformer) machine. The size thing is a double edged sword if you ask me. I have had friends borrow my small Mig - but no one has ever borrowed my big TIG - I like that!!! :shock: :roll:

As far as the rating goes - Sheepdog - pretty much hit it - it's the aluminum that really draws the current. Granted I don't do alot of heavy aluminum, but I do have the ocassional aluminum casting. If I did alot of it - I would probably tell you that you need even a BIGGER unit than 250 amps!!!!!

As always Your Mileage May Vary!!!!!

Jacin in Ohio

[acmeworks]

i have found that a new shiney 250 syncrowave is not as smooth a machine as an older solid core machine (i.e. linde 305) sure the new tech has all kinds of bells and whistles, and can make the shop idiot look like the best welder around, but when it comes down to delicate work and duty cycle, the bigger heavier machine has finer current output, more Cu wraps to act as a fine current choke than an inverter based machine. you have to figure, dirty power needs a lot of filtering. while inverters and capacitors can take care of some of it, there is no substitution for miles of plain old Cu. just my .02
Ian

Ian, Your post is slighly confusing to me. Don't get me wrong I am not argueing the point I'm just not sure if I understand it.

From the fellas I know with the "NEW" transformer machines - zillion buttons and knobs - they for the most part LOVE these machines on AC (aluminum), but quite a few would rather have their ancient Linde (insert any commercial welder here) back as the DC wedling was simpler and smoother. Most likely related to the copper windings as you suggest.

Now I can't speak for all the Inverter machines out there, but of the couple I have used they are in a different category than the transformer machines altogther!. The arcs were so smooth - so controllable - they were just plain awesome. The last one I used was a BIG Kemppi (350 amp I think) any ways the low end controlablility was excellent - no problems at all. Granted this was origionally a VERY expensive machine _ I don't know how the NEWER machines compare, but I have also not heard any complaints either. So quite admittedly I don't know enough about these to make blanket statements, but so far I STILL want one - not that I'm seriously looking, but they were SWEET.


Your mileage may vary!


Jacin in Ohio

(still suffering with my old IdealArc 250/250)

[FenderBender]

Hello, I just purchased a new inverter welder from Thermadyne. It's the Thermal Arc 185-TSW. It's my first Tig machine, and man is it nice. I compared with the other competitors in this range, but couldn't find a better value. The arc is extremely nice, and the machine is so portable. It only weighs 40 lbs. and has 185 amps of power. It's also all digital which makes it really easy to set up. And it also is a stick welder. If you want my two cents, get an inverter.
Hope this is of some help.
Cliff

[cyberrodder]

Can someone tell me how thick the tig side of unit will weld upto?

Dave

[ralph]

Dave,
You can vies the Thermal arc offerings on their web site:
http://www.thermadyne.com/evolution/...ry.asp?div=tai
They give you the ability to look at the data sheets, sales flyers and operating manuals in pdf format.

Gentlemen,

First let me say that I thoroughly enjoy this site!

All of this discussion over welders has my head swirling. So, let me ask the experts for advice on what type of welder to procure.

First, I will not be strictly running a production shop. I have lots of projects, mostly cars to build. I do not envision welding anything extremely thick, either steel or aluminum.

I am blessed with a 4,000 sq ft shop so room is not a major consideration. The current power into the shop has a 60 amp main breaker, but since it is really new, and the incoming wires appear to be a very heavy guage, I think that it would handle 100 amps easily.

I currently have a gas welding setup that I have not used for years, and also an ancient Marquette stick welder 180 amps. It is so old that to change setting you have to pull the lead and plug it into another hole.

I took a class on stick welding at the local CC last fall, did wellwith it and plan to take one on TIG or whatever next term.

I definitely want to do sheet metal and luminum also need to weld thicker steel in order to do such things as sub frame grafts and trailer frames. I understand that the weld bead made by a Mig is hard to wheel and work.

I am leaning toward a TIG..,, so, based on all of that, any ideas?

Bruce

[butch foster]

Bruce - I'm way far away from being an expert, but here's my opinion for what its worth. Like you, I am constrained by a 60 amp (single phase) main in my shop. I am a hobbyist at best and work alone. Although you have 60 amps at the main, you need to consider what else will be on when you are welding. Lights, convenience outlets, compressor? Is someone else in the shop running another piece of equipment while you're striking an arc?

If you are in this for the long haul, you will likely want to acquire both a mig (wire feed welder) as well as a tig at some point. I'd start with the mig first because it will get you up the learning curve quickly. Getting good at tig takes time and patience, but like everything else, it is rewarding once you get it. Both Miller and Lincoln make very nice tig and mig machines that will work within your electrical constraints provided you don't want to push much beyond welding 1/4" material.

Do yourself a favor and have an electrician check out your main and the incoming feeds and take a gas welding or tig class. Once you've learned to "push the puddle", everything else will fall into place. Regards. Butch.