Thread: Recommendations for Small Stick Welder

Originally Posted by AxelVK

I had a 130 amp MIG with a 10 amp plug and it was pretty useless. Not necessarily due to low capacity but because of an awful wirefeed. Got rid of it luckily enough and bought a decent unit instead.
It taught me to 'buy bigger and better than I think I will ever need' and it will be just right as my capabilities grow.

Apples and oranges here.
Agreed, a 130A mig is a somewhat limited tool, particularly as most are fitted with poor wire feeds and short gun leads, however a stick welder, particularly an inverter, with a genuine 130A is a very good tool, capable of performing in an industrial application let alone a home environvent.
We seem to be hung up on the 10/15A debate somewhat in this thread. If a reputable machine comes with a 10A plug, then it is suited for usage on a circuit rated at that level, likewise for a 15A.
Some people will make the call that they can file plugs, make adapters and the like. That is their call and no one can/will tell them that it is ok officially. Just as someone may choose to plug two double adapters into a double 10A power outlet and load it up to 40A. This situation is compunded when heavy loads are run on long extension leads.

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

Apples and oranges here.
Agreed, a 130A mig is a somewhat limited tool, particularly as most are fitted with poor wire feeds and short gun leads, however a stick welder, particularly an inverter, with a genuine 130A is a very good tool, capable of performing in an industrial application let alone a home environvent.
We seem to be hung up on the 10/15A debate somewhat in this thread. If a reputable machine comes with a 10A plug, then it is suited for usage on a circuit rated at that level, likewise for a 15A.
Some people will make the call that they can file plugs, make adapters and the like. That is their call and no one can/will tell them that it is ok officially. Just as someone may choose to plug two double adapters into a double 10A power outlet and load it up to 40A. This situation is compunded when heavy loads are run on long extension leads.

I wonder how many times each and every day on countless bench tops across the country a toaster and kettle are on at the same time on a standard 10 amp GPO connected to a bunch of other GPO's.

Cheers

Justin

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

Apples and oranges here.
Agreed, a 130A mig is a somewhat limited tool, particularly as most are fitted with poor wire feeds and short gun leads, however a stick welder, particularly an inverter, with a genuine 130A is a very good tool, capable of performing in an industrial application let alone a home environvent.

And with a fairly good stick welder, is there even a need for a backyarder to need a MIG as well or instead of a stick welder?

Some people will make the call that they can file plugs, make adapters and the like. That is their call and no one can/will tell them that it is ok officially.

But when they rabbit on to others about doing such they neglect or forget to advise others that not only is it illegal, but it can potentially cause fire and/or death, now or down the track. It could be that they sell the house, and it burns down on the new owners, who never did anything illegal, maybe killing one of them.

Some hazards are obviously risky, like walking on a rope across the Grand Canyon. So you wouldn't need a law to make such illegal, because the danger is obvious. However, with electricity, the dangers are not obvious, as has been proved in this thread. So because of the lack of obvious dangers, there are laws that prohibit anyone from modifying/tampering with wiring etc.

Originally Posted by Jarh73

I wonder how many times each and every day on countless bench tops across the country a toaster and kettle are on at the same time on a standard 10 amp GPO connected to a bunch of other GPO's.

Cheers

Justin

Which is why there wouldn't be as many GPO's hanging off the kitchen circuit as there would be on other circuits. Basically, each GPO gets nominated points, depending on its location and likely use, and that determines how many get hooked up to each breaker.

Cheers

Originally Posted by jemijona

And with a fairly good stick welder, is there even a need for a backyarder to need a MIG as well or instead of a stick welder?

Stick welders don't perform well on thinner sections and sheet (eg car panels). MIG has the advantage in that space.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Stick welders don't perform well on thinner sections and sheet (eg car panels). MIG has the advantage in that space.

Agreed.

I think you will find that the MIG is the great all-rounder welder especially when you consider that it does not take long to get the hang of it and produce good quality work.

ARC has its place but for general home use with predominately mild steel I don't think you can beat a MIG.

My old MIG I paid $600 odd back in the early 90's and it lasted me 20 years and paid for itself 100's of times over. Only half a dozen times I wished I had an ARC welder instead.

Cheers

Justin

Originally Posted by jemijona

Which is why there wouldn't be as many GPO's hanging off the kitchen circuit as there would be on other circuits. Basically, each GPO gets nominated points, depending on its location and likely use, and that determines how many get hooked up to each breaker.

I donno I'm skeptical.

Cheers

Justin

Whenever I've needed to weld something so far, I've either dragged the gas axe out, or gone to the neighbour.

My most recent gas axe task was butt joining 1.6 mm wall thickness 50 mm RHS. While a mig could have done that easily, I'm not sure if a stick welder could have, with my ability anyway.

Of course a mig or stick welder is tied to the shed, but for the projects that I am likely to do in the next few years, that isn't an issue.

Thanks for the replys guys.

Cheers

If your doing occasional home use stuff i.e 10 cm runs in up to 6mm then a cheap
$200 140amp should be fine as I find i rarely use more than 2 rods before stopping and cleaning and setting up the next run. I have yet to find the occasion or need to run it to the duty cycle limit. I have repaired trailers and made mobile machinery bases etc and have never had an issue. But given that if I tried to weld a I beam then I would have an issue

A Gas shielded mig would be nice but for the amount of times i use it the cheap arc is more economical. As the mig cost and the bottle rentals are a killer for mig

Andrew