Stick Welder - size and make??

admin

DW recently dragged home a Ford 340B tractor, Massey Ferguson TO35, and a little Ford 9N.  I’m getting the impression she loves tractors. Anyway, I have been given my assignments – some of which will involve welding ½” plate.    We live 35 miles from the nearest general store, and about 2 miles from the nearest electrical grid.  We have lived on solar for about 15 years, and when I need to arc anything, I must start up a 7500 Watt generator – solar and arc welding don’t mix.  The generator is adequate for flux core wire, but when I get into a stick welder, I’m not so sure the 7500 generator will be able to pull the weight.  Say, I need to weld ½ to ¼ plate steel – any ideas as to the minimum size sick welder I will need – no need for something that will require Hover Dam to power?
Reply:7500 watts will drive an AC buzz box. You certainly won't be able to do 1/2" in one pass.Do you have enough solar to run the grinders needed to clean and shape the joints for welding?Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:The 150-200 amp inverter machines should run fine on your generator. If you don't mind multi pass welds on thicker steel take a look at the Miller Maxstar 150 or 200. I wouldn't go with a machine smaller than 150amp. Another thing to look at is generator welders, like the Miller Bobcat or Lincoln ranger. Around 10,000 watt output for generator and 225+ welding amps. I really like my Maxstar 150STL, I would recommend one if you want it small, portable and easy on power (115V or 220V). It burns stick electrodes and tig welds very nice.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:To run most transformer based welders, you will need almost at least a 12KW genset to run them. Lincoln recommends a 15 KW unit to power their basic AC 225 unit, let alone a bigger one like an Idealarc. Trany units are cheap, but need lots of power to run. Typically at least 50 amps 230v power plus some when run off a genny.Inverters however give you more output on lower input power. A good inverter designed to run off 30 amps of 230v power like a Maxstar 150 or Maxstar 200 would run that easily off that genny. Down side is that those inverters are not inexpensive.Last option would be a dedicated engine drive welder. The small DC only 150-180 amp stick units can be found occasionally reasonably. My rental place has them for  $85 a day. Bigger units like Bobcats and Rangers show up as well used at reasonable prices.Cheapest bet if you can get 230v power is a nice used transformer stick machine. I see the basic AC only units all the time for $50-150. AC/Dc units start around $250. I've seen small used engine drives starting around $250 on occasion as well. Inverters, it really depends on what you get. You will want 230v units. You won't get enough output on 110v power even with top of the line units like my Maxstar 200 to do what you want. Personally I'd avoid the import units, but some people have had decent luck with them. To me it's not worth the gamble at the kind of money we are talking..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:Curious, what planet are you in ?     I go with '' SquirmyPug '' on a engine drive. If you have one generator and are out on a island in no man's land I would definitely get a engine drive welding machine. I would not feel secure with only one generator . A Miller Bobcat would work fine where you can burn the rod you need with no issues.
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPug Another thing to look at is generator welders, like the Miller Bobcat or Lincoln ranger. Around 10,000 watt output for generator and 225+ welding amps..
Reply:150-200A inverter or an engine drive.  Do-it-yourself types sometimes cook up an alternator-based welder that could run off a PTO."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:You might want to read this thread for an answer, maybe it will help. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...a-stick-welder
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauYou might want to read this thread for an answer, maybe it will help. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...a-stick-welder
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauYou might want to read this thread for an answer....
Reply:Thanks for the advice folks!  Sorry for the double threads .. my mistake.  I can do a limited amount of flux wire welding with my solar, but nothing extended.  I will start looking for a AC – DC stick welder because I think I might do better with DC.  I suppose that is what is what you-all refer to as an inverter welder.  Quite a few years ago, I had an old Lincoln AC welder which I did battle with just to create my own interpretation of metallic bird poop.  But that was when I didn’t even know I needed to keep my welding rods dry.  Today, I'm a little wiser.    I don’t mind doing multiple passes – heaven knows I’ve done enough of them with the flux-core welder!  But now I have a need to work on high carbon steel and my little wire welder just isn’t going to manage that.  I’m thinking a stick welder will give me a much wider choice of welding materials.  This is new ground for me – it should be an interesting voyage.
Reply:Multiple passes with an underpowered 110v machine is pointless. At best you are still limited to the weak bond and poor penetration of the 1st beads. More weld isn't necessarily "better" or stronger. This only works when you have enough power to start with.As far as AC/DC inverter, there are some out there on the market, but you pay  a real premium for them. The vast majority of inverters, especially the lower priced units are DC only. This is the opposite of older power hungry transformer based units where AC only units are typically less expensive. Inverter/transformer has to do with the way the machine creates weld power. Transformers use coils to increase amperage and are relatively inefficient. Inverters use a different technology to increase amperage and are more efficient.AC vs DC in stick has advantages/disadvantages in both processes. AC is better for some things, but the vast majority of rods tend to run better on DC. My guess is if you want an AC unit, you will be looking at an engine drive vs an inverter. The added cost of a AC capable inverter isn't worth the gain for stick welding. Their biggest use is to do AC capable tig for aluminum..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:Do any of your tractors run? You didn't mention a budget or long term goal. I have seen a number of decent priced, fair sized pto gen sets on craigs list that would provide the power for a stationary welder and back up portable power as needed. Best of luck with your search.
Reply:Originally Posted by gundog77Do any of your tractors run? You didn't mention a budget or long term goal. I have seen a number of decent priced, fair sized pto gen sets on craigs list that would provide the power for a stationary welder and back up portable power as needed. Best of luck with your search.
Reply:To give an idea of what I had been getting away with ---This was done sometime last year, and it has been happily digging trenches on our property since then - no problems.
Reply:How about a Zena ?Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:That transmission housing will definitely be a challenge. Doable with high-nickel rod, more stick experience and clean parts.How the tractor was stressed to create that crack usually included major injuries to the operator. Nice work on the trencher.Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by mike837goThat transmission housing will definitely be a challenge. Doable with high-nickel rod, more stick experience and clean parts.How the tractor was stressed to create that crack usually included major injuries to the operator. Nice work on the trencher.
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DCracks like that are very common on Ford tractors. There is no real frame just the castings. The loader puts a lot of extrs stress on the transmission housing. The better loaders have a frame that ties into the rear axle housing ,but they can still break.
Reply:A rad shop will fix your rad up good as new in no time if they have the replacement core in stock.  The end tanks are brass and the core gets soldered into them with lead solder on those old rads.   Not recommended as a diy job though."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25