Forgot the link to the ebay ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=230220597829&Category=113743&_trksid=p3907.m29

And I plan to use it to learn how to tig as well as some heavier stick welding. I figure with this and 110v mig/flux, I can do just about anything I need, light sheetmetal work on my trucks to frame work to fine quality stuff.

 

Snip... as well as some heavier stick welding. ...Snip.

My idea of heavier stick welding is 1/2" plate and up.

I run 1/8" 7018 at 140-150 give or take a few. Out of position, vertical up, 120, overhead 130.

Yes for a hobbyist it should be fine.

If you get it, let us know how it works.

David

 

No exp, it looks like a nice little machine. Do you have 220? I see 100 amps stick @ 34 amps input on 110 Volts. Good luck finding 34 amps @ 110v. 145 amps max stick which will just barely run 1/8" rod.

I wouldn't think its good for heavier stick welding.

Looks like a nice machine for the $.

David

 

145 amps will barely run 1/8" rod??? What's your foundation for this judgement?

David, I routinely run 1/8" 7018 at 90-110 amps for out of position pipe welding. 6010 1/8" runs just fine at 75-95 amps.

I've even run 5/32" electrodes at 125-145 amps with good results...

 

David could be making that statement on the duty cycle. It's only rated @ 30% at which it lists 100A on 120V and 145A on 230V.
Sure, it could run them, but I'd be throwing stuff before I got much done at those numbers.

 

Fair enough, I see where you're coming from olddad. Even I could outpace a 30% duty cycle. Still, for a hobbyist, this might be just fine.

The issue with duty cycle is a seperate problem from the amperage required to properly burn a given electrode and make a sound weld.

Setup on a 230V circuit, and running 1/8th" 7018 rod at 100 amps, the duty cycle rises to something approaching 45%. This isn't good enough for production welding or a professional who's on a mission.

But it's probably not an issue for smaller projects with lots of setup and preparation before making each weld. You know, measure the parts again, check the clamps and alignment, find a rod that hasn't been bent or stripped of flux in the bottom of the toolbox, smoke a cigarette and/or drink a beer, scratch, go inside and take a piss, then come back to make the next weld...

Depending on how you intend to use the equipment, you may be fine with an Invertec V-155, so long as you keep all these limitations in mind.

 

I have seen a 180 havent seen any larger version... maybe there is one out there... switching tech is good and light...

 

1/8 7018 at 100 amps...you must be welding 12 ga.material?.... i never weld near that with 7018 1/8..more like 120 to 130 (but i weld mostly structural)

 

This thread seems proof of the many different methods of killing the same beast. I'm with David on this one though, I run 1/8" 7018 at 125 - 135 depending on position and application. I didn't really have any idea what I was running at until just a few years ago when I used my first digital meters. Up until that point it had just been no meters or the old analog which are generally worthless. I want the stick burning in, fluid, I never was comfortable running on the low side. When I have had to run lower I always related it to caulking...not welding...just don't like it. If my heat range was too hot for a particular weldment I'd either grab a smaller rod or grab a mig. On thick to thin I never weld on the thin, I just run a normal bead and the puddle "wets" the thin in, same as with a mig. It's all just what we've learned over the years and as long as it's with-in specs it's all good.

As to the original post, that machine would be a waste of money for me. I do know a few guys however that would be satisfied with that machine.

 

Besides all the debate on where to weld 1/8 electrode, I'd like to put my two cents in on the Invertec V155-S. This is designed for the hobbyist - casual welder. It's a "commercial" machine rather than an "industrial" machine. If you're looking for something heavy duty for every day use, I'd go with the Invertec V160-S. That being said, for the price, the V155-S is a great deal and I'd like to have one for my home garage. I've used it quite a bit on both 110V and 220V (the auto-reconnect is great - just make up a little adapter with a 20amp female 115V and 220V male). I must say though, that if you do want to run 1/8, I would use it on 220V. A 20 amp breaker tends to pop readily if you weld hot (130mps+). The DC TIG with the lift start is super sweet. That's what I really like about this machine - it has an awesome arc for DC TIG. again - at the price - it's a steal. If you want something more industrial - go with the V160-S