110v only in my garage

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I only have 110v in my garage, and I'm looking to do something other than stick two pieces of 1/8" steel together with my 100 amp AC stick welder.I cannot get 220v in the garage, it just won't happen. Long story.Eventual plans are to do unibody rust repair, aluminum tanks and tails for motorcycles, go karts, that sort of stuff.I don't care if the process is hard, I will learn it.So my 110v options are1) keep the stick welder2) get a 110v mig3) do they even make 110v tigs?4) oxy-fuel setup5) something I didn't think of
Reply:110v-220v inverter tig's the way to go if you really want to go all out & do it right, it'll work great in the garage at up to 100- maybe 125 amps or so depending on weather you can give it a 15a or a 20a circuit. you can do a whole lot with that though. if you want to learn to do precise work this is the way. you would need 220 though to really push it up toward the 200 amp range or moreLast edited by turbocad6; 10-08-2010 at 12:18 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6110v-220v inverter tig's the way to go if you really want to go all out & do it right, it'll work great in the garage at up to 100- maybe 125 amps or so depending on weather you can give it a 15a or a 20a circuit. you can do a whole lot with that though. if you want to learn to do precise work this is the way. you would need 220 though to really push it up toward the 200 amp range or more
Reply:I just picked up the miller dynasty 200dx, awesome machine but big $$$ too. don't know what your budget is... lincoln makes similar, as well as hobart & others, then there are the china cheaper ones too, but a good portable inverter tig will be an investment with a lot of potential if your willing to learn to master it
Reply:a miller maxstar for DC only or the new diversion has the multi voltage plug but for that much up front on the 180 go dynasty used but if you dont need AC for non-ferious metal a maxstar with the 120 plug on it is a great setup for stick and scratch tig
Reply:Expect to spend a good sized chunk of change to get a good machine that will do alum on 110v. Miller's Dynasty 200dx fit's the bill perfectly, but new expect to spend close to $4K complete for the machine, cylinder, aircooled torch and leads. It will tig steel, stainless and alum on 110v and weld DC stick. On 110v you'll be limited to about 1/8" alum if you can get a 20amp or better breaker. Millers Diversion 180 is not going to do more than 1/16" alum at best on 110v and it will not do stick. You'll still spend almost $2K for that. Oh and to do 1/16" alum on the Diversion 180 you'll need a 30 amp breaker as at max rating it draws 26 amps of 110v. As said if you drop the alum, Millers Maxstar 150 will do stick well on 110v and you can do DC tig for steel and stainless. That machine will probably run you close to $1500 complete new.No matter how you look at it you will be very limited on 110v. There's just no solution to this other than more power. To do alum tig on a budget you really need to look at 220v. To do more than 1/8" steel with mig, you need 220v. If you want to do more than thin sheet metal alum on mig you need 220v... Notice a patern here?I welded in a rental apartment for years. To do so I had to build a 50' 220v extension cord and plug into either the dryer outlet in one apartment or the range outlet in another. I had to run the cord out the basement window in one place and weld in the yard using the dryer outlet. Using the range outlet, I had to run the cord across the kitchen floor and out the back door to the driveway. I was limited on what I could do and how far I could go with the machine, but it is possible, a PITA, but possible...Your only other option if you can't get 220v in an apartment is to look for a moderate (10KW+) genset or an engine drive welder. Other wise start looking for a new place to move to . . ..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:i pulled my dryer out the other day and it looks like there is no plug in receptacle. It's hard wired into the house? The house im' renting is about 100 years old and all the electrical is grandfathered in. This house would fail 8 ways till monday the way it's set up.There is a plug for a table saw that is 220v twist lock, but the cable is low gauge and about 75 feet long. Without rewiring anything i'd be about 100 feet from the garage.if you guys have any tips about these two things, i'm all earsOh and the electric range appears to be on a 30 amp 120v circuit? which is really strange because I thought all electric ranges were 220v
Reply:i run my 110v  mig on a 20a mp and get good results..but it will not do aluminum..unless you can get a 20 amp circuit, which you dont say much about, i dont thing you can tig it on 110..seems like oa is your only real option..a genset would have over a 20hp engine, not good in an apartment..
Reply:A 110v mig will get you by for awhile.  Sooner or later, you're going to need 220v power.  A used gas Bobcat, Trailblazer or Ranger self-generating welding machine is a good way to get reliable, clean, 220v generator power, at a high enough current level (10KW, 50 amps, 240 volts) to run other 220v welding equipment, at an affordable price, as well as stick welding capability straight from the welder/generator without any other welding machine needed.   You can plug in a 220v mig or tig machine, or use the weld output from the welder/generator to run a wire feeder or, with the T-Blazer or Ranger, run an hf box, tig torch and foot pedal (no aluminum tig with the Bobcat).  It will be noisy, but you only need to run it while actually welding.  Use your 110v power from the house to run your saws, grinders, etc.  Most time spent on welding projects is cutting, prepping, fitting, post weld grinding, etc.  The actual arc time is a very small percent of the project time.  Fire up the generator when you need it, shut it down when you dont.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:luckily it's a house, not an apartment, we just rent it. im a little surprised no one has mentioned O/A yet, is there a reason for that?
Reply:Oxy/acetylene is great for heating, cutting and brazing, but is very slow and expensive for general welding use.  I haven't welded anything with it in years but I use it often for heating and cutting.  Mig, tig and stick are just so much more efficient for welding.  For heating and cutting on out on the truck, I use oxy/propane.  The propane is cheaper and easier to carry on the truck.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Is a separate generator a possibility? It could be useful elsewhere if the power goes out, too.
Reply:Wiring the dryer for a plug and outlet shouldn't be a big deal. You probably have to have that done anyways if the dryer died. (maybe it's time for a new dryer ) The stove should be 220v unless it's gas or propane. You could tell this by looking at how many 220v breaker you have in the panel. Typical 220v breakers are furnace, AC unit, dryer, and stove.O/A is an option, but often it tough to find someone now days that can really show you how to O/A weld. Heat control is one of those things thats best shown rather than described with text. O/A is also a great learning tool for tig.One last thought not mentioned so far would be to look into taking a class. Instructors are often happy to let students work on their own project once the basics are covered. While it's not cheap as far as a "rental" you do have the opertunity to learn correctly, often have access to machines beyond your budget, as well as possibly the use of other shop tools they may have, press, brake, plasma, O/A etc. As far as learning, a class is often the most cost effective way to learn when you add up the cost of gas, wire, rod, electric and materials, not to mention the instructor..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:Hey DSW, thanks for the helpful reply.I am currently in a class, but it meets once a week and I'm itching to get more burn time! Right now I have a 100 amp stick welder (AC) and im finding that I can't do the things I want with it. It seems like tig/mig/OA is what I should be using.To be completely honest, when I go to bed nowadays, I put this youtube video on loop, for the simple reason that the sound of an oxy torch puts me at ease instantly. My heart isn't set on anything, but I don't want to deny a process just because it's hard to learn, or because not many people teach it.
Reply:Nobody has said it yet, so I willHow does the landlord feel about you welding on HIS property?My name's not Jim....
Reply:As long as he's not doing something illegal, or bothering the neighbors, or violating some part of his written rental contract, or damaging the property, it doesn't matter what the landlord thinks about it.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Taidenluckily it's a house, not an apartment, we just rent it. im a little surprised no one has mentioned O/A yet, is there a reason for that?
Reply:Originally Posted by Taidenluckily it's a house, not an apartment, we just rent it. im a little surprised no one has mentioned O/A yet, is there a reason for that?
Reply:you're right. Sometimes one voice seems like none, sorry.