Newbie looking for 1st welder

[mikefromnh]

I also had no response to emails that I sent to the sales account last fall...

Just called them and ordered the powerarc 200 st . I'll never be a able to find a mig welder for the difference in cost if I had gone with the imig 200 ($225) but I like the idea of a portable small inverter stick welder that I can bring wherever I want easily. And the sales guy felt the powerarc was the better choice for stick welding.

Next question -- harbor freight auto helmet or spring for something better?

 

[k0ua]

I also had no response to emails that I sent to the sales account last fall...

Just called them and ordered the powerarc 200 st . I'll never be a able to find a mig welder for the difference in cost if I had gone with the imig 200 ($225) but I like the idea of a portable small inverter stick welder that I can bring wherever I want easily. And the sales guy felt the powerarc was the better choice for stick welding.

Next question -- harbor freight auto helmet or spring for something better?

I don't have one of the harbor freight ones, but I do have one similiar from Northern tool. It works well, and from what I have heard of the Harbor freight ones, the owners report that they work well, and they can be less than $40 with a coupon. Are they going to be as good as a $300 dollar one, I don't think so, but I think they are OK.

 

[DXN1EL]

First congratulations :thumbsup:

I own a Harbor Freight Variable Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with Metal Head Design
this is my first auto dark helmet, I first got a fixed shade Shop Kobalt Matte Black Welding Helmet at Lowes.com
The fixed shade has better quality that the Harbor freight but with the Harbor Freight is a lot more easy.

I want to get this one Hobart Welding Helmet - PRO Black 770753

 

[mikefromnh]

I wear prescription glasses which are a PIA with brazing goggles -- I'm thinking something like the miller elite with more shade choices(cut/grind mode) would be worth the money

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I have this one from Northern and I like it a lot. It takes regular AAA batteries which is a big plus for me. I've had the cheaper ones with the batteries spot welded in place and I've cut them out and replaced them but what a pain.
Northern Industrial Welders Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Grind Mode | Welding Helmets| Northern Tool + Equipment
Print this if you have a store local:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/stores/030313_coupon.pdf

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't have one of the harbor freight ones, but I do have one similiar from Northern tool. It works well, and from what I have heard of the Harbor freight ones, the owners report that they work well, and they can be less than $40 with a coupon. Are they going to be as good as a $300 dollar one, I don't think so, but I think they are OK.

I agree. I have both a good one and a HF model. There are differences but I think a hobbyist like myself could be happy with the HF if I didn't have the $300 version to compare it to.

 

[k0ua]

I have this one from Northern and I like it a lot. It takes regular AAA batteries which is a big plus for me. I've had the cheaper ones with the batteries spot welded in place and I've cut them out and replaced them but what a pain.
Northern Industrial Welders Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Grind Mode | Welding Helmets| Northern Tool + Equipment
Print this if you have a store local:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/stores/030313_coupon.pdf

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

 

[mikefromnh]

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

The title states it has a grind mode but then in the write up it only has shades 9-13 -- maybe it's a new feature?

I don't have a NT local here in maine so I'd be looking at ~$70 shipped. Still a good deal if it has the shades 5-6-7. As every other helmet with a grind and cut mode seems to be 200 and up.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The grind mode would be the clear or natural state and it would just lock it in.

 

[IslandTractor]

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

I don't think I would use a helmet in grind mode. Too cumbersome, view is too restricted, helmet might fall off if you bend over to check something and less comfortable than a simple face shield.

 

[mikefromnh]

So only the higher end helmets have the lower shades suitable for cutting and brazing?

 

[ishiboo]

Either something happened in delivery, or it went to my spam folder which occasionally happens if it was emailed to me. I get several hundred emails a week at times. I'll go back and look and try to find it and reply.

Thanks Mark... got it now!

 

[Brad_Blazer]

The grind mode would be the clear or natural state and it would just lock it in.

Yeah, the grind mode is a switch on the inside that turns off auto darkening. You can see it in one of the views in the listing. The undarkened shade level is DIN 3.5 according to the manual. I haven't actually used the grind mode. I use a wire brush on the grinder to clean up slag and that doesn't make it darken.

 

[k0ua]

I don't think I would use a helmet in grind mode. Too cumbersome, view is too restricted, helmet might fall off if you bend over to check something and less comfortable than a simple face shield.

yes but it is convenient, if you want to just grind on something for a second, and then weld again.. just would be faster. I agree if I wanted to do some extensive grinding/shaping, it would be best to get out the clear shield.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, the grind mode is a switch on the inside that turns off auto darkening. You can see it in one of the views in the listing. The undarkened shade level is DIN 3.5 according to the manual. I haven't actually used the grind mode. I use a wire brush on the grinder to clean up slag and that doesn't make it darken.

Your just not moving that brush fast enough!

 

[mikefromnh]

Another question --
Anyone have a link to the current spec sheet or owners manual for the pa200st?
I'm looking for the I 1-eff rating or the max input amps so that I can I wire a dedicated circuit.

 

[k0ua]

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/downloads/PowerArc-Series-140ST-160-200.pdf

Maximum input amps 40.
Maximum running amps I1-eff 32.

I would wire with #6 and a 50 amp breaker.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Straight from the desk of the guy who "makes" this stuff up. Rated amps is 24. I1max is 38.8 (39).

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The specs k0ua posted are for the standard 200. The 200ST has been reworked a little for better efficiency...either way I1max is not that much different.

 

[mikefromnh]

Thanks.