small arc welder recommendation

[California]

Cali,
I have had trouble with 120 welders on anything less than a 30 amp circuit.
Does yours actually run on less?

When the Amico 130 was new I tried all the settings. I don't recall it ever tripped the 20 amp 120v breaker. Maybe internal regulation prevents it from exceeding 20 amp draw.

The output on 120v was clearly much less than what it could do on 240v, so I've only used 240v since then.

This Amico is a flux-core welder for fairly light work. Its manual says use only .030 wire, .035 will overload it without improving the weld quality. I get out the heavier HF MIG-180 or the stick welder (both 240v) for thicker work.

See my post #11 above for what an old pro-quality 120v can do. That was on a 20a breaker. I don't know if cheap modern welders can match that. But the Amico at 1/3 the weight is simpler to get out of storage and set up so it gets used more. I sold that Century for more than I paid for the Amico!

Added: Here's a YouTube 'short' that is highly relevant for setting the Amico's unlabelled knobs by watching how it welds. In my experience setting them equal, each @ 50% etc, is the starting point for fine tuning.

 

[arrow]

When the Amico 130 was new I tried all the settings. I don't recall it ever tripped the 20 amp 120v breaker. Maybe internal regulation prevents it from exceeding 20 amp draw.

The output on 120v was clearly much less than what it could do on 240v, so I've only used 240v since then.

This Amico is a flux-core welder for fairly light work. Its manual says use only .030 wire, .035 will overload it without improving the weld quality. I get out the heavier HF MIG-180 or the stick welder (both 240v) for thicker work.

See my post #11 above for what an old pro-quality 120v can do. That was on a 20a breaker. I don't know if cheap modern welders can match that. But the Amico at 1/3 the weight is simpler to get out of storage and set up so it gets used more. I sold that Century for more than I paid for the Amico!

Added: Here's a YouTube 'short' that is highly relevant for setting the Amico's unlabelled knobs by watching how it welds. In my experience setting them equal, each @ 50% etc, is the starting point for fine tuning.

Must be that mine is a stick welder.

 

[5030]

A semiconductor-based unit is far smaller and lighter.

Commonly known as an IGBT machine and most of them are dual voltage as well. You need to check out the Harbor Freight Titanium line. All dual voltage IGBT machines. Just stay away from the HF Chicago stick welder. It's junk.

 

[5030]

I looked at the Titanium Stick 225 from Harbor Freight and saw that the plug won't fit. Here's my 220 outlet. I forgot to post it earlier. Does this limit me to a wimpy welder?

Change the plug on the welder, easy-peasy

 

[California]

Commonly known as an IGBT machine and most of them are dual voltage as well. You need to check out the Harbor Freight Titanium line. All dual voltage IGBT machines. Just stay away from the HF Chicago stick welder. It's junk.

The HF Titanium 125 was where I started my search - but October 2021 it was 'Order now for June 2022 delivery'. So I went to Amazon instead.

This saved $50 and the Amico also accepts 240v for heavier welds, so it was a reasonable alternative.

 

[old and tired]

I have both welders, HF Titanium 125 and Amico, both plugged into an outside outlet (one at a time). I can weld with the HF Titanium 125 but the Amico will trip the breaker every time within seconds.

 

[2manyrocks]

Or look for recommendations on sites like this where you can get an honest opinion and not be worried the poster is getting paid to promote a "dog".
There are so many blasted "influencers" on you tube it's like a swamp with gators.

Is influencer the modern word choice for someone who used to be called a shill?

 

[arrow]

Is influencer the modern word choice for someone who used to be called a shill?

No. There are so many “lost” young ppl now brought up and baby sat with a phone, they have failed to launch on their own.
They’ll take the word of anyone that sounds authoritarian about basic life stuff and thus it is that person who is tagged as an “influencer”. You know, important things.
Things like “did you know if you sneeze you stop peeing”. And the reactions such as “Omg, l didn’t know that”. “You must be so smart l’m gonna listen to you all the time about everything”. “Everyone should listen to you”. “ Please tell me who to vote for and when l should go to the bathroom”.

 

[BigGG]

HF has 20% off through Sunday on welders (25% for ITC).

 

[chim]

I really like my Everlast 200STi. It's DC, light weight, 120/240. I often run it on a portable generator that was previously a light tower. Note the inverter welders want less than 6% THD if running on a generator.