Bigger Welder

admin

Hello, I have been welding with an old Forney 180, and I really need something that will weld quarter inch er more, this wellder is alright for smaller stuff, but I seem to stick a lot with the heavier rod.
Reply:So I was wondering what to get, I have 220,in my shop. And at this time I just want to stay with stick welding.
Reply:I'm surprised its not big enough. What rod are you using?  What size?  Is this the one with where you plug in the electrode to the amps you want?  AC only I presume. DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:How many amps is a Forney 180? Is it a 220v machine?  If it is a 180 amp machine, then it should do what you want.  If it is old, check all cable connections for corrosion.  I had some unions on my leads.  After a couple of years the corrosion was  6 inches on each side of the union.  I cut it out and there was much difference it the behavior of the machine.  The wire was also very brittle and burnt. What are "Heavier rods"? 5/32",1/4"...
Reply:Well the biggest rod that I can use is 7014 1/8, and it welds real good. Maybe I don't need a bigger welder. I was thinking of getting the AC225S at Home Depot.Would that do about everything that I would ever need?
Reply:And the electrodes do plug into the differant settings, it has a DC battery charger on the bottom.
Reply:Blackfoot, I have an old Forney welder it is also a 180 I have welded a lot of 3/8" thick material with it. It will burn rod larger then 1/8", for the most part I have had the best luck running 6013 & 7014 rod. It doesn't do real well with 7018 or 6011. I have burnt some 7018 rod with it but it has to be 7018 AC rod. I tried 7018 AC DC rod and couldn't get it to arc.I do not have any battery charger on mine, It has two rolls of plug ends for different settings and high low ground settings. They are pretty tough old welders all and all. Mine was used in a couple of body shops prior to me getting it, It was fazed out when they went to large mig welders. It had set for several years before I obtained mine. I brought it home opened it up blew everything out with some shop air, and cleaned up the plugend connections and the plugends on the leads and have been using it for  10 years or more.
Reply:You're not going to do much more with the AC225S than with what you have. It won't run 7018 with it either. Nothing wrong with using 7018AC in a low voltage ac welder for most home projects. I wouldn't spend that kind of money for something of almost the same capacity. I'd save your money for a used larger AC/DC if you have a need for it.
Reply:I agree with the rest of these guys.  You should have enough power to do 3/8ths without any problems if the welder is in good working order.  The AC225 is a perfectly fine machine, but it ain't much more than what you have already...Gnewby's suggestion of 1/8th inch 6013 rod is a good one...I have had to use AC only machines lots of times and I have always had good luck with 6013.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiYou're not going to do much more with the AC225S than with what you have. It won't run 7018 with it either. Nothing wrong with using 7018AC in a low voltage ac welder for most home projects. I wouldn't spend that kind of money for something of almost the same capacity. I'd save your money for a used larger AC/DC if you have a need for it.
Reply:1/8" is plenty !  Sounds like you're doing good.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy