Like the 35th "will this welder work" post

[AlphaRunner85]

i hate to start another post about this but....

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200355916_200355916

we are building a kart on a VERY tight budget and need a welder. this is basically what is in our price range and seems
close to what seems to be the right power at 80a and i have
read that the flux core arcs have trouble with thicker material. we will not be using anything to heavy but it is gonna boast a gx390 that wont be stock for very long.
SO, would this suffice to build a suitable and safe frame
for our death machine?

 

[lemegacool]

wont be enough... duty cucle is 10% at 70 amps... so not even 10% aut 80 amps... lol

seems like the max output is 70 amps... witch is the MINIMUM to drive a 3/32 rod...

get this one you wont regret it http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200381950_200381950

 

[AlphaRunner85]

that was my first idea but the 230v might be hard to find

 

[modelengineer]

Second hand is probably your only choice then. You can get much better machines second hand for the same price as new chinese stuff, if you're willing to look for it. In the long run you will appreciate a more powerful machine.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

If you have an electric stove or dryer, you have 230 volts. I would look locally for a used 220 amp stick welder, it will cost you the same as the northern unit, and be better quality. It will also probably have a better duty cycle. My dad has a "bottom of the bucket" century 230 amp unit, the duty cycle is 100% up to 90 amps, where it goes to 20% all the way to max power.

Just make sure the fan works, if it doesn't you can wire in a desk fan(minus case) of equal size(and get better cooling too). When it ran our fan barely moved air, and old desk fan motor and prop bolted in, and blows dust off the pavement when we fire it up. 220 is actually two 110 volt lines, so the fan will run wired properly.

 

[AlphaRunner85]

i understand that it has a very short duty cycle which will probably cause us much frustration in the future but we want to get a frame built. i appreciate all of the input and am looking for another viable option but if it comes to it will that cheap welder make us a frame or a coffin?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Last welding I did on a frame was IIRC with a 1/8" 7014 rod at 130 amps, putting a 3/16" motor plate onto the round tube framework. If you want to spend a month with little rods and cool down time, you might get away with it.

 

[02mx-5]

With that duty cycle you will spend more time looking at your welds then you will actually welding. Take Lemegacool's advice. Its only a little bit more money, still VERY cheap and it looks like it will do way more then the one you are asking about. With the arc welder you can have that frame done in no time. You could have 2 karts with the arc welder in the time it takes you to do half a kart with the 80 dollar welder

 

[AlphaRunner85]

ok ok ok. So it looks like we save a little longer and go a bit higher but found this
and it seems to be a bit better.

http://www.amazon.com/165-Amp-Welde...f=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1255747259&sr=1-11

Maybe?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Find one of these used, it will be better than anything you buy new.

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Elect...ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1255748133&sr=1-2

 

[lemegacool]

my welder at home is an old miller 225a welder... i got it used for 125$ with long and thick cables ($$$) look on cragslist you'll probably find a good deal! the lincoln ac 225 is agreat welder too! if you get the AC version dont forget to buy AC rods... will be easier to strike if you are new to this!

also the welder you linked SEEMS to be better than the one before BUT i'll rather take a quality used welder than a new chinacrap welder... just my 0.02 cents!

 

[brendonv]

I got a 140 amp stick welder. Got it for 130 bucks on sale at a auto store. Works great, hasnt let me down. It has thermal overload shutdown so if it gets too hot it shuts off but the fan keeps going. I was welding my mini chopper welding away for like 30mins and it flicked off. I was welding at about 70amps so it lasts a while before it kicks off. I just left it on with the fan going, took about 10 mins then u can hear the welder buzz again which means its ready to go. When u buy a welder, remember u have to spend about an extra 60 or 80 on a good helmet. I got my auto darkening helmet on sale for $60 down from $140 which was a steal as my mate bought the same one 2 yrs ago for like $230. The handle held ones u get are rubbish. Well put it this way, mines still in the packet. I didnt even attempt to use it, stuff that. Dont cheap out on a helmet unless u want to screw up ur eyes. Its like cheaping out on a grinder or not wearing a proper full face mask as its to expensive. Its cheaper than $2000 surgery on getting a piece of metal removed from ur eye.

 

[AlphaRunner85]

well on Tuesday i will dive into the "iwanna" classifieds and see whats there.
there is usually some good stuff there. so Lincoln seems to be the most suggested so ill look for that. maybe the flea market...

along the same lines, i was thinkin about using 1 1/4" square steel for the base of our frame with some smaller like maye 3/4" or 1/2" steel tube for the roll cage and upper frame
we are all above 200lbs and we like to push limits so we want it stronger than average
is that enough or too much or like goldielocks and just right?
thanks for all the input.... you guys rock

 

[neebles]

Not trying to hijack this, but, is this a decent price and set up?

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/1427579085.html

 

[Rickracer]

These are from the Asheville Craigslist:
MAC Tools 110 amp, $140:
http://asheville.craigslist.org/tls/1387740170.html
http://boone.craigslist.org/tls/1422703957.html (20% duty cycle at 88 amps)
Here's one for $50: http://greenville.craigslist.org/tls/1418283532.html

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Not trying to hijack this, but, is this a decent price and set up?

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/1427579085.html

Very good.

 

[Rickracer]

That machine will do anything you might wanna do as far as a stick welder, and that's a killer price too,

 

[AlphaRunner85]

well after much debate and discussion my boss decided that it would be cheaper to buy a welder than to pay some one to weld all the stuff we need fixed or buy new stuff to replace. so he gave a paper with a campbell/hausfield flux core welder spec sheet. i gave it a once over and it looks like a decent welder, it is refurb and on clearance and at one time it was about 200 bucks. its only 90a but the duty cycle at full is 15% i do belive and i will be moving slowly for a while so it should be fine "for the stuff at work" wink wink.

 

[motor_head]

220v stick welder can be had for cheap used i have one it's a century welder max is 10%@230 amps can't rember what i paid something like $50

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

You can get a 90 amp fluxcore welder WAYYYY cheaper than $200.