Is this welder strong enough??

[hexbinary]

Hi

totally new to welding/go kart building

I found this welder used at a good price and we wondering if the 70amp was strong enough for welding the go kart fame (thinking of the Dirt Devil).

http://www.chpower.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/chPrd3_10051_10001_100001_-1_10681_10765_

I have another option of buying a 15 year old used stick welder which outputs 220amp. I hear that Mig is better/easier through, and I can't find any others for pretty cheap.

Any guidance is much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

70amp wont cut it for a full scratch build, go for the big stick welder, with the correct rod they are easy to use.

 

[modelengineer]

"I hear that Mig is better/easier through"

Easier, yes. Better...

Get the stick welder and practice, practice, practice.

 

[hexbinary]

have to wait for something better to come along. I only have 230v/40a in my garage, and that welder is 50a

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

That just means you cant quite weld at full power, keep it under 175amps and you will be fine. Worst case it will just throw a breaker. You could have an electrician check out your wiring and see if a 50 amp could be installed.

 

[fluxcored]

40A should be plenty strong. I'm running a 30A breaker in my garage and never had problems - the max that I weld at is around 180A tho.

But I suggest you follow Kenny's advice and try to get a 50A breaker installed coz I think if the rod sticks to the weld pool - happened often to me when I started out - it draws much more current and may cause the breaker to trip.

 

[oscaryu1]

I have a welder rated on the box 120V @ 24A or something like that. I've done it on MAX and 10 for a few seconds no problem.

15A breaker.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

40A should be plenty strong. I'm running a 30A breaker in my garage and never had problems - the max that I weld at is around 180A tho.

But I suggest you follow Kenny's advice and try to get a 50A breaker installed coz I think if the rod sticks to the weld pool - happened often to me when I started out - it draws much more current and may cause the breaker to trip.

7014 rod helps A LOT with sticking because it automatically maintains proper arc length.

 

[hexbinary]

I managed to pick up a LincWeld 225. I had to rewire my receptacle because it was a 4 wire one, otherwise things look good, and i'm hoping to do my first weld ever tonight

 

[hexbinary]

 

[fluxcored]

Looks like a very capable machine you've got there. Congrats!

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

A welder like that is **** near indestructible, follow the duty cycle and it will outlive you.

 

[kibble]

Nice welder!

 

[Scout]

40A should be plenty strong. I'm running a 30A breaker in my garage and never had problems - the max that I weld at is around 180A tho.

But I suggest you follow Kenny's advice and try to get a 50A breaker installed coz I think if the rod sticks to the weld pool - happened often to me when I started out - it draws much more current and may cause the breaker to trip.

Don't swap in a higher amp breaker. The breaker was chosen for the capacity of the circuit and trying to use more capacity can cause the wiring to overheat and start a fire.

I am welding a kart back together and my welder is on a 30 amp breaker. Max amp draw is 45a and even though I have shorted it I have yet to pop the breaker. It's a 225a Miller Thunderbolt.

 

[fluxcored]

The breaker was chosen for the capacity of the circuit and trying to use more capacity can cause the wiring to overheat and start a fire.

Scout - you're right of course. I always upgrade the wiring as well.