Which welding machine to buy?

[elgato]

This weekend I'll be shopping for a stick welder and maybe a MIG to use on the farm. I'm not familiar with the brands I've seen at HomePro, etc. so I'm looking for recommendations on what to buy or what not to buy. I plan on doing implement fabrication and repairs so I'll need something bigger than a "buzz box". Thanks in advance for all the help!

[elgato]

I bought an I-weld inverter.

Strong point is the low power consumption. When you stay below 200A a normal wall outlett will do. My one can TIG and rod welding. They also have models for MIG, but I am not so sire about the quality from the welding wire feed system.

Check all connections, open them, and redo them. ALL connections outside the welding unit from the cables are done very bad. With TIG welding it caused no welding at all, because the switch did not work, with rod welding the electrode holder, and ground clamp became extremely hot, because bad connections

Good luck with your choice!

Arjen.

Is "I-weld inverter" the brand name? What was the price and what do you use it for?

Good tip to go through the machine looking for shoddy assembly

Edited December 23, 2014 by elgato

[gerry123]

whilst my knowledge of brand names in Thailand is limited to zero and i realize your op was asking this

but with respect to the previous poster if i bought any thing that i had to strip down and check everything

it would seem to me that the suggestion of that particular model has done you a great favour in what not to buy

[gerry123]

whilst my knowledge of brand names in Thailand is limited to zero and i realize your op was asking this

but with respect to the previous poster if i bought any thing that i had to strip down and check everything

it would seem to me that the suggestion of that particular model has done you a great favour in what not to buy

Maybe I was not clear....

I am very happy with the performance from the welding machine itself. Even professional welders who used it where impressed. But the EXTERNAL connections, (so from the cables, the rod holder) is not done very good. I did not have to strip the welder itself (although one time I had to open it because a gecko went inside and blocked the fan.) Inside it looks very good.

I hope I made myself more clear now!

again with respect if i had to do what you recommended it would be straight back to the store but of course now by doing what you have done has invalidated the warranty

[elgato]

SS welding (TIG) and normal steel welding. Price was around 12.000 Baht at homepro, excluding gas bottle, but with all connections, and flow regulator. It was difficult to find a supplier for SS welding steel. Also the supplied welding mask is useless, as it has a handle to hold it, and TIG welding you need already two hands for welding. I have not found a supplier for not to dark welding glasses, is I remember well all they sale here is Nr. 8, what is very dark. Finally I bought a automatic welding cap, adjustable darkness, for 1.000 Baht. The best buy ever!.

OOPS, edit, yes I-Weld is the brand.

Thanks for the response. Don't really anticipate the need for a TIG machine though.

Got spoiled using an automatic shield at a previous job - can't imagine using anything else again!

[elgato]

whilst my knowledge of brand names in Thailand is limited to zero and i realize your op was asking this

but with respect to the previous poster if i bought any thing that i had to strip down and check everything

it would seem to me that the suggestion of that particular model has done you a great favour in what not to buy

Maybe I was not clear....

I am very happy with the performance from the welding machine itself. Even professional welders who used it where impressed. But the EXTERNAL connections, (so from the cables, the rod holder) is not done very good. I did not have to strip the welder itself (although one time I had to open it because a gecko went inside and blocked the fan.) Inside it looks very good.

I hope I made myself more clear now!

again with respect if i had to do what you recommended it would be straight back to the store but of course now by doing what you have done has invalidated the warranty

I'm not sure how tightening the cable connections would void the warranty. Obviously, going inside the machine and making "repairs" would let the manufacturer "off the hook".

[gerry123]

whilst my knowledge of brand names in Thailand is limited to zero and i realize your op was asking this

but with respect to the previous poster if i bought any thing that i had to strip down and check everything

it would seem to me that the suggestion of that particular model has done you a great favour in what not to buy

Maybe I was not clear....

I am very happy with the performance from the welding machine itself. Even professional welders who used it where impressed. But the EXTERNAL connections, (so from the cables, the rod holder) is not done very good. I did not have to strip the welder itself (although one time I had to open it because a gecko went inside and blocked the fan.) Inside it looks very good.

I hope I made myself more clear now!

again with respect if i had to do what you recommended it would be straight back to the store but of course now by doing what you have done has invalidated the warranty

I'm not sure how tightening the cable connections would void the warranty. Obviously, going inside the machine and making "repairs" would let the manufacturer "off the hook

(quote) I had to open it because a gecko went inside and blocked the fan. (quote) Obviously, going inside the machine and making "repairs" would let the manufacturer "off the hook".

Edited December 23, 2014 by gerry123

[boonchu]

I have used Welpro brand arc (stick) and MIG in my factory and found them very reliable and on the rare occasion something needed repairing, the service was very quick. This is in Bangkok.

[Bcgardener]

Agree on Welpro. We have used them for about 4 years now in our factory. Very reliable and good after sales service. The i-weld brand is also owned by them but these are lighter duty machines aimed at the home DIY market.

[elgato]

Thanks for the input guys!

[pigeonjake]

i would say if you was buying a welding machine from homepro, if it was just for home use the duty cycle wouldnt be very good, and would cut out with a lot with use,

as for the welding glasses, i would think a number 8 shade would be very light, as most welders use 10,11, shade for stick and tig going up to 12,13 for mig, flux core,

if you was going to go top end you would want ESAB or LINCOLN there are many welding supply shop around chon buri, bang chang, very good tool shop in bang chang, sell many many top end tools and safety equipment, boots overalls ect

[Capex]

Buy a Miller. They are available here in Thailand and they also sell the proper face shield. The problem with the local brands is they only have duty cycles of about 20% against the Miller 80%.

