Inverter stick welder

[Utemad]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy an inverter stick welder. Just for home use. There are a few small things I want to do to the camper. Weld some shed shelf brackets etc.

I am going to look at the BOC Smootharc 130 & 170.

http://www.boc.com.au/shop/en/au-boc-industrial-store/welders/mma-welders/boc-smootharc-mma-130-welder

http://www.boc.com.au/shop/en/au-boc-industrial-store/boc-smootharc-mma-170-welder

Are these any good for my intended use or just cheap crap?

Any other brands I should look at?
I want to stick with something of reasonable quality.

I do have a 15 amp socket.

My welding skills are pretty poor. I'd like to do a course but there aren't any in town. So I'll just bumble through.

Thanks

[101RRS]

I have the Smooth arc 170 - I nice small light unit. Really doesn't weld any better than a normal welder but is easy to carry around and is extremely portable - the TIG extras are the same cost as the welder but I do not have them as I cannot comment on that aspect.

Duty cycle drops right off with higher amps but is very good at lower amps

For a home welder I think they are quite good and because of its light weight very easy to lug around.

Garry

[33chinacars]

Can't comment on these machines as I've got a normal arc welder. But if that is your choice then go for the 170 amp welder. Far better in duty cycle amps. Wont have to stop & start so much.

Gary

[Stuck]

My welding skills are only average but I used one of these for a few days recently and I reckon it'll be my next purchase.
Cigweld Weldskill 170 240V Inverter DC Welder W1002901 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cigweld-Weldskill-170-240V-Inverter-DC-Welder-W1002901-/320778652629?pt=AU_Welding&hash=item4aafe5cbd5)

[Utemad]

I was originally looking at the CIG. I like the metal case and you get a carry case.
It is 5-170 amps where BOC is 20-170. This probably means nothing as 20 is low enough I'd think.
The CIG has a fine tune looking knob for 'arc force'. I don't know what this does apart from what the manual says.

The main difference in my opinion is duty cycle. Assuming their claims are accurate the BOC is much better.

100% is 118 amps for BOC and CIG is 85 amps.

170 amps is 25% for CIG and 50% for BOC.

BOC actually claims 199 amps at 35%.

Whether the duty cycle of the CIG is enough I don't know.

I don't intend on using tig on either unit so I haven't looked at that function at all.

How this actually affects real world operation I don't know. The only inverter welder I've used was a $2000 dollar unit. It was very nice.

[Utemad]

I intend on picking up the BOC next I'm in Toowoomba or Brisbane which will be a week or 4 at the moment. Plenty of time to second guess myself :confused:

[101RRS]

I think you can take duty cycle claims with a grain of salt - certainly at 118 amps my smootharc does not have anything like 100% duty cycle but is nevertheless OK.

As I indicated above when apples are compared with apples I did not find weld ease and quality a lot different to a normal stick welder but the big advantage is the inverters light weight and portability - a few kgs vs 50kg.

Put over your arm vs wheel around on a trolley for similar performance and duty cycles.

Oh - electrode holders on all of these are crap - I bought an old style one where you put the stick in a hole in the handle and twist the handle to tighten - cost $12 and the rod no longer moves around in the holder.

Garry

[Utemad]

Thanks Garry.
Just to clarify the CIG welder I mentioned above is the 170HF which is a $700+ unit. The one linked previously is the cheaper 170 which is what I am actually looking at.
The duty cycle is still 25% at 170 amps.
The cheaper unit doesn't have the fine tune looking knob so no need to worry about that.

[crash]

I borrowed a cheap inverter welder (I think he paid around $300.00)from a friend while my MIG was getting repaired. I preferred it over my MIG on gasless wire.
I now that my BOC dealer will let you try the welders before you buy - give that a go first, and try the same with the CIG supplier. The advantage is they can demonstrate the pro's and cons of the different functions on the machine. Remember it is in their best interest to sell you a machine so do not be afraid to ask questions.
Being a home / light user duty cycle is the least of your worries, I would not get too hung up on them as I doubt you will be pushing it to its limits.

Ask at the suppliers what the best rod to use on the thickness and type of material you are using for that particular welder.

[Utemad]

Just to finish up here I bought the CIG 170 amp inverter stick welder the other week.
I got the CIG variable shade face shield too.

This is the first auto shade face shield I've used and it is great.
Makes welding that little bit easier and for me every little bit helps :)