H.F 80amp Arc Inverter

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Heya guys- I am building a smoker with this lil arc welder and I LOVE IT as far as the 1/16 7014's burn.The problems start when I want to put down a lil bit more metal with the 3/32 6011's...I can start the arc just fine but then it just kinda fizzes out, sputers kinda like a sparkler, catches fire...Workin on the hinges for the cook chamber doors now.  Pretty much goin ugly. Alot if grinding and wire brushing, weld, and then repeat.Base material is 1/8 as well as the hinges.1st time welding so be gentle -LOL  -
Reply:IOC sells Lincoln 5/64" 6013 electrodes -- $16 for 5 lb.  3/32 might be near the max of what those 80 DC amps can handle.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I have read on other threads that the HF 80A inverter does have trouble with the 3/32 6011s. As Jack says, you may be getting close to its limits there. One thing I would check is your outlet voltage. I know when I owned my little Hobart 140 my garage outlet was just too weak to let it work to its full potential on thicker metals. When I moved it to a 20A outlet next to my main breaker and used a larger extension cord, it worked much better. There is a table in the HF welder manual online that shows you what size wires you need on the highest output.Lincoln 175HD Miller AC/DC ThunderboltSmith AW1, Dillion (Henrob) Mark III, & Smith LittleTorch
Reply:Ya know that (extension cords) might be the problem.  Probably using a 50 ft cord that is too small....
Reply:Originally Posted by bmarley5780Ya know that (extension cords) might be the problem.  Probably using a 50 ft cord that is too small....
Reply:The electrode and grounding are both 6ga and are both about 5 foot long....Would going up a gauge or two be beneficial?
Reply:The 6ga leads are probably ok, since they are only 5 feet long. However, I would want at least a 10ga on the 50 foot extension cord, if you have to go that far. That is what I ended up building for my HH140.Unfortunately, 50 feet of 10ga plus 20A ends cost almost as much as your welder did.Last edited by smyrna5; 09-22-2009 at 11:00 AM.Lincoln 175HD Miller AC/DC ThunderboltSmith AW1, Dillion (Henrob) Mark III, & Smith LittleTorch