What stick welder?

[Digester Man]

Looking a new inverter Arc, really like Kemppi stuff but their Minarc 180 is only rated to 170 amps for stick welding, will this be enough for welding say 12mm plate?

Other problem is the price of it! Any other suggestions? Currently have a 200 amp SIP which has done well but looking something a bit better built this time

Kemppi Minarc Evo 180 MMA Arc Welder, 230v Including Arc Cable, Earth Clamp & Shoulder Strap - Welding Supplies from Rapid Welding

Looking for...... 61002180, Kemppi Minarc Evo 180 MMA Arc Welder, 230v Including Arc Cable, Earth Clamp & Shoulder Strap

www.rapidwelding.com

 

[Lincs Lass]

To weld 12mm plate on a single phase might be asking a lot,,needs a lot of heat to penetrate that thick

 

[njneer]

Get what you pay for with welders, bit like tractors, Chinese things are cheap and do a job but don’t last, amazing how often you use them when you have one so a decent one is a must as you will miss it if it stops working.
if you want something substantial in build and performance unfortunately it will come at a cost but with that comes quality, longevity , service and UK based back up through a decent sales network. Buying cheaper stuff off the internet you are at the mercy of the gods trying to get any help or warranty through foreign call centres should it pack in ( and it will),
I woukd recommend buying a known brand from a local welding equipment supplier , yes sit will cost that bit more, but peace of mind that it’s the right tool for the job with help nearby . If it’s a quality brand you shouldn’t ever need them.
Local supplier probably do you a decent deal, I bought a Mosa 220 amp petrol one in 2009 , got a good deal because I bought a 110v 6 and 9 inch grinder as well , to run off the built in generator,and got a decent discount never let me down , plug and oil change every so often would weld 3.2 rods on heavy plate all day long.
i would stick with the mainstream brands Lincoln , Kemmpi , Parweld seem to be a decent machine with a decent product range.

 

[KB6930]

I've a techarc 208 inverter single phase on a 13amp plug only working about half power and I made up a subsoiler leg for the digger mostly out of 20mm flat bar and I've not ripped it to bits yet.

They're very good bits of kit and it's surprisingly easy to weld with

 

[Andrew K]

GYSMi 200 AMP here, pleased so far with quality of work and ease of use.

 

[fiatf130]

Get the kemppi. You won't regret it. I've a 140 must be 15 years old and never missed a beat. To weld 12mm you should be doing multiple passes no matter what size of welder you have to do a proper job.

 

[whindy]

We have a tecark inverter portable stick welder made in uk at York.
Also run one of their migs .good British manufactured kit.
We have a sip inverter stick welder/ plasma cutter cant get away with it. Been back for regular repairs.

 

[Nukemall]

Just bought a Pro-gys 200a pfc to replace my old sip inverter. Very pleased so far, seems very well built.
I was tempted by the kemppi, but went for the higher power / duty cycle of the Gys.

 

[Dragon]

Plasma part inverter welder here. Must be 5yrs old really handy good value.

 

[Digester Man]

Perhaps Tecarc is the one to go for, are they definitely an improvement in terms of quality over SIP? Are they definitely manufactured in the UK? They look very basic which is fine but would not like to find they are made in the Far East and stamped with a union flag..

 

[KB6930]

Perhaps Tecarc is the one to go for, are they definitely an improvement in terms of quality over SIP? Are they definitely manufactured in the UK? They look very basic which is fine but would not like to find they are made in the Far East and stamped with a union flag..

They definitely come from York.

Mine has done a lot of welding for a general farm machine probably nothing compared to someone doing it for a living and I'm very happy with it

 

[Gil582]

They definitely come from York.

Mine has done a lot of welding for a general farm machine probably nothing compared to someone doing it for a living and I'm very happy with it

Looking at a 208 also, how far can you push it on a 13 amp plug ? I've been told these newer inverters are alot more efficient and you can do alot with less amps?

Did you deal direct or through a supplier?

Also looking at the R Tech 175, from what others have said on here, unsure if these are just imported and re badged though ?

Cheers

 

[KB6930]

Mine is a 208 it'll happily weld at 150 and never blow a fuse . I'll can count on one hand the amount I've blown over the last 4or 5 years. My old oil filled stick needed a bolt in the plug and run at 180 to do what the inverter will weld at 140.

I was just speaking to a professional welder this morning about a mig and he said techarc maybe aren't as fancy looking as others with digital displays etc but they get the job done well

 

[Gil582]

Ment to say 206i , presumably the same machine...

That's good to know, they do look nice and simple- from the outside anyway !

 

[KB6930]

Got it wrong mine is a 206 .

Gate crooks etc and thicker stuff us all welded at 140

 

[Munkul]

You'd be better off working out what size of rods you plan to use... you can weld 1" thick with 2.5mm rods if you put enough passes in, and it will pass any code test if done right. Usually with 7018, but quality 6013 on mild steel is fine.

Max we ever use is 3.2mm and that they run around 130 amps on most of our machines. For farm work, my brother has a jasic 160 and it's great.
Most bigger work is done on the MIG anyways.

 

[seedman stains]

The tech arc looks simple enough what more do you need?
Arnt r tech re boxed chinese?( given a better quality control check than straight out of the factory)