... a 110 v welder is a 90 amp welder, if its on a household circuit.
...
I recently bought an Amico MIG-130A dual-voltage flux welder just for its portability. (18 lbs). It welds great on a 240 volt outlet. The 110 volt capability is just for where I need to carry it to somewhere without a 240v outlet. it probably does 90 amps on 110v, despite the '130 amps' claimed 110v capability.
These are only $149 on Amazon. But if you buy anything that cheap be sure to also buy the $30 4 year warranty listed there!
Not much happening in this Welding sub-forum so I'll toss in this update.
Last couple of days I've been practicing with this Amico MIG (flux) 130 dual voltage wire welder. I like it.
Everything I've welded over 15 years with my various welders has stayed welded. But I'm not as good as I would like to be at making a straight bead without stopping to get back on a straight line. I need practice to improve my hand/eye coordination.
After getting all dialed in - set to about 60% on both the current/wire speed and the voltage, and running beads on top of 1/8" plate, I tried switching the welder from the usual 240v outlet to a 110 outlet to see if it would weld as well.
It welded identical. Great, I thought.
But a moment later making a second 3" long bead - the 20 amp breaker tripped. And I'm only 6 ft from the breaker. That's not enough productive time to think this welder is useful on 110 volts for heavier material.
I was judging penetration looking at the puddle, and the cavity sometimes left at the end of the bead. I saw penetration half way through the 1/8" plate. So with 1/8" material, a properly beveled joint might weld up ok with 110 volts and current turned down to where the breaker lasts a while. Larger? Quarter inch? No. I don't think so.
YMMV etc.
JCoastie (OP) did you eventually buy a welder?
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* Amico MIG-130A Flux, Dual Voltage. Truly portable!
* HF MIG-180 with all the mods. Heavy.
* Grizzly H8153 Stick/Tig 130/160.
* Wards PowrKraft AC-230. Stick & carbon arc.