How cheap can you go??

[Brand X]

Thinking of buying it just for the heck of it.

Better watch it, before you know it you will have a complete shop full of these things, and be buried in them almost $200.00
I really think the little 120 volt plasma is my favorite low dollar unit. The IGBT models have come a long way in improving on the blow up factor of the Mos-Fet units. Even the consumable life is improved a bunch.. $9 worth of cheap consumables goes a long way.. I pushed this thing trying to blow it up, and it just runs cool, and cuts well.. Tried a test on some older Ebay units, and had no issue blowing 3 of them right up.4th one my friend still has, but only is used when there is a blue moon.

[Oscar]

Better watch it, before you know it you will have a complete shop full of these things, and be buried in them almost $200.00

I know, I gotta watch it!

[smithdoor]

I do not how must welding you do with only 80 amps. Most welding I did was about 110 to 150 amps.
The better low cost option is https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tool...4276_200434276
This will do job

Dave

I am about to find out. Not ebay China cheap, but from a real store, but still China made.. I have this thing about getting a new sub-$100 stick welder that works. Last one was $129.99, and a real 3 year warranty..Worked very well too..Sold it to my friend, so moving the bar down even farther..Just want something cheap to throw into the truck/car Just don't want to do that with my little Sanrex PeeWee. Those were about $500.00 back in the day twenty years ago..(120 volt only)

Duty-cycle is not too bad at 40% @ 75 Amp

Coupon code (271577) brings it to $79.99 to my door.. (back ordered till next month)

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...3033_200833033

[Brand X]

$79.99 for your posted unit now.
I went 120 volt only versions, mostly to keep the real work to dedicated/quality 240 volt machines. I also wanted to keep the 120 volt machines in a price range where it's not worth selling them, and more likely to keep them around.. The $92 plasma cutter really hits that mark.. The little Ironton stick machine does not piss you off like some little low cost machines can.. The hot start works well, and does cut out the arc.. Same machine as the Metal Man Arc 80T

It's a hot 85 amps,(measured) and runs 3/32 7018 fine.. It's what a 120 line supports, and much more you are flipping breakers all the time.. Running SS 309/312 rod is sweet with these little units.. If I need more power then 240 volt INE pretty much is my go to portable unit, and will run 6010 like very few machines. 8 pounds too.

[Oscar]

I do not how must welding you do with only 80 amps. Most welding I did was about 110 to 150 amps.
The better low cost option is https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tool...4276_200434276
This will do job

Dave

I agree with 80A being insufficient, but that welder you posted about likely doesn't fall into the OP's requirements.

[Oscar]

I do not how must welding you do with only 80 amps. Most welding I did was about 110 to 150 amps.
The better low cost option is https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tool...4276_200434276
This will do job

Dave

I agree with 80A being insufficient, but that welder you posted about likely doesn't fall into the OP's requirements.

[Dobermann]

I bought a $200 TIG welder from Amazon. (Hitbox 200P) It works much more reliably than my $1100 Thermal Dynamics 200 amp TIG welder. The Thermal Dynamics welder is dead in the water right now, but the the Hitbox is filling in for it any time I need to weld something. So....let's talk about "cheap." A discussion about product cost is only legitimate if the products work in the first place!

[Oscar]

$79.99 for your posted unit now.

Turns out I had $20 in my Capitol One Visa rewards, so yea, I ordered that Tooliom 120V stick welder! Lmao

Final Price paid: $65 shipped. Last welder prior to this one: $7k. Go figure.

[Brand X]

Speaking of working ..Cutting some 16 ga stainless today with the $92 plasma cutter.. Worked about as well as my Thermal/Esab/ Hypertherm machines.. You are gong to have to deal with the edge quality anyway, so might as well use the cheapest machine I have.. Really the small torch is nicer to use then the larger units torch. Total win with that unit...Jim with a bunch of machines thinks so too.. His was $99.00 though..

Need a update on the Tooliom 120V when it shows up.. Good thing about amazon is you can send it right back if it does not work correct.

[jim cafarelli]

Speaking of working ..Cutting some 16 ga stainless today with the $92 plasma cutter.. Worked about as well as my Thermal/Esab/ Hypertherm machines.. You are gong to have to deal with the edge quality anyway, so might as well use the cheapest machine I have.. Really the small torch is nicer to use then the larger units torch. Total win with that unit...Jim with a bunch of machines thinks so too.. His was $99.00 though..

Need a update on the Tooliom 120V when it shows up.. Good thing about amazon is you can send it right back if it does not work correct.

Cant beat $95 open box deal on the herocut 110 plasma. not a ton of hours with it yet but .iv done some 2 foot long cuts on 1/8 it does real well cant really tell much or any difference in it and my esab powercut on that gauge. also does well on 3/16 . my feeling really ideal for a guy on a budget doing autobody and or restoration's .itll breeze thru 18 gauge

Also the Klutch 110 migs I have the 140i loaded with 030 modded with a HTP gun runs neck in neck with my esab 220 caddy another great machine for the budget minded

[Brand X]

Cant beat $95 open box deal on the herocut 110 plasma. not a ton of hours with it yet but .iv done some 2 foot long cuts on 1/8 it does real well cant really tell much or any difference in it and my esab powercut on that gauge. also does well on 3/16 . my feeling really ideal for a guy on a budget doing autobody and or restoration's .itll breeze thru 18 gauge

Also the Klutch 110 migs I have the 140i loaded with 030 modded with a HTP gun runs neck in neck with my esab 220 caddy another great machine for the budget minded

Jim,
I am in search of fine tuning the consumables in the clone PT-31 torch.. The aftermarket ones from Riverweld are .044 and getting some .039 ones should improve the performance a bit.. I have a batch coming, but not sure if they are .039..I bookmarked some of those for later.. Lot of times the smaller the orifice the better it is for amp draw overall, plus a bit tighter arc,Etc.. I figure I can spend a bit to find th best ones for this thing.. $16.99 for 30 nozzles/30 electrodes, one swirl ring, and on cup..Herocut from Amazon on these. Still will find the best over time, and stick with them..

