VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]
Subject: Re: making a trailer frame


Author:
d
 		[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
Date Posted: 18:52:00 08/25/02 Sun
In reply to: Jeff 's message, "making a trailer frame" on 21:06:50 08/22/02 Thu
 Jeff,
Its easy where I am to get parts for Lincoln as well as Miller equipment. Hobart can be thought of as a Miller. Other established brands are Esab and Thermal Arc, as well as a myrad of others for which you pays your money and takes your chances. Whatever you choose should offer a good warranty (typically 3 years with the Miller I own) and feature consumables you dont have to mail to China or Timbuktu to replace, as well as local service... welders are heavy and shipping costs for them are heavy as well.

1/8 steel is pretty light stuff by many standards. Dont buy anything that will leave you underpowered. Think long-term. You dont want your welds falling apart like badly glued joints. If you've ever been on the AWS site (AWS.ORG)and seen how many problems there are with penetration...
...anyway about all you can get out of a single phase welder will probably be 250 Amps. This is enough power even to achieve stable spray transfer pushing 035 wire with a mixed shield gas of Argon and less than 20% CO2; this same gas will also work nicely in short-arc as well. You may have a hard time getting the gas, but I found it worth the effort.

Wire feed sometimes becomes an issue with smaller sizes. 035 is often optimum. I thought I would benefit from smaller 030 wire and had to convert up. Fortunately it only involved drive rolls, but that should be a heads-up. If buying used be sure the wire feed is uniform and smooth.

Expect to draw at least 50 amps out of your 220 volt outlet for these "larger" machines... they're still small.

My experience with Miller's 250x had a shaky start. Their no questions asked warranty was a source of security, and the trouble merely involved calibration issues with the digital infinite controls. Unfortunately the service dealer was either a bit less than scrupulous or didn't understand what I was trying to accomplish and was encouraging me to invoke the money back satisfaction part of the Miller warranty.(so HE could sell me a "real welder") Miller factory reassured me that the service dealer was wrong and directed me in adjusting the error out of the digital display myself. I wouldnt trade it for any other single phase welder on the planet... but the real issue is ease of service and consumables. Miller provides as much as Lincoln in these smaller power supplies. Arc characteristics are great with either one- shop after-sale support; you can let your wife pick the color.

Good luck with your new investment
d
[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:
Subject Author Date
Re: making a trailer frameMichel15:55:29 08/26/02 Mon

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.