Thread: weldcorp / awelco 160 amp mig info

I really do not like mine. Disclaimer, this is my first MIG welder, the only other machine I've had experience on is a Kemppi at a short TAFE welding course.

The feed unit (Plastic, thus cheap and prone to breakage at an indeterminate point in time) is noisy as sin, it's all I can pretty much hear even at the full length of the cable. Hence, I can't tell if I have the nice sound of frying bacon, or an angry arc (It's nice to be able to hear the weld characteristic).
I found that it also tends to have trouble feeding through at times, and it doesn't feel as though it's a constant/sure feed, it really seems as though the speed fluctuates.

Only takes 1kg spools, so it's either an expensive path or a time consuming one of re-wrapping the spools (Currently what I'm doing).

The earth cable is really short, maybe two thirds the length of the gun cable.

I tried to contact Weldcorp about whether they stocked rollers for 0.9mm wire (The roller that comes with it is 0.8mm and 0.6mm), but they didn't see fit to get back to me.


I know this is a horribly horribly negative feedback, but that's simply my experience with this machine. I do not find it a joy to work with. I greatly look forwards to this weekend when I get a 15amp outlet installed, and can make use of my recently acquired Transmig 195, and sell off (Nigh on give away!) the Weldcorp 160.


Actually, that's one positive - If you just want to feed metal meltingly into other metal, it can manage to do that. Not well, but it can. And I suspect more patience would reap better outcomes than I had, but I don't think I would have managed to be that patient.

thankyou very much for feed back , very helpful info on welcorp mig

Originally Posted by LordBug

I really do not like mine. Disclaimer, this is my first MIG welder, the only other machine I've had experience on is a Kemppi at a short TAFE welding course.

The feed unit (Plastic, thus cheap and prone to breakage at an indeterminate point in time) is noisy as sin, it's all I can pretty much hear even at the full length of the cable. Hence, I can't tell if I have the nice sound of frying bacon, or an angry arc (It's nice to be able to hear the weld characteristic).
I found that it also tends to have trouble feeding through at times, and it doesn't feel as though it's a constant/sure feed, it really seems as though the speed fluctuates.

Only takes 1kg spools, so it's either an expensive path or a time consuming one of re-wrapping the spools (Currently what I'm doing).

The earth cable is really short, maybe two thirds the length of the gun cable.

I tried to contact Weldcorp about whether they stocked rollers for 0.9mm wire (The roller that comes with it is 0.8mm and 0.6mm), but they didn't see fit to get back to me.


I know this is a horribly horribly negative feedback, but that's simply my experience with this machine. I do not find it a joy to work with. I greatly look forwards to this weekend when I get a 15amp outlet installed, and can make use of my recently acquired Transmig 195, and sell off (Nigh on give away!) the Weldcorp 160.


Actually, that's one positive - If you just want to feed metal meltingly into other metal, it can manage to do that. Not well, but it can. And I suspect more patience would reap better outcomes than I had, but I don't think I would have managed to be that patient.

hi mate thankyou for reply , very helpfull info

Originally Posted by LordBug

I greatly look forwards to this weekend when I get a 15amp outlet installed, and can make use of my recently acquired Transmig 195
.

You will love that welder.
I bought mine around 15 years ago second for $600 with a 6mtr remote traveler (wire feeder) with the 350amp gun.
I have never had one problem and the local bloke at the BOC branch who has worked their for 30+ years gave it a good rap up and said you wont buy anything as good as it today.
The gun is big but you can buy tapered nozzles from your local BOC welding place which makes getting into places easier.

If you don't have one and ever have the need for a traveler,
The remote feeder was a kit that they sold for these welders back in the day, and is just a sheet metal box with a piece of 40mm square RHS welded on for the spool holder. You take the drive motor out of the welder and put it in the traveler which just bolts in.
The guy at BOC said he used to convert them over for customers with just the basic hand tools.
If you are interested in adding it and want pictures and dimensions, I could post them up for you. The only real cost would be the leads and hose from the welder to the traveler, depending on the length you need.

I find mine is really handy as you don't need to drag the welding machine around and the traveler can be hung from anything if your working at heights. I have been wanting to add wheels to mine as it gets heavy carrying it around with a full 15kg spool on it.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

You will love that welder.
I bought mine around 15 years ago second for $600 with a 6mtr remote traveler (wire feeder) with the 350amp gun.

I "accidentally" won it in an auction (Put in a silly bid that I expected had no hope of winning) for the princely sum of $62 and some cents, traveller and all

Even had 1/3~1/2 a roll of 0.9mm wire on it with minimal rusting!

What a score
It amazes me that some people over look these older welders as they are built better than the new ones.
I guess some people just like shiny new things.

Does yours have dwell timing etc as well?

Dave

Just a suggestion with the wire.
I would unwind all the rusty stuff off it or it will get in the liner and stay their. The wire is cheap enough as you can pick a roll up for $30-40 for a 15kg.
I run a nylon liner in mine which is a older one that I used to use for aluminium.
I think from memory they are only around the $20 mark to buy new.

Dave

Yep, it certainly does have the weld & dwell time, very nifty
I suppose the missing covers, accumulation of dust and shopping trolley for moving the traveller unit around put everyone else off, much to my gain

So long as everything else works, a new liner will be the first purchase. I'd also landed two rolls of 1.2mm wire in the auction (Those I do kinda regret buying, I foresee less use of them), and have the better part of a 15kg roll of 0.9mm wire, picked up when I saw the $30 price tag compared to $10 for a 0.9kg spool at the big green giant


To try to stop hijacking this thread so much, if you haven't already had a look in the welding section freaky, there's this recent thread where, though only two replies, the best idea is to either save up your money for a better machine, or to look for a secondhand unit. Good brands will last for years if looked after, and some just won't die.

Admittedly, on another forum, there was a fellow doing up an old car who used a MIG that Repco sell (Mechpro is the brand I believe) and he said he wasn't having any problems with it. But it's still that thing where I personally believe that you get what you pay for, and I'd much prefer longetivity over a short term saving, depending on level of use.

If you live near Welshpool, Gentronics are meant to be a good welder shop, one guy who was at the TAFE course with me picked up a UniMIG from them and said they were really good and knew their stuff.