Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: Budget Welders

  1. #1
    smidsy is offline 21 with 19 years experience
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Sunshine Coast Queensland
    Age
    53
    Posts
    52

    Default Budget Welders

    hey guys,
    I'm looking to buy a welder on a budget of $200 - I won't get a lot I know, but I quite like these two.
    It'd be mainly used for arc but tig is something I'd love to get in to down the track so this'd give me a cheap intro to tig without spending big bucks on something I may or may not take to - last time I tried tig was at uni and I gave up after the bloody thing booted me for the 3rd time.

    I''ve spotted these two at totaltools, can someone tell me if they're any good and what's the difference between the two as I can't see any - both are free shipping too.
    I'm also open to suggestions but the shop has to take zippay.
    Thanks
    Fonix

    https://www.totaltools.com.au/weldin...lder-arctig140
    https://www.totaltools.com.au/weldin...ox-arctig140s2

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Only difference I can see is warranty. The S2 is 2 years, the cheaper one says 1 year but 2 years Briggs???

    Steve

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    You may need to call up and see if the clearance item is still in stock usually clearance items sell quickly, have u thought about a slightly larger budget and look at this one https://sydneytools.com.au/product/u...elding-machine they take zip pay as i just used it there and this machine welds awesome the stick welder strikes an arc very easy, using it as a tig welds so nice i have maxed out mine at 180amps welding 8mm to 10mm have to sit a little and let the heat soak in i never hit my duty cycle

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    Neither of them mention a TIG hand piece etc. so keep in mind you need to add app $2-250 for a hand piece, regulator+gas

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    I have a cheap Rossi stick inverter welder. Despite really trying I can not kill it. It will just run 4mm rods. They claim "200" amps, but there is no way it is 200. Might be 160 at the most.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    There is a nice little newish looking Lincoln arc model on Facebook in Bathurst NSW can't recall price but it was cheap, I just checked its $50 mate ask if the seller can post

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    Fonix i just came across this on fb would be good to set u up that tig torch looks so comfy and regulators are not cheap to buy

    Seller may even be negotiable on price if u ask
    Attached Images Attached Images

  8. #8
    smidsy is offline 21 with 19 years experience
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Sunshine Coast Queensland
    Age
    53
    Posts
    52

    Default

    Hey Guys,
    Thanks for the info, I think I am going to wait and get this one.
    https://www.totaltools.com.au/catalo...category/3786/

    It's 180 amp and will take 4mm rods with tig functionality available down the track -

    A question:
    This is a 15 amp machine but at least for the first few months I'll be running on 10amps through an adapter.
    Obviously 10 amps won't give me the full 180 but what can I expect?
    I live in a rental, and putting a 15 amp plug next to the power board would be dead easy - but I hope to be moving in 4 months so that'd be a waste here.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Fonix View Post
    This is a 15 amp machine but at least for the first few months I'll be running on 10amps through an adapter.
    Obviously 10 amps won't give me the full 180 but what can I expect?
    I live in a rental, and putting a 15 amp plug next to the power board would be dead easy - but I hope to be moving in 4 months so that'd be a waste here.
    Your 10 amp power points will typically be protected by a 16A breaker, so the welder will operate at full noise, provided there's no other significant load (i.e. fan heater, jug) on the same circuit. That said, if you do go beyond 10A (corresponding to about 130A on the welder) you do need to be aware that the 10A rated components (10A plug, 10A socket) may start to heat up, and there's the possibility of some melting, and in the worst, extreme case, fire.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    When i got my very first 200amp tig welder i used it on my 10a powerpoint and was told it made the tv turn off than on another outlet the freezer started making weird noises so i had a registered electrician come out and install a dedicated 15a line, dont f.... with mains your self! Electrician cost me only $350 well worth not burning someone elses house down over doing dodgy work

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Age
    67
    Posts
    362

    Default

    Because the welder is never near the 15 amp wall socket a proper 15 amp extension lead is another good purchase.

    I have seen a few 10 amp leads go gooy when used in a 15 amp circuit.

    Tony

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    From what i read earlier he was going to open up the electrical box, open the board and physically wire in his own power point which is crazy because there is no RCD to protect this fella it will be open mains out to the street, just an unthinkable and crazy idea

  13. #13
    smidsy is offline 21 with 19 years experience
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Sunshine Coast Queensland
    Age
    53
    Posts
    52

    Default

    Thanks guys,
    Realistically, I could get by with a 140amp welder (but I want tig capability in the future) so I won't be pushing at max power.
    I'll go through and work out which power points are on which circuit so I run this on a bare circuit, and I'll be using 2.5mm wire on the adapter cable - Bunnings sell a HPM "heavy duty" 10 metre 15amp caravan extension lead that's only 1.5mm wire so 2.5 should be plenty but I'll keep an eye on it temp wise.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,836

    Default

    Im still a newby to welding but do know u dont want to be playing around with mains before your RCD switches you can pay an electrician to wire up a plug right outside your electrical box than u can run the extension lead from there, i use all my tools on extension leads rated for 15amp

    I my 15amp 240v outlet, 25 meters away from the electrical box cost about $350

    I also inquired about a 20amp 240v outlet with a plug right outside the electrical box i was quoted $500 from memory or there abouts

    Just save all the heart acke and buy a 10amp welder is probably the easiest and cheapest option, plug and play

    Think 140amps will be ok for 3 to 4mm material i use my 180amp tig to weld 8 to 10mm it does it only just

  15. #15
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Fonix View Post
    Thanks guys,
    Realistically, I could get by with a 140amp welder (but I want tig capability in the future) so I won't be pushing at max power.
    I'll go through and work out which power points are on which circuit so I run this on a bare circuit, and I'll be using 2.5mm wire on the adapter cable - Bunnings sell a HPM "heavy duty" 10 metre 15amp caravan extension lead that's only 1.5mm wire so 2.5 should be plenty but I'll keep an eye on it temp wise.
    The "HD" on theBunnings HD 15A Lead with the 1.5mm cores refers to the ruggedisation of the plug and insulation rather than electrical HD.
    I'm using a 10m long x 2.5mm cored extension lead on a 15A GPO for my welder without any problems. The instructions in my welding manual state this is the maximum recommended length of 2.5mm core

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Budget tig welder: what is the two pin socket?
    By StrayAlien in forum WELDING
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 19th Jul 2020, 10:18 PM
  2. Which budget AC TIG?
    By mark86 in forum WELDING
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 18th Jul 2019, 10:45 AM
  3. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 22nd Feb 2019, 05:54 PM
  4. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 9th May 2013, 08:01 AM
  5. $150 budget to get an arc werlder
    By Gags_17 in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 58
    Last Post: 12th Apr 2007, 11:26 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •