Everlast 140 and other DC welders

[EMB5530]

I have an Imig 200 from everlast although it is a wire machine it can be used to stick also and to help answer your questions.

Question #1. If you could do it again would you buy the same machine.
Yes, but I would also like to spend the money on the PA 300(due to duty cycle and the fact that I would save my mig for strickly that)

Question #2. How does it perform
Beautifully. I choose the weld performance of this machine over my bobcat 250 gen/welder

Question #3. How long have you owned yours
November 2011

Question #4. How many truely trouble free pounds of rod have you ran
Over 100lbs. wire and the same w/ rod.

Question #5. Any problems with your machine at all
In temp of 20 degrees F and below the fan needs a little heat from a heat gun to spin up to speed(maybe 20 seconds)I know wth are you welding at 20 deg. anywho.

Question #6. How much did it cost
Same as ShieldArc Ask Mark.

Question #7. If you had any warranty work done, was it easy and taken care of
No warranty work.

Question #8. Any post warranty problems, if so did you get it fixed or replace the whole thing
Still under warranty.

Question #9. Other options under $250.
???.

Question #10.. would you consider buying a used inverter welder? Transformers seem simple, but all the computer chips....
No, unless someone here has a PA300 they want to drop for a bill:anyone:

 

[DXN1EL]

I have the Everlast PowerARC 300 I will try to answer your questions

1. Yes I will deferentially.

2. It performs beautiful a little touch to the Hot Start no more sticking, same for the Arc Force you can feel and hear the difference with just a little adjustment.

3. July first 2013

4. 50lb

5. Not a single problem

6. Have you ask Mark? Very nice fellow

7. No warranty work done

8. Still under warranty

9. Under $250??? :confused3:

10. No

 

[cowski]

i got a everlast 140.i guess i have had it a couple years.no i do not want a bigger one.i mostly use mine on a generator.it has been a while so don't remember how much it costs.always use it on 220 volts.1/8 6011 or 7018 is what i normally use.

 

[stuckmotor]

Cowski,
What brand generaror do you use and what is it's output?
Thanks,
Stuck

 

[paulharvey]

I know I've been kinda silent last few days, but thanks for all the information. I know the $250 budget is pretty low and it does limit options. I've found an AC/DC stick machine for $110, 180 amps Ac/140 Dc, off brand, used about 5 times, and I think I'm going to buy it. Seems simple, and has the DC over a tombstone. It's in the neighbor hood of 75 lbs, don't know that that's a plus for dragging it to the outlet (no power in shed). I know I'm making some comprises, but for my budget I knew I would have to. I very nearly bought a Hobart Stick mate 205 AC only for $150, but I decided to hold out for DC option.

 

[blueriver]

I have to weigh in because of my experience with Longevity. I bought the Stickmate 140 in November 2011 less than $250 .. Because I needed a small machine in my budget ..as well as dual voltage .. 110/220 volt.

It became my go to machine ... Literally have burned box after box of 50 lb rods thru the little unit .. 100's if hrs of use .. Lightweight portable and a good welder.

Last week it quit .. I opened the unit and found the circuit board fried .. The two fuses at the switch blown actually exploded .. The machine was nasty dirty inside. I called Longevity when asked why do I think this happened? I stated .. Well sir I probably mess up any chances of warranty work but this unit get shoved up the welding cutting table we use a chop saw a lot, grind a lot and have never taken the time to clean it or service it so I'd have to say lack of maintaince ... To shorten this ... A new replacement is on it's way ... I pay shipping!! They asked for the old unit back set me a return label and when they can see by the fedex tracking that it's in transit they ship the replacement.

Will I buy again .. Yes my next investment will be a plasma cutter A LONGEVITY plasma cutter.

 

[cowski]

coleman generator 6250watts starting and i think 5500watts continuous.

 

[paulharvey]

Well, I ended up getting a Chicago electric Arc-180 for $60. It's an AC/DC machine. It is a bit misleading, Arc-180 is 130 amp max on AC and 115 amp max on DC. I can't say that I'm impressed with the DC side, maybe it's rods (Hobart 6013 3/32), operator error, or maybe DC just likes cleaner metal than AC? If I switch over to AC it seems I get much better penetration, and less trouble starting an arc on slightly rusty material. I would say it's certainly worth the $60, but I guess I was hoping that the DC would be like magic and make everything easy.

Thanks for all the advice, and although I didn't follow it (except turning down an AC only hobart, and getting Ac/Dc), I think for the price I did well.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Paul,
Thanks for letting us all know. Keep us updated. For 60.00 you did well. You can't go wrong if it spits out a few sparks for you. DC shouldn't be hard to start unless you are using the electrode holder connected to the negative, or it could be because of the machine's really low OCV (25 volts or less on a good day). That looks like an older unit. Some of the older ones were Italian, but then they also had some that looked like the same ones but made in China. The transformer unit you have likley has a duty cycle of 10% on AC at max amps, and 15% I believe on DC if its the Chinese version. I'd stick with 3/32 welding rods for sure. While 1/8" is theoretically possible, I don't think it'll be practical. Due to the duty cycle limitations, I'd probably try 1/16 rods for best performance with starting and over all welding. But keep in mind this unit is below the class, capability and arc stablity of the other units mentioned here. Take care of it, and you shouldn't have any problems getting your money back out of it if you ever want to upgrade.

 

[rankrank1]

Not trying to be mean, but that AC only Hobart would have been a much much much much better unit than the one you pictured.

Most of the Chicago Electric welders are not very good to start with and the one you have shown looks to be 115 volt input power. No way is that thing cranking out 130 amps AC or 115 amps DC off a 115 volt input power. If it is the volt/amp curve is so bad that it not suitable for welding.

Now if you have the option of converting the plug to 230 volt input power then it might output the claimed spec's. For $60 though you likely did not get hurt, but you likely limited to 5/64" diameter rods and 1/16" diameter rods with a slight possibility for 3/32 6011. I am guessing your actual output on that unit is 70 to maybe 80 amps max off of 115 volt input power.

If that plug that appears to be a 115 volt plug is a blurry NEMA 230 plug then disregard most of what I said other than most all of the HF welders are not very good.

DC is nice, but it is not the huge welding made easy that everyone makes it out to be.