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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    comboyne
    Posts
    10

    Default Inverter welding: Some observations/questions

    I have just purchased a BOC Smootharc 130 inverter welder and have just started playing with it on 2mm mild steel square section.
    A few things I have noticed that are also questions;
    1. I seem to be using quite low amperage, about 65 amps. I'm surprised how low that is. Is this normal?
    2. I'm using 2.5mm Cigweld Satincraft rods, general purpose. They seem to burn with a much brighter light, so much so I feel a bit blurry in the eyes after using them. I have a Tecumesh auto darkening helmet, cheapy from BunnBunns which has worked fine on the old stick welder.
    3. I'm used to the crackle of bacon frying sound with arc, but with the inverter it sounds more like a flare hissing??
    4. I also seem to use more stick per length welded than before??
    5. Do inverters weld hotter?. My welds are red hot and my pieces much hotter than before?

    In general it is much easier to strike and to make smooth good looking welds.
    All comments greatly appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Murwillumbah Nthn NSW
    Age
    68
    Posts
    118

    Default

    G'day
    I am thinking of getting the same ,or 170 or similar, so am very interested to hear the feed back .
    Wondering what are the biggest rods it will run and also if you can turn it right down and run 2.00mm or even 1.6 mm rods and how they go on 1.6 rhs etc

    thanks ---mat

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi fellas
    Inverters sound "different" in comparison to 50 hz welders cos the frequency is way higher.

    They run so much better because little energy is lost in the form of heat.

    Consequently you can run a bigger stick with them in comparison to the old transformer type.

    Because they have more grunt available and are very stable at all settings and you can run sticks down to surprisingly low amps.
    You can run them on a long extension lead,but I don't know if its recommended or not.

    Best to date on the Fronius is welding a bit of 3mm mesh wire to a bit of 4mm at 28 amps ( so the readout said)

    I can't explain the brighter arc though.
    Cheers
    Grahame

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    comboyne
    Posts
    10

    Default

    Once again, thanks Graeme.
    I think the brighter weld was due to my auto helmet being kept indoors for too long.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Sydney 2074
    Age
    67
    Posts
    104

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by buildersboy View Post
    I think the brighter weld was due to my auto helmet being kept indoors for too long.
    I wonder if the SatinCraft flux makes the arc appear brighter. I used some recently and the arc did seem brighter or more fiery than I'm used to.

    Re inverter welding: I had to weld the ends of some woven SS mesh (2mm) recently. I set the welder to about 15 amps, used a 1.6mm rod, and had to just touch the rod on each join. It didn't work very well but is better than nothing. I'm really sold on my baby inverter welder.

    Cheers,
    -- Steven Saunderson

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Mandurah WA
    Age
    62
    Posts
    62

    Default Inverter Welder,

    Hey Guys,

    Just bought a Smootharc 130 this week after old Tranny Died (Brought in 1986). I have used an inverter at work and I don't know the science involved but on Thursday I burnt 7kg of 3.2 rods on a job at my mates place and the little inverter didn't miss a beat. I also did a little job that required some 2.5 rods and I was set at about half the amps reccomended and it worked fine, I have always used the scale as a starting point and adjusted to the right Feel of the job at hand. By the way I have always thought that SatinCraft are the best rods ever.

    HazzaB
    It's Hard to Kick Goals, When the Ba^$%##ds Keep moving the Goal Posts.


    Check out my Website www.harrybutlerdesigns.com.au

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