120v MIG 3/8" coupon test results

[muddstopper]

Had to catch up. Miss a day of reading and several pages get filled up.
Since it was a few pages back, and I dont care to read thru this again to find it. It was said that it takes 200+amps to spray acr weld. I am pretty sure on the Miller site it says you can sprayweld at 140amps using .023 wire. I do believe it says you need 26v to pull it off. I dont think any of the 120v migs put out 26v, I might have read that wrong and might not be remembering correctly, but at this point I just dont feel like doing the research. I probably shouldnt have mentioned it because now someone will have to explain how the process will work with a 120v machine

 

[Blade Breaker]

Never had any 98/2 on a low voltage machine so I can't say it won't work. I do not think the voltage will be high enough. Even spray arc with .023 will be limited to thinner materials if it worked so....

 

[Arc weld]

26 volts sounds about right for spray arc. I doubt a 120 volt machine will go that high too and then you also need a pretty fast wire speed feed. Not positive but I think the smaller wires need a faster wire feed speed?

 

[bigdeano]

Ugh what??

12-2 won't work...12-3 yes in theory but way too small to run even the most anemic welder!

No need for a transformer; 1/2of 220V is 110V which is what you get when using one side of the 220V feed.

Run 220V and you automatically can get 110V with no issues.

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I thought someone who has a 120v 12-2 with ground buried to their shop might like to have 240v without burying a new wire. 20A at 240 will run the HF 170A mig welder for instance. The only reason I can think of why anyone would buy a 120v welder is because they don't have 240v. 12-2 w ground will supply 240v, you just don't get the neutral. The transformer will supply 120v loads. For about $100 they can have 240v for a welder and 120v.

 

[Sodo]

I think what Deanos saying will work but members probably want to see it demonstrated. If 3/8 can almost be welded with 20A at 120v then 20A 240v sounds much more feasible (except its off-topic as usual with every 120v thread)i. Same as they want to SEE 120v demonstrated rather than just discussed (or just denigrated). Remember the subject here is welding the "occasional" 3/8inch bracket etc.

 

[muddstopper]

I stepped up a long time ago from a 120v machine to a 220v one. I had way to many brackets and fixes break when using the small welder. I now have a 170 miller and find it is really on the small side or any real fabrication. I am looking at a used Esab 203, but will probably just wait until I can make the move to a bigger machine. The ting about big welders is that you can always turn them down for thin stuff, but you cant turn a little welder up for the thick stuff.

 

[Blade Breaker]

I think what Deanos saying will work but members probably want to see it demonstrated. If 3/8 can almost be welded with 20A at 120v then 20A 240v sounds much more feasible (except its off-topic as usual with every 120v thread)i. Same as they want to SEE 120v demonstrated rather than just discussed (or just denigrated). Remember the subject here is welding the "occasional" 3/8inch bracket etc.

Nope. 120v mig 3/8" coupon test results is the title. Not welding a lot lizard to your mail box as discussed already. Your opinion that others have criticized low voltage machines is incorrect.

 

[Arc weld]

Almost is like close. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. It's also no surprise when taken to task from his own comments, the excuses keep coming out why he can't do the bend test. It would appear it's time to put up or shut up. Either prove all the evidence thus submitted is false or admit defeat. It's as simple as that! There doesn't need to be any further discussion until the overwhelming evidence is proven wrong. ullinghair:

 

[muddstopper]

I read both threads and if you followed the discussion it was mentioned many times about lack of penetration and cold welds. It was also mentioned the amount of prepwork necessary to even begin to have success. which none of the welds shown actually survived a actual bend test.
I think this partial quote fro on of the posters to those threads says it best.

I think we pretty much agree that the 120V MIG machines are handy and useful, but they absolutely have their limits. And you can only stretch those limits so far even with 'tricks', like preheat and bevel prep.

Use the proper tool, and size of tool, for the job. Breaking up a concrete sidewalk or forging steel with a 2 oz jeweler's hammer isn't going to work. Trying to do jewelry with a 16 lb sledge isn't right either.

 

[roadhunter]

Almost is like close. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. It's also no surprise when taken to task from his own comments, the excuses keep coming out why he can't do the bend test. It would appear it's time to put up or shut up. Either prove all the evidence thus submitted is false or admit defeat. It's as simple as that! There doesn't need to be any further discussion until the overwhelming evidence is proven wrong. ullinghair:

So now that is has been proven that it is indeed possible are you going to continue the discussion? LAffin.