Inverter Welder

[Masseymad18]

I've been doing some jobs with a cheap 80amp inverter welder recently. Welding 3 - 8 mm box, sheet and angle with it at all different amps and a couple different rod sizes and I actually can't believe how good a weld it's putting out. Lovely to use. If you went by half the reviews of these machines online you wouldn't touch them ever.
What's your experience with them and what's the most pressure/biggest job you've used with one ?

 

[yomax4]

I've used 500 amp inverters and curently operate a 320 amp. The 80 that you have will surely have nice arc characteristics but it likely has Mosfet Transitors and will let you down sooner that later. Cheap though so Run the snot out of it. I kniw guys who buy these for a repair, Figure the cost into the job and the machine is paid for and it doesn't matter if it blows.

 

[Jeepnford]

I bought a 180 amp inverter but haven't had the chance to use it enough to get much of an opinion. I have it mainly for something easy to tote around.

 

[MountainBuck]

Bought a Klutch ST80i about a year ago.

Had a bunch of trouble with it until I ran 7014 rod and finally had so good results.

Last time I used it with 7018 rod and that went very well too but had to keep that spark gap and not just drag it like the 7014.

 

[Sebculb]

I have a 200 amp one and have used several others of lesser amperages, all cheap generic specials. Work fine with 3/32 and 1/8 6013. Didn't like the stainless steel rod as much. Super convenient and lightweight and easy to use, but not too sturdy i don't think. They don't like humidity or getting dropped. but Ive worked mine on construction sites for over two years now and its still going more or less fine. Digital display doesnt work but the knob still adjusts it. If it breaks i dunno how many times ive gotten my $200 investment out of it by now. Would just be a cost of doing business.

I still like my Lincoln transformer more cuz its an awesome beast, but it stays at home as the heavy workshop welder anymore.

 

[bridgeport13b]

Transformer machines are more robust vs inverter, inverter is great because they dial down a lot further.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Transformer machines are more robust vs inverter, inverter is great because they dial down a lot further.

Not necessarily true. As far as robustness goes, most of your more inexpensive, light commercial/diy transformer welders such as smaller MIGs, TIGs, and even stick machines have a very poor duty cycle and a lot of aluminum parts, as well as circuit boards and when it comes to fixing you should just throw them away.

 

[metalbender]

Bought one of the Harbor Freight 80 amp toaster size welders some years ago. More for a yuk yuk than need, have a Dynasty 200dx as my main unit. Surprising how well the little fart welds with proper technique. Being dc, have actually run some decent beads on 1/4 stock. Had a discussion on Shop Floor Talk a while ago. Some one needed a welder for a small job on whatever floor in an office building. Suggested he try one of these. Did the job, welder more than paid for itself.

 

[fried1765]

I bought a new Hobart Handler 190 MIG for $444 last Spring.
I considered $444 to be a great price, (inexpensive) for a recognized brand name 190A transformer MIG.
Per Mark@Everlast: Should I plan to throw it away if it fails?

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Check out the cost of the circuit board price. From what I see, you will pay (conservatively) between 200-300 dollars for the PC board, rebuilt.

The unit only has a 3 year warranty on the PCB board. Point is that if people have concerns about electronic failures on inverters, they are not exempt on transformer models. Electronics are electronics.

And the duty cycle stinks. Big time. They sell it as a 190 amp machine and it is really a 130 amp welder at a decent duty cycle. 190 amp is in theory only. And if you overheat it, the baby is yours according to this chart. Honestly, it's sort of like saying (back in the day), "Hey, I bought a Cadillac for cheap, and it was a Cimmaron."

 

[yomax4]

+1 on the over rated small transformer Migs. The numbers keeping inching up on the front panel but most are way over rated. I remember the Lincoln SP100. one of the 1st 115v migs to get the market rolling. It put out 90 amps actual. within a couple years they were calling it a 125, then a 130 and now they call it a 140 but it still only puts ut 90 amps actual. If you are a non believer put a set of DC Tongs on the ground while running wide open. 90A.. Try it with any of your 200-211-212 machines. I think you will be surprised to see that they are 150-160A output.

 

[fried1765]

Check out the cost of the circuit board price. From what I see, you will pay (conservatively) between 200-300 dollars for the PC board, rebuilt.

The unit only has a 3 year warranty on the PCB board. Point is that if people have concerns about electronic failures on inverters, they are not exempt on transformer models. Electronics are electronics.

And the duty cycle stinks. Big time. They sell it as a 190 amp machine and it is really a 130 amp welder at a decent duty cycle. 190 amp is in theory only. And if you overheat it, the baby is yours according to this chart. Honestly, it's sort of like saying (back in the day), "Hey, I bought a Cadillac for cheap, and it was a Cimmaron."

87% of Buyers, or 9 out of 10, (74 in sample) on Amazon give the 220v Hobart Handler 190 a 5 star rating.

 

[kenmac]

I have the handler with spool gun. I find it ok for steel , but on the aluminum I find I need better settings . Like somewhere in between A & B, etc,.

