Small arc welder
- Thread starter Pushdyke
- Start date
Lazy Sod
Member
- Location
- Warminster Wiltshire
Or a Jassic
What are these welders like at making the first strike/weld?
I have had a TecArc for years but it’s a real nightmare trying to get the first run without the rod sticking to the steel and you have to wiggle the clamp like hell to get it unstuck.
Was at a house last year and think it was a Jefferson inverter and you stick a rod in the clamp and you can start running a bead straight away with no sticking. Go home to mine and it would drive you nuts.
I have had a TecArc for years but it’s a real nightmare trying to get the first run without the rod sticking to the steel and you have to wiggle the clamp like hell to get it unstuck.
Was at a house last year and think it was a Jefferson inverter and you stick a rod in the clamp and you can start running a bead straight away with no sticking. Go home to mine and it would drive you nuts.
- Location
- Carmarthenshire, West Wales
this is what I have (no idea if it's the cheapest web site, I just found a site to add the model). It runs a 4mm (8 gauge) rod on a 13 amp supply. Very happy with it and impressed with it's capabilities.
www.toolweld.co.uk
Parweld XTS 163 MMA Inverter Welder - XTS163Default Title
160A MMA Inverter 230V Multi Mode The XTS 163 MMA uses latest technology to provide a compact and reliable machine, ideal for everyday applications. Electrodes up to 3.2mm can be used with ease. TIG Welding By fitting the optional TIG torch and coupling to a suitable gas supply the XTS 163 can...
www.toolweld.co.uk
- Location
- Shropshire
I’ve got a little Cemont. It’s very good
- Location
- Shropshire
Cemont Welding Machines | Telford Group Ltd | Welding Superstore
Cemont Welding Machines, Plasma Cutting Machines and Battery Chargers. Telford Group Ltd are the official appointed UK importer and distributor for all Cemont products and offer the full range from their Telford showroom and warehouse.
cemont.co.uk
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
that would be down maybe to the brand of rod but more likely to your set having no hot start feature
- Location
- Carmarthenshire, West Wales
or maybe the open circuit voltage is lower on the older non inverter machines?
bravheart
Member
- Location
- scottish borders
Think the small inverters are mostly cheap generic Chinese boxes.
Have a rohr 220 stick welder had it for a while now. Works well gets dragged out for on site Gate and feeder repairs sub £100 so not the end of the world if it lands in the s***e. Don't have 4mm rods but burns 3.2 fine on a 13A plug. The only downside is that the plug is moulded on and don't think the 13A power supply is up to 220A.
Starting a new rod not much of a problem think it has some anti stick properties built in.
Have a rohr 220 stick welder had it for a while now. Works well gets dragged out for on site Gate and feeder repairs sub £100 so not the end of the world if it lands in the s***e. Don't have 4mm rods but burns 3.2 fine on a 13A plug. The only downside is that the plug is moulded on and don't think the 13A power supply is up to 220A.
Starting a new rod not much of a problem think it has some anti stick properties built in.
Lazy Sod
Member
- Location
- Warminster Wiltshire
How is it wired in the workshop? In mine, I have a dedicated 32A socket near the welding bench and a 32A plug on the Jassic. I made up an extension with a 13A plug and a 32A inline socket to use the welder elsewhere with the amps turned down a bit.
Reading through the posts, (1) there is no substitute for a oil cooled welder, (2) Rods, why use crap rods, goods rods save time and don't then get the issues from using a small welder in the first place, I don't like to hear well its good enough, I take a pride in my work if its a part for a Rolls Royce or a bog handle its welded and finished the same, I use a pre war oil cooled Cytringan weighs about 4cwt so not one to move, and for taking about an old Try-ang nothing to go wrong. I can say for odd jobs today a inverter is the way to go, I have used the cheapest? Work Zone Titanium Inverter 140 weighs nothing, pick it up with one little finger and handles a 3.2mm rod, there is no amperage at the rod so get the smallest glimmer and amperage is there, so no rod sticking but just get used to it. Things today Don't Last its often the circuit boards and often obsolete after a few years, Just repaired a mig, solenoid and wire feed motor supply failed, its poorly? well cheeper made than thirty year old predecessors board is identical but made without the chips, you could say with nuts and bolts instead of sticky tape, Welding helmets I would recommend, don't buy cheep ones, check the helmet is strong with good well made head straps, some fail to hold.
Yes good little unit ,drove over ours with the little ifor williams a year or 2 ago , and its still going strongthis is what I have (no idea if it's the cheapest web site, I just found a site to add the model). It runs a 4mm (8 gauge) rod on a 13 amp supply. Very happy with it and impressed with it's capabilities.
Parweld XTS 163 MMA Inverter Welder - XTS163Default Title
160A MMA Inverter 230V Multi Mode The XTS 163 MMA uses latest technology to provide a compact and reliable machine, ideal for everyday applications. Electrodes up to 3.2mm can be used with ease. TIG Welding By fitting the optional TIG torch and coupling to a suitable gas supply the XTS 163 can...
that price looks ok but this
Parweld XTS 163 MMA Welder
Key Features 4MM max electrode diameter Weight - 8.5KG Generator friendly Digital display Duty cycle - 20% @ 160A Arc force & hot start 3 year warranty
www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk
can use on a genny or long extension and it will cope with a certain amount of voltage fluctuation.
Pistonbroke
Member
Just out of interest,what do you consider to be the good rods.
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
Thought he used to be a member on here
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
An oil cooled welder is great for running in the workshop, but better for in the draughty doorway where the mig can't cope.
I've had various inverters but drove over the paraweld so bought a jefferson to keep me going. It's designed to run off a 13a plug so 3.2mm rods are on the very limit with good clean steel.
Perfectly good enough for hinges and brackets onto posts etc around the yard.
Been welding this aft from a genny at the end of the drive. Electric gate installer was impressed.
If you've any ambition to be anything more than a casual welder then a mig and an inverter will do every job.
Don't bother buying a new oil cooled as you'll struggle to get it up a ladder.
Plenty of good heavy old ones out there for workshop use.
I've had various inverters but drove over the paraweld so bought a jefferson to keep me going. It's designed to run off a 13a plug so 3.2mm rods are on the very limit with good clean steel.
Perfectly good enough for hinges and brackets onto posts etc around the yard.
Been welding this aft from a genny at the end of the drive. Electric gate installer was impressed.
If you've any ambition to be anything more than a casual welder then a mig and an inverter will do every job.
Don't bother buying a new oil cooled as you'll struggle to get it up a ladder.
Plenty of good heavy old ones out there for workshop use.
Tecarc here and you go no sticking no problems
