Thread: Big machine, small jobs

Hi chums, I have an opportunity to buy an older, three-phase, 270A welder (WIA Fabricator).
On the assumption that I bring the wire feeder and gun etc up to spec, will a heavy machine like this be comfortable running at low amps on light sheet metal, such as car panels?

Your details to ID the specific machine could be more specific.
Some will others might not.

This one below does:

https://www.welding.com.au/assets/do...Sheet-2014.pdf

Theres a scad of those old WIA machines out there with a lot of variations . A model no description or picture might be of help.

Its the lower end amperage specs that your responders will be looking for.

The minimum diameter solid wire that the machine might take would be helpful as well.

Can the machine run .6mm solid wire.?

First thoughts are that it might be just a bit impractical and overkill. However if you have 3 ph to plug it into it can be used for much heavier work.
If not you will pay way more than the machine purchase price to have 3 ph installed.

It may save you time and trouble to get the model details and punch them into a search engine and get specs for it.
I would guess you have to buy a .6mm wire driver wheel as the machines I used, did not come with .6mm wheel supplied with the new unit.

Extra details would be good to confirm the exact machine you are referring to. The Fabricators that I've used were well over 270A capacity but they were also some of the sweetest ru ning machines that are still revered to this day. The current WIA Fabricator is a definite backwards step in comparison. I have no doubt that the old Fabricators would have the ability to reach down and handle car panel work. Rollers for the feeder are available, but not overly cheap from memory but that would not dissuade me as the machines are bulletproof and a mate with a lathe and some 4140 bar could make a more than adequate feed roller should all else fail.

Thanks guys. The exact details of the machine were not available at the time of the sale and the auction is over now, with my meagre offer not being enough to secure the unit.
Thanks Karl for sharing your experience and confidence in the older Fabricator machines, the example was nothing like the modern version. I'll keep my eyes open and try to get better details, if another one shows up..