Welders

[cbfb]

Same goes for most of these old non solid state welders. Just a big transformer coil and a choke to regulate the output. Most high tech thing in them is the power switch!
Duty cycle is regulated by the need to change electrodes regularly.

If you just want to learn and poo steel together get one of these or similar, if you are going to do a lot of welding and have some skills get a mig. If you can't weld but want to give it the old kiwi backyard try don't try repairing an ali boat (otherwise there will be a thread on KB'er lost at sea!).
Oh and as Katman would infer Electricity will kill you so be careful and get training.

OK, sold on one of the old arc welders, will keep my eye out.

LOL yeah I guess boat welding is pretty critical, will leave that to the pros.

[cbfb]

A few of you have mentioned doing courses - I think that would be a wise decision, but can't find anything in the Palmy North area. Where did you do your course?

Actually there was one at UCOL but it cost $500ish over 8 weeks (1 evening per week). Seems a bit steep for learning to bog up a few bits and pieces. Maybe that was more a trade qualification.

Failing that if anyone in/near Palmy who knows how to Arc weld and wouldn't mind swapping knowledge for beer???

[HQfiend]

A few of you have mentioned doing courses - I think that would be a wise decision, but can't find anything in the Palmy North area. Where did you do your course?

Actually there was one at UCOL but it cost $500ish over 8 weeks (1 evening per week). Seems a bit steep for learning to bog up a few bits and pieces. Maybe that was more a trade qualification.

Failing that if anyone in/near Palmy who knows how to Arc weld and wouldn't mind swapping knowledge for beer???

I don't think they offer a home study course

As a thought though if your in fairly well with a local garage or muffler shop they may teach you the basics for a box of stubbies on a Friday afternoon.

[Winston001]

I'm very much like you. Did't know anything about welding but wanted to be able to give it a try. So I bought a simple stick (arc) welder from Mitre 10 a few years ago and never looked back.










Mind you, I'm now blind...........but the fun I had

[cbfb]

I don't think they offer a home study course

Ah why not? That's how I learnt to drive

As a thought though if your in fairly well with a local garage or muffler shop they may teach you the basics for a box of stubbies on a Friday afternoon.

Just been having a chat with one of the lads at work, he knows how to weld apparently (races drift cars) and is going to show me the basics.

I'm very much like you. Did't know anything about welding but wanted to be able to give it a try. So I bought a simple stick (arc) welder from Mitre 10 a few years ago and never looked back.


Mind you, I'm now blind...........but the fun I had

LOL if I'm going blind it won't be arc eye that causes it

[Grubber]

I got one of these
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-fa...-344022007.htm

found it in a skip, needed a forklift to get it out though.

Youngs model c arc welder. single or 3 phase, 20 to 180 amp.

I have sucessfully tacked 1.0mm steel with it. (not bad for a novice)

these welders are awesome, and it seems to have no duty cycle which is a bonus for novices like me who do more grinding than welding.

even at $150 would be excellent value, better than the cheapest from supercheap

heavy fucker though.

Bloody awesome welder those. spent my youth tacking up bike frames with one of those.

Greatest welder of all time...



-Indy

And how could this guy be wrong..

Honestly though, i would go with the inverter. Got one for work a year or so back and they are smooth as silk to weld with. Far better than the old arc. Cost is around $700 for a reasonable one.

[cbfb]

Honestly though, i would go with the inverter. Got one for work a year or so back and they are smooth as silk to weld with. Far better than the old arc. Cost is around $700 for a reasonable one.

Sorry to ask a dumb question but what's the difference between an Arc welder and an inverter? I was only aware of Arc, TIG and MIG welding and obviously wrongly assumed that inverters/arc welders were the same thing.

[Grubber]

Sorry to ask a dumb question but what's the difference between an Arc welder and an inverter? I was only aware of Arc, TIG and MIG welding and obviously wrongly assumed that inverters/arc welders were the same thing.

