80 amp inverter welder?

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Hey guys i am new to welding and to the forum. Anyways I am 16 and looking for a 110v welder for some projects. I will mainly be welding 1/8", and the most will be 3/16". I came across this welder while roaming the forum and found that people give it good reviews. Just looking for some expert opinion. I only have around 300$ to spend so this fits in to my budget. Any suggestions appreciated,BenSent from my iPhone using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk
Reply:Hello and welcome.We'd sort of need to know what machine it is to make a good guess. Cheap bottom end inverters don't give you a lot of power. Expect to run really tiny rods like 1/16" or 5/64" rods. You might be able to run some 3/32" rods like 6011 that don't take  a lot of amps to run, but other rods like 3/32" 7018 won't run well if at all.Better units Like the TA 95S usually will run 3/32" rods if you stay in the lower end of the amp range and are using a 20 amp dedicated outlet. $350 ish is about what I remember the TA 95s running for if you look a bit. I know quite a few guys that are very happy with theirs.Biggest limitation on these machines is the input power. You simply won't get a lot of amps out of a 110v outlet, even on a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Drop down to a 15 amp circuit, use a light weight or long extension cord or have other items drawing power from the same breaker, and you output will drop down even more. You get what you pay for. Decent inverters like the Thermal Arcs, Millers, Lincolns and so on have better electronics that will maximize what little power you have available. Cheap units like the HF ones cut corners to keep the cost low, but you pay for that with poor output.1/8" to 3/16" is within the capabilities of a TA 95s. 3/16" is about the max I'd rate that machine for under real world conditions. In it's price range it's probably the best bang for the buck. I will state up front that 1/8" can be a bit tricky to do with stick, but it's doable. Good fit up or joint design will go a long ways towards making this easier. Thinner material than 14 ga gets to be much tougher. Then you are starting to get into the realm where mig would be a better choice. However a 110v mig will top out at 1/8" at best. 3/16" is really beyond the capabilities of even the best 110v migs under ideal conditions.Hope this help, good luck and be sure to post up some picts of your practice stuff along with settings, rod type, material size and so on and we'll help you learn..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:Find an old buzz box. Last longer for one and is more versatile. You can get one for a hundred or more. Watch craigslist. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Thanks for the repliesDSW, the welder I was talking about was the harbor freight 80 amp inverter arc/ dc tig welder, and thank you for your thorough response.I was looking at those 220 AC Buzz-boxes but I have read that AC is a lot harder than DC and slightly more dangerous. I also don't have any 220 plugs in my parents house other than the one in the laundry room. I was thinking about a extension cord, but I wasn't sure if the current would travel 50+ft. that is why I was leaning towards a 110v.Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk
Reply:You could make an extension cord for the dryer circuit. When I was growing up all we had was an AC machine, old Lincoln 180. I made a 75ft cord and it cost around $100 to do. It's harder to establish an arc at first but you get good on AC switching over to a DC machine will be a walk in the park. Where do you live? If you are close I have an old AC machine that might serve your purpose. Shoot me a message.  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Thanks for the reply rodburner, my cousin has an old 220 that he said he will give me for dirt cheap if i want it. Anyways i will probably get it to use it for the thicker stuff and save up for a nice mig. BenSent from my iPhone using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk
Reply:bman...I started out with the HF 80 amp inverter and quickly learned that you are severly limited on what you can do with it, as DSW and others have pointed out.  For tacking together bird feeder supports, cracks in lawnmower shells, yard art; it is probably OK.  Certainly NOT for anything structural as you will be limited to thin metal and as DSW pointed out, 1/16" and 5/64" rods.  The 1/16' rods are whippy to weld with and 5/64" are sometimes hard to find.Suggestion:  spend a few more bucks and get an ESAB Miniarc 161LTS if you want an inverter.  Stick version (110V or 220 V input, 110 amp out on 115V, 160 amp output on 220V) runs about $450 give or take at Scott-Gross, or the stick/tig version that's about a hundred bucks more.  I use the stick only version and love the little welder.Other suggestions: used Lincoln tombstone 225, but try to get the AC/DC so you can take advantage of DC welding if needed.  Those machines are bullet-proof and cheaper than inverters.Case in point on trying to go cheap for your first welder.  I paid about $140 for the HF and when I found out how limited it is, upgraded to the ESAB for about $450.  Total spent = $590.  You can get a darn good used welder, any color for that amount of sheckels.Last edited by shortfuse; 11-21-2013 at 06:04 PM.
Reply:120 Volt welders severely limit you.  Some of the better inverter type welders are pretty good but still have limited output.  Now if you get two of them and parallel the outputs (running on different input circuit breakers) you can get a whole lot of current.  If you do get an HF 80A welder, upgrade the leads , the work clamp and the electrode holder.  You need the best connections possible. The 160-class welders like the ESAB or the Thermal Arc are nice."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:Thanks for the replies guys, I will definitely look into that 161lts or maybe a used ac dc tombstone instead of just ac. I'll get back to you guys once I get one( probably after Christmas).Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk