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Hey All, this is my first post but I'm a long-time reader. I'm a self-employed mobile structural/repair weldor, and everything I've got including a Suitcase 12RC and 30A spoolgun is powered by a TB302. I was recently contacted by a factory in our area for possible long-term work deep in the facility where my TB won't help a bit. Aside from an old Dialarc HF at the shop, I don't own any plug-in type welders and darn if I'm going to load/offload and push around that Dialarc!I need some advice on a good, easily portable stick/TIG unit. I'm sure I'll have access to single and 3-phase current, 110-480. Work will be on stainless and carbon, and I'll want to be able to run at least 120A DC reliably for use w/ 1/8 7018. The machine would be used for structural repairs, and there's a possibility there will be some steam line work. A few points:1. Please only give opinions on equipment you have personal experience with.2. I know there are a lot of hobby weldors here. While I appreciate your opinions, I'd really like to hear from people who do this for a living, and have a good idea of duty cycle/longevity day-in and day-out with these smaller machines running at or above the amperage I mentioned above.3. With the machine you're recommending set at 120A, how long are your leads and how long is your extension cord? Does the mfg's duty cycle rating hold true set up like you use it? If the machine kicks breakers, what size are they?4. What are the characteristics of a 5P+ weld and a 7018 weld with that machine? Any issues with weld penetration or quality?5. Obviously I'm more interested in stick performance than TIG, but any additional notes on TIG performance would also be great.6. Any recommendations on out-of-production units that would do what I need will also be considered. Sorry, not interested in MIG units at this time.Thanks in advance! -Joe
Reply:Heya Joe,Looks like you have a pretty good handle on what you want. First suggestion would be to check with your local LWS. A good one will be able to give you suggestions and should know the entire line of welders they carry.I bought our shop a Miller Maxstar 150STH with the case and tig torch and it has worked very well for our needs. Not much running on gen power or extended run times yet but it has welded 1/8" 7018 with good results on 115V 20A breaker. Also tigged 12 Ga SS on 115V with good results. This is all with the leads that came with the machine, it only weighs 15? lbs so not a problem to haul around for stick work.You might want to look at the 200 if you expect to use it extensively at higher amps.Hope it helps.
Reply:Lincoln Invertec V275. 55 pounds, 100% duty cycle at 200 amps (275 amp max), weather resistant. You will see thousands of these in 8 packs at construction sites all over the place. If you're shopping used, they can be had pretty cheap when the 8 pack racks come in off lease.
Reply:Miller CST 280. Runs 6010 and 7018 very well. Used them in a papermill construction job with 200' out and 200' back of weld cable, units were hard wired in several locations in the plant basement. With long leads I'd add 10-15 amps to what I thought I'd need and the performance was good. I Welded structural steel, CS and SS piping. Does fine as a scratch start DC TIG machine with a TIG torch that has a valve(no gas solenoid in the welders). We used these and XMT 304s on the job. Both models were very reliable, we had 8 CST280s and 4 XMT304s on the job, and I don't remember any failures during the 6 months of work.If you want AC TIG, then switch to a Dynasty 200. Very portable. Different arc than the CST 280 or XMT machines, but still OK by my standards. I use more DIG on my Dynasty than with an XMT 304. The CST doesn't have a dig control but does have 'stiff' and 'soft' settings for 6010 and 7018.Last edited by A_DAB_will_do; 11-09-2010 at 01:38 PM.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Thanks for the recommendations so far. Can anyone compare the CST 280 with the CST 250, as there are several used 250's available? The prices I'm finding have the CST 280 used and the XMT 304 used in about the same ballpark, around $1,000. I priced the new 280 with my local welding supplier and it's $2050 with Tweco connectors and no leads. Can you also compare actual experience with the 280 and 304? Any known failure-prone components?
Reply:Another vote for the XMT 304. I've run one mostly in Mig, but a bit in stick and DC tig. While you are not interested in Mig right now, your 12RC would hook straight up and run on it nicely as long as it's not one of the CC only models. Stay away from the older XMT300's. When they go bad it usually costs more than the machines are worth to fix.I've never run the CST, but for me the mig cabability of the XMT 304 CC/CV would swing me towards it even though it's 2x the weight..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:DSW, you've got a great point. When I said I didn't want a MIG unit it was to keep people from recommending little homeowner-type portable MIG welders. I didn't realize I could power my 12RC with an inverter! I spent some time talking with my LWS, and found the CST 280 new is about 60% of the cost of a new XMT 304. But there is a used XMT I'm going to have a look at early next week. Sounds like it would make a good replacement for the Dialarc in the shop and still be portable to the jobsite. I'll let you know how it went.
Reply:I am set up much the same as you are. If I needed to do what you are needing, I'd go XMT 304 without looking back....unless AC TIG is needed...then it gets interesting. As was said, the XMT will basically do the same as your TB...RC will hook right up, and the stick will be even better. You can even hook up the 30A. If pulse is needed, you can go with either an Optima or get the XMT 350 MPa. The whole setup is pretty heavy and bulky, but with Miller's XMT carts, you can move the whole deal easily...even with bottle. While some of the top end 120v units are pretty good, I don't think I'd get one. Very few of them go above 200a. In an industrial setting, 240v and up is usually readily available.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:My recommendation is the Dynasty 200 DX, http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...ty_200_series/With it's multi volt input options it's light weight, and GTAW ability, i see it as the best option for the investment. Next would be the Lincoln Invertec and Miller XMT power sources, heaver but bigger amps out bigger dollars in.
Reply:Well, the guy with the used XMT needed the money now, so he drove 3 hours so I could have a look at it! I just bought it yesterday. XMT 304 CC/CV in decent shape with an extra 50' of brand new 6/4 SO cord, for $1200 cash. Saved me 6 hrs round-trip and just what the dr ordered.
Reply:That's a great deal on a great machine.Your Suitcase feeder will plug right in, and so will your spool gun and wc24 controller. The Optima pulser works very well for mig'ing aluminum. The RFCS-14 foot pedal that fits the Trailblazer will also plug right into the XMT. The only things you're missing out on for tig with the XMT 304 is an internal gas valve and HF start. You'll need a torch with manual gas valve on the torch head and either use scratch start or the lift/touch start feature. I would augment the XMT with a Maxstar 150STH, for small stainless tig'ing with HF start, pulse and gas valve inside the machine. Sadly, the XMT and Maxstar 150 use different foot pedals.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:35:50