Inverter and arc are the same. One runs on DC current and the other on AC (someone tell me if i got that bit right)
Mig welder runs with a wire feeder and use gas as a flux (something like that).
I am no expert but i think i got it sort of right>

[cbfb]

Inverter and arc are the same. One runs on DC current and the other on AC (someone tell me if i got that bit right)
Mig welder runs with a wire feeder and use gas as a flux (something like that).
I am no expert but i think i got it sort of right>

Ah OK, that would make sense. From what I've read so far I figured I would get a single-phase DC Arc welder, around 160A - see I have been paying attention

Really $700 though? I have been keeping an eye on TM and there's plenty around 2-300, what am I to gain by paying twice that? I'm only really doing a few bits in the workshop/house, not planning on welding frames together or making choppers etc.

EDIT: Forget that last paragraph - I realise now you're talking about inverters, which are more expensive than normal arc welders (which I had been looking at previously)....

[Vgygrwr]

I think most of the older welders use a bloody great transformer and rectifier to convert 50 cycle, 230 volt AC to high voltage constant current DC for arc welding an inverter is using electronic high frequency switching for the same thing. The collection of transisters etc is much smaller lighter then the bloody great coils of wire that make up large transformers, they are also much more efficient and I guess provide a more stable current for welding. Suspect they also cost more and have lots more bits to fail.

[Pussy]

I still have an Esab "Caddy" welder from my time in the trade. 130 amp inverter welder. They cost about $1800 in the early 90s.
I have spent all day in the fuel tank of the Sealord boat the "Thomas Harrison" when it was being refitted just after arriving in NZ, welding refidgerant piping and conduit that went through the tank. TIG root run on the piping, then 3.2mm Phillips 77 rods for the hot pass and cap. Was WELL over the duty cycle that the little welder was supposed to be subjected to. It's still going strong.
I would definitely recommend an inverter welder, even for a beginner

[cbfb]

I think most of the older welders use a bloody great transformer and rectifier to convert 50 cycle, 230 volt AC to high voltage constant current DC for arc welding an inverter is using electronic high frequency switching for the same thing. The collection of transisters etc is much smaller lighter then the bloody great coils of wire that make up large transformers, they are also much more efficient and I guess provide a more stable current for welding. Suspect they also cost more and have lots more bits to fail.

Thanks Vgygrwr that's a really useful explanation, I understand the differences now.

I still have an Esab "Caddy" welder from my time in the trade. 130 amp inverter welder. They cost about $1800 in the early 90s.
I have spent all day in the fuel tank of the Sealord boat the "Thomas Harrison" when it was being refitted just after arriving in NZ, welding refidgerant piping and conduit that went through the tank. TIG root run on the piping, then 3.2mm Phillips 77 rods for the hot pass and cap. Was WELL over the duty cycle that the little welder was supposed to be subjected to. It's still going strong.
I would definitely recommend an inverter welder, even for a beginner

Sulco has a little 130A inverter welder, you reckon that would be suitable? Only thing I'm a bit concerned about is the question of whether inverters are going to cost more in servicing and be less reliable etc, what's your experiences there?

[Grubber]

Thanks Vgygrwr that's a really useful explanation, I understand the differences now.



Sulco has a little 130A inverter welder, you reckon that would be suitable? Only thing I'm a bit concerned about is the question of whether inverters are going to cost more in servicing and be less reliable etc, what's your experiences there?

I say buy it.
They are very reliable. You won't have any problems at all. There is very little that can go wrong with them. Unless you drop them off a roof.....(don't ask how i know this)

[Pussy]

Sulco has a (welder pic),you reckon that would be suitable? Only thing I'm a bit concerned about is the question of whether inverters are going to cost more in servicing and be less reliable etc, what's your experiences there?

I've not spent a cent on my Caddy. It was used in an industrial capacity for about 3 years

[cbfb]

I say buy it.
They are very reliable. You won't have any problems at all. There is very little that can go wrong with them. Unless you drop them off a roof.....(don't ask how i know this)

Ouch

I've not spent a cent on my Caddy. It was used in an industrial capacity for about 3 years

All good cheers guys! Will go for one of those or similar...

Now to find a hiding place in the workshop... "What welder honey, that one? It's always been there"