Convert Miller 130 to gas, and classes?

[muddstopper]

Two 30 amp fuses for a 220v circuit would still be a 30 amp.

If the fuses are not blowing it would seem you are up against the duty cycle.

Its a 60amp pull type fuse split to two 30amp screw in fuses, I have 60amps for my 220v

 

[muddstopper]

To hit duty cycle you need a project like a truck-bed, where you have the machine on full-power, and the project has welds 10 feet long. And you also need a tight schedule, forced to weld as fast as possible. The boss crackin' a whip. This does not sound like an entry-level project. You can count on your balls the number of welders on this forum who have ever had a project like that. Neither uses 115v machines for any project but goofing around, and one of them is exaggerating. Any welder building a truckbed, has long ago purchased a 220v machine.

Mudd the project you describe does not exist in the beginners world. He has YEARS to weld to his hearts content, a few inches at a time, getting all kinds of projects DONE with that Miller, at great satisfaction. I keep seeing this advice (to pay attention to duty-cycle) offered to members who buy 115v MIGs, and it's not pertinent to a quality unit like a Miller (or Lincoln, or Hobart, or Everlast, and several others). I think that's old advice, maybe 30 years behind the times.

OK so you have more than 20Amps, maybe the machine was a $90 MIG? If thats the class of machine you are referring to I can't comment (I have zero experience with those). There are certainly a lot of new welders who want to see if a welder will help their projects, and they dip a toe in the water, buying a $90 (or $190) machine. Then find it doesn't take them very far. Agreed there. But there is NO PROBLEM with the Miller/Hobart/Lincoln/Everlast units, they've been good for something like 20 years.

I am hesitant to even reply, seems you want to squabble over something thats not worth argueing about. As to a beginning welder, just what kind of inside knowledge do you have, or what kind of hint was given in this thread, that suggests the OP might not want to take on a bigger project once they start learning how to weld. Those little welders have their place, but the advice I gave I feel is accurate and not based on any assumptions, but on my personal experiences with welding machines. I have owned several different size welders over the years, and I have always owned one of the name brand machines, Never bought one for $90 either. I am not a professional welder, nor do I make my living in the welding industry so I have never ran a welder with a continuous duty cycle, but I have ran plenty of welders that have hit the duty cycle while running a bead.

 

[Sodo]

Every time a new welder pops in on any forum; "duty-cycle" is dangled in front of him. If the machind is 10%,,,,, well then maybe. I've never used a 10% machine, maybe thats why I don't believe it.

 

[Shield Arc]

muddstopper do not argue with the resident expert!
Another thing, he is the only member here with a crystal ball! He looks in his crystal ball and can see what is best for all members!

 

[Sodo]

Haha, I've seen a lot of advice from some welding 'experts' here. I can't see whats best for all members but can call out what's useless to a newbie. And predict what advice will be offered to every newbie. Duty-cycle comes up a lot. On the forum it's just an internet thing like chainsaw size, tractor size, truck GVW,,,,and stuff like that. You won't see in real life except maybe with a budget machine (less than $200? Less than $100?)

Remember this is a tractor sub-forum. It's a great place to put actual tractor welding because often someone has fixed what you need to fix. Due to experience can provide a point of view that is useful, looking at the whole project not just the welding. Newbies should read "weldingweb.net" too. There are more members over there who actually remember what a newbie needs to know. If someone posts bad advice or just wants to brag about a big welder there are MORE other members to balance it out with good advice.

 

[Silvic]

Haha, I've seen a lot of advice from some welding 'experts' here. I can't see whats best for all members but can call out what's useless to a newbie.

You sir are an idiot in the most polite manner that I say it.
I would probably still be classed as a newbie welder (only three years and about 250 lbs of rod) and I have never yet seen anything that you have posted that had value to a newbie. I am certain that there has been something, but the blather that you put out 99% of the time masks anything of value that you might have said at some point in the past.

I read the welding posts to learn and have learned much from many folks.
I have learned from you as well. I have learned that you are a blowhard: a person who talks too much and who has strong opinions that other people dislike
Blowhard | Definition of Blowhard by Merriam-Webster


Post away but stop the nonsense. You exhibit many traits and qualities none of which are desirable in a civil discussion.
Rant off

 

[Sodo]

That sounds pretty civil Silvic! Good luck with what you've learned. Ability to read a forum and pick out what's useful is a worthwhile forums skill. I'm thankful for your posts to help forum members.

 

[muddstopper]

I believe a miller 130 has a 20% duty cycle at 90 amps. Thats 2 minutes of welding out of every 10 minutes. 90 amps is good for about 1/8in thick metal using soild wire and gas mix. Flux core will get you up to about 3/16. For body work and such, the little migs are good machines, but I dont feel its reasonable to expect a 130amp mig to weld more than two or 3 minutes before hitting the thermal shutdown and stop welding. Since this is a tractor forum, one could think any welding would be tractor related, just how many implements have you seen that are made using only 1/8in thick material. welding thicker material is going to take more amps to do so correctly and higher amps is going to lower the duty cycle of the machine. I built a quick attach for my brothers fel, thats tractor related, and not something I would even consider using a 130amp mig to do. Just because a person is not welding on the clock for a paycheck, doesnt mean they should be limited to making a 2in long weld and then waiting 10 minutes before making another similar weld. My number one reason for upsizing my welders to bigger machines has always been because i get tired of the machine shutting down before I can complete my project. My first mig was a 125 hobart handler, the next a 135 lincoln and my current mig a 175 miller. I use the miller to tack up large projects and then pull out the 250/250 stick to zipp everything together. My next mig will probably be a 250amp machine, as soon as I find a good used one somewhere at a reasonable price. I would go even bigger, but I dont have access to 3phase power. to sme folks, duty cycle might not matter, but I am willing to let that person come to my shop, with their little welder, and experience what it is like to try and weldup some of my projects with thier limited duty cycles. They can feel free to experience all the fustrations that go along with the machine shutting down, and having to wait to finish the project because the welder isnt up to the task. If your not hitting the duty cycle of your little machines at home, you not serious, your just playing.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ambient temp can make a difference regarding duty cycle.

Also, preheating the work helps.

There are different machines for different purposes...

 

[Sodo]

If your not hitting the duty cycle of your little machines at home, you not serious, your just playing.

I suppose by your assessment, 99% are just playing. I bet 90% admit it proudly. But basically a 20% duty cycle is a good strong machine that will (probably) never shut down. And if it does, you can put a little feather in your cap and exaggerate on the forum that it happens all the time (just like the big kids). I'm not so lucky, haven't had a shutdown in 30 years.

Mudd sounds like more happens at your shop than mine. We need to see more of your projects.