Favorite arc welder ?

[Rbeckett]

My ultimate fave is the venerable old lincol Tombstone welder. Get the AC/DC version and you will have it forever and never outgrow it limited capabilities. It is only good for stick welding, but Damn it does such a great job and they last for literally generations.

Bob

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Want to get my first arc welder soon, and wondering which one and 30 or 50 amp for a 220 machine.
finishing hardy board inside shed, thinking of hooking up a 220 line with appropriate wire size and breaker size, before I close the wall where the electric panel boxes, then at that point any other future electric work will be running conduit and surface mounted.
Will bring the wire into a surface mount box right by the electric panel box and just leave the breaker off or disconnected until needed.


Thanks in advance for any information,


Jon

Go with 50 amps service, you can power a large range of 220v welders with that kind of amps available .

 

[iron man]

Go with 50 amps service, you can power a large range of 220v welders with that kind of amps available .

After I retired from the machine shop I went back to school to be an electrician and I can tell you that even the small TIG welders draw around 75 Amps Go with at least a 100 amp panel I installed a 150 and I still could use some room. Ray

 

[Ulma Doctor]

After I retired from the machine shop I went back to school to be an electrician and I can tell you that even the small TIG welders draw around 75 Amps Go with at least a 100 amp panel I installed a 150 and I still could use some room. Ray

inverter welders will pull less than 50 amps, i have a POWCON 300SS
it pulls 34 amps, puts out 300 amps @ 32v (3 phase) 60% duty cycle
the same welder wired single phase 230v will pull 41 amps @28v 60% duty cycle

 

[JimDawson]

After I retired from the machine shop I went back to school to be an electrician and I can tell you that even the small TIG welders draw around 75 Amps Go with at least a 100 amp panel I installed a 150 and I still could use some room. Ray

I've never actually checked the current draw on my Syncrowave 250, nor have I ever TIG welded at > 120 amps, but I have never tripped my 50 amp breaker.

 

[18w]

inverter welders will pull less than 50 amps, i have a POWCON 300SS
it pulls 34 amps, puts out 300 amps @ 32v (3 phase)

Hey Mike I thought I was the only guy left with a POWCON! Mines a 200 amp and they are a great mig machine. I run a Lincoln 225 tig and the POWCON on a 50 amp circuit. Never tripped a breaker although Lincoln recommends a 60 amp circuit. For stick welding most of the time with 1/8" 7018 on a ac/dc machine you wouldn't run much over 100-120 amps on the dial setting so I would think most guys could get by with a 50 amp circuit but I would opt for a larger one for down the road...or stick with inverter machines. If cost were no object i would have a Miller Dynasty!

Darrell

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Hey Mike I thought I was the only guy left with a POWCON! Mines a 200 amp and they are a great mig machine. I run a Lincoln 225 tig and the POWCON on a 50 amp circuit. Never tripped a breaker although Lincoln recommends a 60 amp circuit. For stick welding most of the time with 1/8" 7018 on a ac/dc machine you wouldn't run much over 100-120 amps on the dial setting so I would think most guys could get by with a 50 amp circuit but I would opt for a larger one for down the road...or stick with inverter machines. If cost were no object i would have a Miller Dynasty!

Darrell

Hey Darrell,
i also have a POWCON 200, that i use as a dedicated mig for stainless.
i love the songs they sing to you while you are using them.

the Dynasty is a sweet unit, no doubt.

if i ever find an old Miller Syncrowave 300 pulse rig that isn't gold plated i'll snatch it up in a second.
i learned 2 processes on that machine in school, i felt confident in all positions with that rig)

 

[18w]

Hey Darrell,
i also have a POWCON 200, that i use as a dedicated mig for stainless.
i love the songs they sing to you while you are using them.

the Dynasty is a sweet unit, no doubt.

if i ever find an old Miller Syncrowave 300 pulse rig that isn't gold plated i'll snatch it up in a second.
i learned 2 processes on that machine in school, i felt confident in all positions with that rig)

Yup those Syncrowaves are bullet proof and pulse is handy. 300 amp.... needs a electrical service that will cost an arm and a leg if you don't have it already! Needs over a 100 amp breaker. Upon just looking at my Lincoln 225 paperwork it shows input 42amp "effective, 85amp max. 225amp 10% duty cycle, 180 amp 20% and 90amp 100%. In my previous post I said 60 amp but I think that was the Lincoln salesman telling me what I could get away with...not what is "right" but I have welded at 200 amps and so far no fires!:lmao:

Darrell

 

[GarageGuy]

After I retired from the machine shop I went back to school to be an electrician and I can tell you that even the small TIG welders draw around 75 Amps Go with at least a 100 amp panel I installed a 150 and I still could use some room. Ray

My Everlast PowerPro 256 is rated at 250 amps TIG, 200 amps stick, and 60 amps plasma. 220V draw is max 42amps according to specs.

Here are the specs: http://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/multi-process-tig-stick-plasma/powerpro-256s

GG

 

[iron man]

I've never actually checked the current draw on my Syncrowave 250, nor have I ever TIG welded at > 120 amps, but I have never tripped my 50 amp breaker.

That true but if he is running a panel out to his shop and he only installs a 50 amp main there is nothing left for lights, other machines space heater de-humidfier air conditioning TV nothing (typical man cave). My Lincoln max draw was 65 amp it took out a 50 amp breaker but just once. All I am saying is I would just go a bit bigger for future expansion. Ray