Advise for a first time Welder

[Shield Arc]

What interested me about the show was how beautiful the rain forest is on the west side of the Olympic Mountains.

I've been over there several times, there are ferns there the size of pickup trucks:shocked:. We have ferns in our yard, but not that big!

 

[Shield Arc]

I'm wondering if anything is done differently inside to protect its circuitry in a $4000 welder as opposed to a $200 one?

Well I sure hope so! The Dynasty was a little over $6,000.00, and the V-350-Pro was about $5,500.00. A lot easier to take a hit on a $200.00 welder than 5 to 6-grand.

 

[ThomasH]

I'm not sure of keeping an inverter with all its digital circuitry in an uninsulated, unheated garage. Its light enough to tote from a house to outside. I could be mistaken but I'd be leery of keeping in a place as I mentioned as you would say a Stickmate or equivalent transformer welder.

I have had Miller inverter units in my unheated shop for 10+ years, and they just keep running. You haven't tried to tote around a Miller XMT304 inverter have you? It's about 60 pounds. Add a suitcase unit at 45 pounds and a 40 pound spool of wire, and it's quite a load...

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I frequently hear from people with buzzboxes that have gone "dead". Newer units too. I've seen switches, fans, diodes, selectors, and even cables go bad, along with a few other issues. Simple to fix? Possibly. Cheap to fix? No, not if you send it off at 75.00-100.00 per hour repair rate. Worth it to fix? Well, from the number of customers with dead buzzboxes I get, apparently not. You may think that buzzboxes are weather resistant, but you'd be wrong. Fans, fins, and such can clog up with "dirt" daubers (mudwasps). Selector switches can get moisture in them, freeze, or severely corrode. I've had them seize up too, personally. I had power switches (the big light switch on the front of the tombstone) fail after six months in a farm shop. I've seen fans stop turning too while the welder was on. Not long ago, I got a call from a customer where their tombstone transformer "failed". All of these parts, if you decide to fix it yourself won't be covered under warranty (because you are fixing it yourself). If you take the time to load it up and take it somewhere, it might be worth it, if you can get a quick turn around. If it's out of warranty, its better to scrap it by the time you pay for parts and labor.

Many buzzboxes made in the 70's and 80's and even 90's are more aluminum than copper and feature unreasonably low duty cycles. The aluminum heats up more and while it is lighter, it is more subject to corrosion and resistance to electrical flow.

There are tons of PowCon inverters out there that are still in service, and many being rebuilt because people realize their value and worth in the long run.

I don't know if people are aware that most transformer welders, all but the cheapest buzzboxes, have electronics inside, with power boards that control everything from solenoids to contactors. The difference is having a huge transformer, or small, economical and powerful transistors added to the circuit. There's complexity in a transformer that most people don't understand...and small issues, including rust and corrosion with one can create a problem.

 

[CNC Dan]

I'm wondering if anything is done differently inside to protect its circuitry in a $4000 welder as opposed to a $200 one?

I would hope they both have had their boards coated (conformal coating?) to guard against moisture and metalic dust(a bad combination). Such a small measure, that offers so much protection, they would be remiss not to do it.

 

[Arc weld]

I would think inverters would have protection for the electronics. I'm willing to bet that the ship yards love their compact design.

 

[Willie B]

I have more welders than I like to think about. 90% of my welds are done with a Miller Matic 252 Mig machine. Most welds should be cleaned anyway. Outdoors has been no problem for me. I also have flux core wire for windy days but haven't needed to use it. Stick is nice for ugly old stuff you want to quickly stick together. TIG is pretty, challenging, and fun.

 

[jerry shannon]

I respectfully disagree with your assessment. There are advantages to buzz boxes over inverters. They are significantly longer lived, simpler to repair when and if they do need repair, and don't mind beat around in a dirty environment. And buzz box welds can be more than adequate, even on AC.

Don't get me wrong. I like inverters, and they do have some advantages over buzz boxes. But there's also some disadvantages.

Some great feedback here. As I am a welding Virgin, and have yet to do anything other than ask questions and do some shopping, let me ask you all this very basic question. What is a "Buzz Box" and what is an Inverter unit? I understand the tombstone stye stick welder but so I know what you all are talking about, what is a Buzz Box compared to an "Inverter"? Is an inverter unit a Mig and a Buzz Box a stick welder?

 

[jerry shannon]

I have more welders than I like to think about. 90% of my welds are done with a Miller Matic 252 Mig machine. Most welds should be cleaned anyway. Outdoors has been no problem for me. I also have flux core wire for windy days but haven't needed to use it. Stick is nice for ugly old stuff you want to quickly stick together. TIG is pretty, challenging, and fun.

Thank you Willie.

 

[jerry shannon]

OK, that is how I use the term buzz box too.

As I am one of those "uninformed" individuals, LOL, I just asked someone what the term Buzz Box means compared to the term Inverter unit. From what I was gathering, I was thinking the Buzz Box was a wire fed MIG unit compared to an Inverter that was the "tombstone" stick welder. Was I right?