 

[fried1765]

Check out the cost of the circuit board price. From what I see, you will pay (conservatively) between 200-300 dollars for the PC board, rebuilt.

The unit only has a 3 year warranty on the PCB board. Point is that if people have concerns about electronic failures on inverters, they are not exempt on transformer models. Electronics are electronics.

And the duty cycle stinks. Big time. They sell it as a 190 amp machine and it is really a 130 amp welder at a decent duty cycle. 190 amp is in theory only. And if you overheat it, the baby is yours according to this chart. Honestly, it's sort of like saying (back in the day), "Hey, I bought a Cadillac for cheap, and it was a Cimmaron."

The first Hobart small transformer welder was built by Neil Hobart, in 1897 (121 years ago).
Hobart small (220v) transformer welders are still being built by Miller/Hobart.
The Cadillac Cimmaron was built for only 6 years, from 1982 -1988. Last Cimmaron was built 30 years ago.
Do you really consider THAT a valid comparison?

 

[Oaktree]

And the duty cycle stinks. Big time. They sell it as a 190 amp machine and it is really a 130 amp welder at a decent duty cycle. 190 amp is in theory only. And if you overheat it, the baby is yours according to this chart. Honestly, it's sort of like saying (back in the day), "Hey, I bought a Cadillac for cheap, and it was a Cimmaron."

87% of Buyers, or 9 out of 10, (74 in sample) on Amazon give the 220v Hobart Handler 190 a 5 star rating.

Wasn't the Cimmaron the model that was based on the Cavalier? I had a Cavalier for many years and I really liked it. Granted, it was no Cadillac, but it was a very solid car...sure beat the wheels off the PoC Camry my wife bought to replace it when it got T-boned.
I think most of the issue people had with it was that it was a rebadged Chevy, not a dedicated model.

I also have a Handler (though mine's the 140). It's perfect for what I need to do. Maybe if I welded for a living, it would be different. A neighbor of mine's a mechanic/body man and he was so impressed with it he bought one for those times when his Snap-On was overkill.
My only complaint is that I wish the wirefeed speed could be dialed back a bit more...even at 0 it's a little fast for some jobs. Really minor problem though.
I've only used it MIG, never flux.

 

[kenmac]

I have the 190 with spool gun for aluminum. Had the machine probably 10 yrs. Have had No issues with it.

 

[sd455dan]

Check out the cost of the circuit board price. From what I see, you will pay (conservatively) between 200-300 dollars for the PC board, rebuilt.

The unit only has a 3 year warranty on the PCB board. Point is that if people have concerns about electronic failures on inverters, they are not exempt on transformer models. Electronics are electronics.

And the duty cycle stinks. Big time. They sell it as a 190 amp machine and it is really a 130 amp welder at a decent duty cycle. 190 amp is in theory only. And if you overheat it, the baby is yours according to this chart. Honestly, it's sort of like saying (back in the day), "Hey, I bought a Cadillac for cheap, and it was a Cimmaron."

Hobart 190 welder should weld at 190 amps if needed. Even if it trips the thermal over temp switch eventually -it should not damage the transformer or cause a warranty to be cancelled unless done repeatedly.

Some of these transformer Migs seem to be rated conservatively - as an example the HTP 2400 when it was tested by Chucky 2009,

ran it at 200 amps virtually non stop for hours even though that is 60 amps over it's 142 amp 100% duty cycle rating. Obviously a higher dollar mig @$1500 but built very well probably last last decades.

For Low duty cycle, the new HF Titanium comes to mind -one model has a quoted 15% duty cycle at it's rated max amps.
And a full 90 days of warranty.

 

[radios1]

I've been doing some jobs with a cheap 80amp inverter welder recently. Welding 3 - 8 mm box, sheet and angle with it at all different amps and a couple different rod sizes and I actually can't believe how good a weld it's putting out. Lovely to use. If you went by half the reviews of these machines online you wouldn't touch them ever.
What's your experience with them and what's the most pressure/biggest job you've used with one ?

I had to run E6013 rods, which work great. with the E6011 rods I had to get way too close to the metal, and usually wound up sticking. there's not enough voltage for the E6011 rods.. that was using the 120V HF inverter welder. a 220V model would have a higher voltage on the cables.. I do like the E6011 electrodes better, but I have to use my welder generator for them..

 

[Gordon Gould]

I used my Lincoln AC TombSone for a couple hrs today. Reminded me why I like my EverLast 200 ST so much.

gg

 

[nikdfish]

For anyone considering one of the 80 amp inverters, Tractor Supply has been running a special on the Metalman ARC-80T for about $80. Comes with a 2 year warranty, for $10 TSC will add a year to the end & do replacement/refund if needed for the full three years (or 4 for $15..)

They've actually got some good reviews on the 'net & claim a 40% duty cycle at 75 amps.

I did pick one up just to play with. Leads are short <6' and small (6 AWG?) but the twist connects match the ones (10-25mm) I put on the Lincoln AC225 when I replaced the old cracked leads with some new 4 AWG, so I can use those if I need some length.