Which arc welder

[Matt77]

My neighbour needs a new arc welder, I’m more a mig man myself but what brands of arc are good and bad, the farm hasn’t the greatest power supply, something comfortable with 3.2 rods would be good. TIA

 

[dave mountain]

fronius or kempi are the best imo, but unless your using it all the time a jasic inverter or similar (sealey, hyundai etc) will be just the job and for a third of the price. ive burned in 4mm rods with a little jasic on a 13a plug no probs

 

[box]

Ugh, tell him to go gasless MIG and ditch the welding rods. Less faff than having a gas bottle in tow, you can weld in the wind and they play nice with rusty/galvanised/painted sh!t found on a farm. I recently converted an old man from arc to gasless MIG and I'm quite please with myself....just shows you can teach an old dog new tricks.

I've always liked Cigweld.

I personally run the cheapest no brand Chinese rubbish welders and they've served me well for personal use, workshop use and now farm use. You can buy 2 or 3 of them for the price of a brand name one. Not that I'd ever recommend one to anyone, especially if you're doing lots of heavy welding - the duty cycle ratings are terrible.

 

[dave mountain]

each to their own, i cant stand gasless mig. a competent welder and the correct rods will give stronger welds than any gasless mig. it always amazes me how many people dont realise there are hundreds of different rods, and not just boggo 6013s.

 

[box]

I can't be bothered with any of that. Point and shoot, a bit of zinc paint over the top and away I go.....I haven't had a gasless weld break yet?

I guess it depends what you're welding. I wouldn't go anywhere near a heavy structural repair or heavy fabrication job with gasless wire, but it's fine for 99% of repair work I do.

 

[Matt77]

It’s not going to get heavy use I don’t think, but he has built a few small things so not just repairs, I mentioned mig, he wants to stick with arc as he’s used that forever, I thought inverter but had no idea of brand, I’m sure he’s googling too.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

It’s not going to get heavy use I don’t think, but he has built a few small things so not just repairs, I mentioned mig, he wants to stick with arc as he’s used that forever, I thought inverter but had no idea of brand, I’m sure he’s googling too.

We have a boc inverter...cracking little welder

 

[box]

I thought inverter but had no idea of brand, I’m sure he’s googling too.

They're all pretty much the same at the bottom end of the market TBH. Find something with a brand name and warranty stuck to it and go for it. Shop local in case you need spares or repairs.

Inverter welders don't like being covered in grinding grit and left in a cold damp environment for years on end, they're not quite as tough as the big old girls with wheels and wind up handles.....something to keep in mind. No problem if neighbour has a dry workshop.

 

[David.]

ESAB Rogue ES 180i CE ARC Welder | 240v

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www.premierwelding.com

I'd call these, if this is for real it looks cheap, budget range maybe, but the ESAB badge ought to make it okay....

 

[Pistonbroke]

I have a parweld xti160, nine years old and been great. Has done 4mm rods on extension leads and will do 3.2 all day. Not sure what the current model is