The Klutch 140 machines are fantastic little units. Even the cheaper 140i I have is super powerful with .035 shielded wire.. The 140si running C-25/.030 wire is about as good as it gets on a 120 volt lines..

[Brand X]

Jim,
tested out some .039 nozzles.. It helps quite a bit in the .250 range. Should speed up the 1/8 too With 28 amps output, getting the nozzle sized correctly is big.. The stock ones are really best served with 40/50 amp machines..The ones we just bought are .047 and similar in size to what it came with the machine. Probably find a better eal, but these will improve the cutting performance.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F9KYH3W...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[Oscar]

The aftermarket ones from Riverweld are .044 and getting some .039 ones should improve the performance a bit...

Ever thought about taking the TIG to the tip of the nozzle and just dabbing a single dab of copper onto the orifice and then drilling it out to your desired size? Maybe an 035 for even finer cuts?

[ronsii]

Ever thought about taking the TIG to the tip of the nozzle and just dabbing a single dab of copper onto the orifice and then drilling it out to your desired size? Maybe an 035 for even finer cuts?

Or just smack it flat!! will shrink it up a bit

[Brand X]

Just finding the correct nozzles will be enough. .039 is pretty good for 28 amps. There were some pretty small 18/20 amp style tips from Esab.. It was used with the Italian ESAB HandyPlasma 250, real short style tips.. I have not seen any china clones out there yet.. I had that machine at one time..demoed one of the first ones.. Bought one later too.. I prefer this unit for about 1/6 to 1/8 less money.. The Little Italian Esab's was the first machines that all the cut 40/50 machines were copied from.. Poor copies at that! I also seen the Miller rep buy a bunch of the Handy plasma machines to send back to the Miller factory.

If you ever looked at a plasma nozzle form the inside you will know why drilling a nozzle out to size is a bad Idea.. The Thermalcut stuff has a variable sized orifice ,and it's quite complex stuff.. Slick as all get out..

https://patents.justia.com/patent/10687411

[jim cafarelli]

Jim,
tested out some .039 nozzles.. It helps quite a bit in the .250 range. Should speed up the 1/8 too With 28 amps output, getting the nozzle sized correctly is big.. The stock ones are really best served with 40/50 amp machines..The ones we just bought are .047 and similar in size to what it came with the machine. Probably find a better eal, but these will improve the cutting performance.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F9KYH3W...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Thanks Scott il order some .also want to rig it up with the ground wire to the tip not really necessary for what i mostly use it for but would make it a little more versatile..

[jim cafarelli]

Ever thought about taking the TIG to the tip of the nozzle and just dabbing a single dab of copper onto the orifice and then drilling it out to your desired size? Maybe an 035 for even finer cuts?

that sounds like it would be worth a try ,,

[Oscar]

Well, it's here.





Can't believe y'all made me do this!

[Oscar]

[Brand X]

Cooling Way = Wind...

Seems like we are going to find out just how low you can go..

I really do like my Ironton 80T, but it was imported by Northern tool. Figured since they stopped with the Klutch model, it probably was pretty decent.. Klutch was a good unit too.. I never wanted a digital display on the little ones, figured one less thing to blow up..

[smithdoor]

It will great on job site
Can wait to see it welding 8 hours on a heavy plate.

Dave

[Brand X]

I believe these machine are best suited to running a few beads every now, and again.. I know my friend uses his little stick welder all the time, when he does not want to drag a bunch of leads from his engine drives. It's all about what your needs, application is.. Worth it's weight in gold sometimes..

[12V71]

I believe these machine are best suited to running a few beads every now, and again.. I know my friend uses his little stick welder all the time, when he does not want to drag a bunch of leads from his engine drives. It's all about what your needs, application is.. Worth it's weight in gold sometimes..

Yep, I worked on a grain elevator overhaul a few years back and we used those little Miller Maxstar machines because it was easier to pull a heavy extension cord 90' up in the basket and have the controls right there with you. They would run 1/8" 6011C with ease.

[Oscar]

Just another boring video






I hooked up the ammeter to it. On 120V input, it can put out an expected 95A, not 120+. On 240V input, it puts out a respectable 112A.

So on 120V you're limited to 1/8" 6011 or 3/32" 7018, and on 240V it can run just barely run 5/32" 6011, and just barely a 1/8" 7018.

Oh, and it can run cheap, off-brand "6010s", but it really can't run true 6010s. It will run "Ebay 6010s", but really if you ask me, those are just 6011s labeled as 6010s meant for the inadequate inverter crowd. Put some Lincoln 5P+, 6P+, Blue Demon/Best Welds 6010, Böhler Fox 6010s, and it chokes, as expected.

All in all, it's main caveat is the lack of hot-start. If you peck-and-lift, it just goes out or tends to stick. Dragging it for about ½ " like a long match-strike so as to keep the tip of the rod close helps it light-off much better. Once you accept and get past that, well, it does weld. Tripped the 20A breaker on 120V. I'm going to see if I can make it let the magic smoke out out this weekend.

[Oscar]

Ebay-6010s & 7018s on 1/4" steel. Not really worth the trouble (nor cost) of trying to run those EBay-6010s, which are like a cross between 6010s and 6011s. The arc is okay-ish, but not stable like a regular 6011 is.