Inverter welders??

[Bill_C]

I don't know about the HF inverter welders, but the HF cheapo wirefeed welders are AC !! (For those who may not know, ^real^ wirefeed welders run DC output)

While generally I'm supportive of HF stuff (I've got their bandsaw, sandblaster, 20 ton press, etc)...I'd pay the extra money to buy a Miller, or Lincoln, or Hobart, rather than a Harbor Freight welder.

 

[Transit]

I don't know about the HF inverter welders, but the HF cheapo wirefeed welders are AC !! (For those who may not know, ^real^ wirefeed welders run DC output)

While generally I'm supportive of HF stuff (I've got their bandsaw, sandblaster, 20 ton press, etc)...I'd pay the extra money to buy a Miller, or Lincoln, or Hobart, rather than a Harbor Freight welder.

Bill C, that's not entirely true. Some of the wire feed welders are DC and little else, they don't have caps to store energery nor inductors to smooth the arc and let the bead flow or very deep penetration. But you are not off the mark.

 

[yomax4]

Anther bit of Info on Inverters, ( I sell Them ) They are a little more fussy about dirt. Dust and Iron Powder can raise cain on the PC boards that are stacked together to make them. Dirt can jump an arc and blow a board making your inverter not worth repair. They also tend to not like power drops or surges. Take all that into consideration and prevent it and you will love the Inverter performance. Good points are many can be run 110v - 230v single or 3 phase. Light portable and Smooth. Europe is 90% Inverters.

Good Luck.

 

[Steve C]

Anther bit of Info on Inverters, ( I sell Them ) They are a little more fussy about dirt. Dust and Iron Powder can raise cain on the PC boards that are stacked together to make them. Dirt can jump an arc and blow a board making your inverter not worth repair. They also tend to not like power drops or surges. Take all that into consideration and prevent it and you will love the Inverter performance. Good points are many can be run 110v - 230v single or 3 phase. Light portable and Smooth. Europe is 90% Inverters.

Good Luck.

Great information. It sounds like a good blowing out with an air hose before and after every use will go a long way in preventing problems

 

[Bill_C]

Bill C, that's not entirely true. Some of the wire feed welders are DC and little else, they don't have caps to store energery nor inductors to smooth the arc and let the bead flow or very deep penetration. But you are not off the mark.

What I mean is that actually the cheapest HF wirefeeds aren't even rectified to DC; they've merely got a stepdown transformer. I downloaded the owner's manual and they show the output as AC; the schematic was in the manual and plainly showed there wasn't any rectification, just the stepdown transformer!! No wonder people complained how poorly they welded.

edited: This one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98871 for example. Download the manual and see the schematic, no rectification on the output!!!

 

[Steve C]

What I mean is that actually the cheapest HF wirefeeds aren't even rectified to DC; they've merely got a stepdown transformer. I downloaded the owner's manual and they show the output as AC; the schematic was in the manual and plainly showed there wasn't any rectification, just the stepdown transformer!! No wonder people complained how poorly they welded.

edited: This one: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices for example. Download the manual and see the schematic, no rectification on the output!!!

Thanks Bill, that is the kind of information we need to be informed consumers.

If we let them sit on the shelves instead of taking them home, maybe somebody will decide they need to sell a better product.

Meanwhile I think our domestic manufacturers will probably be more than happy to supply that product, even if they have it sourced elswhere due to cost/ competition, it is their name on the lable and I would expect a better result, or they won't be staying in business.

 

[Cocre]

@Steve C: I bought one of the small HF DC Inverter welders about six months ago. Back then they had two models, a 110v unit for ~$159 and a 220v unit for ~$169. I bought the 220v unit and can tell you that it is one amazing welder. The model I bought is no longer sold, but a higher priced one with more features is.

Several years back I welded as part of my job as an industrial maintenance mechanic. I was good at DC stick, DC TIG, and AC TIG on aluminum. I wanted a DC stick machine for some light welding around the place, but the Hobart and Lincoln models were more than I wanted to spend. I thought I would take a chance with this cheap DC welder from HF and I can tell you I am very pleased. The thing will burn a 1/8" 7018 rod with no problem, and the duty cycle is way above the $400 plus name brand units. I have never had to stop welding to let the unit cool down. Now I don't weld professionally, but for around the farm it is great. It runs off a 30 amp 220v circuit also. The other units were 50 amp.

 

[Steve C]

@Steve C: I bought one of the small HF DC Inverter welders about six months ago. Back then they had two models, a 110v unit for ~$159 and a 220v unit for ~$169. I bought the 220v unit and can tell you that it is one amazing welder. The model I bought is no longer sold, but a higher priced one with more features is.

Several years back I welded as part of my job as an industrial maintenance mechanic. I was good at DC stick, DC TIG, and AC TIG on aluminum. I wanted a DC stick machine for some light welding around the place, but the Hobart and Lincoln models were more than I wanted to spend. I thought I would take a chance with this cheap DC welder from HF and I can tell you I am very pleased. The thing will burn a 1/8" 7018 rod with no problem, and the duty cycle is way above the $400 plus name brand units. I have never had to stop welding to let the unit cool down. Now I don't weld professionally, but for around the farm it is great. It runs off a 30 amp 220v circuit also. The other units were 50 amp.

Thank you. That is the kind of information I need. I am sure many others will be interested in your experience with the HF inverter welder also. I have an unopened 50# tin of 7018. 1/8" is the rod I like to use. I think there is a inverter welder in my future. I was very impressed at the small size of the machine. My 250 amp AC/DC machine is a bear to haul around.

 

[Reg]

What I mean is that actually the cheapest HF wirefeeds aren't even rectified to DC; they've merely got a stepdown transformer. I downloaded the owner's manual and they show the output as AC; the schematic was in the manual and plainly showed there wasn't any rectification, just the stepdown transformer!! No wonder people complained how poorly they welded.

edited: This one: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices for example. Download the manual and see the schematic, no rectification on the output!!!

From the schematic I read it would appear that the CS100 unit probably chops the stepped down AC.
"Rectification" per se isn't necessary.

 

[fcamillieri]

I bought a Ramsond 200A Inverter. It stick welds 200A, TIG 200A and Plasma 50A. All DC and plugs into 110 or 220 w/o changing anything. It will plasma 1/2 thick but I've only done 3/8" so far. Comes with everything you need except a bottle of argon. I'm very happy with it. I paid about $800 for it.