[elgato]

Thanks for the inputs! I would prefer a Lincoln Or Miller machine but haven't seen them. I'm out in the boonies about 80km north of Kanchanaburi. I guess I need to do some driving to get a good machine.

[pigeonjake]

the little inverter would do you great for what you want, and you can adapt it to use tig,

get a tig torch and just run on negative, you wont have the H/F starting but you can scratch start as we used to do many years ago,that should be ok for you,

jake,

welding superintendent/QC welding inspector,

[elgato]

the little inverter would do you great for what you want, and you can adapt it to use tig,

get a tig torch and just run on negative, you wont have the H/F starting but you can scratch start as we used to do many years ago,that should be ok for you,

jake,

welding superintendent/QC welding inspector,

Thanks Jake. Care to recommend a brand that's easy to find here? I'm also interested in a plasma cutter.

[pigeonjake]

that shop in bang chang sell all stuff you would need, and like i say there is some good welding supplies in chon buri, just go to the bigger ones they will give you a demonstration,

im in africa at the moment, we have all miller,

but there is hobart, esab, miller, lincoln, all very good machines,

you go go high end and get built in H/f for you tig, same inverter, with slope in and out, your best to go to one of the larger shops and explain what you want,

the plamas we have here are miller too,

but dont forget youll need a compreser for you air for the plasma, you can get small ones that will run of a bottle, but maybe not here, again go to the bigger shops in the oil and gas areas they will sell everything youll need,

good luck

jake

[elgato]

Thanks again Jake. Don't really foresee a need for a TIG capable machine. Most of my work will be repairs and fabrication of farm implements. An air compressor is on my LONG list of items for my new shop;)

[seedy]

im in africa at the moment, we have all miller,

+1 on Miller. World standard. Got one of their Dynasty machines - excellent. Not cheap.

[elgato]

My main problem is finding the dealers. I'm in Kanchanaburi province and all the machines I find are some brand unknown to me.

[seedy]

My main problem is finding the dealers. I'm in Kanchanaburi province and all the machines I find are some brand unknown to me.

I also own an Wel-D MMA200 inverter stick machine. Bought it for the BIL to use while doing some work for us - extending the bedroom, building a carport.

It's small size and weight made it very handy to use up on the roof, Worked every day for a month, never a hickup. 30% duty cycle. Used 2.5mm 6011. On sale 4800 baht at Nana Screw here in CNX.

[elgato]

Thanks Seedy. Any idea on the capability to use that machine on heavier (i.e. thicker) steel than the usual Thai stuff for roof frames? I need a machine for farm/shop use.

[seedy]

Thanks Seedy. Any idea on the capability to use that machine on heavier (i.e. thicker) steel than the usual Thai stuff for roof frames? I need a machine for farm/shop use.

200 amp rating, book says amp rating 10 to 165 amps at 35% duty cycle, so should do 3/16 which calls for about that amperage.

Rule of thumb - take the thickness of the metal in inches, in this case 3/16" = .188, and that is a ballpark figure for amps required. 1/4" = .250 so calls for 250 amp. Many variables here, flat, vertical, overhead ... But should get you close.

[seedy]

If you routinely do thicker material, good idea to get 250 amp rating, or even 300. No need for 100% duty cycle unless you are doing production work, as they are expensive.

[elgato]

Thanks for the tips seedy!

[seedy]

Also, if you have a small machine amp-wise and want to weld thicker material, just do more than one pass.

Preparation is the key. No oil, dirt, paint. Grind until shiny. Chip or grind ALL flux from old pass before starting new pass.

In SMAW (stick) if you go by the sound of bacon and eggs frying your arc length is about right. A tip if you have not done too much welding.

[elgato]

Also, if you have a small machine amp-wise and want to weld thicker material, just do more than one pass.

Preparation is the key. No oil, dirt, paint. Grind until shiny. Chip or grind ALL flux from old pass before starting new pass.

In SMAW (stick) if you go by the sound of bacon and eggs frying your arc length is about right. A tip if you have not done too much welding.

I know about the prep thing but the bacon and eggs bit is making me hungry!

[impulse]

Thanks Seedy. Any idea on the capability to use that machine on heavier (i.e. thicker) steel than the usual Thai stuff for roof frames? I need a machine for farm/shop use.

Any more than 200 (real) Amps and you'll need 380V 3 phase power. You can find units advertised at higher that will plug into 220V single phase (household), but they're fibbing on the rating. Even at 200 Amps, you'll need a good extension cord and pretty stout breaker to use it at full power.

I have a WelPro brand inverter mini-welder of 140 (or 160?) Amp rating and it serves me well for projects around the apartment and the truck. The brand is well represented at the Thai trade shows and the support is supposed to be good, though I have never needed any. All things being equal, I'd have gone for their 200 Amp unit, but I got a great deal on this one from a guy moving out of Thailand. I haven't looked back.

I also bought 1.6mm, 2.0mm, 2.6mm and 3.2mm stick, thinking I could go with the smaller stick if the welder wasn't up to the 3.2mm (most available size around my home). Smaller rod just requires more passes- and I'm not welding on nuclear reactors. I could weld with 2.6mm stick at around half the rating of the welder, and used it to make a trailer hitch for the truck- from a universal kit that I bought here in BKK. It was 3/16" thick square tube welded to 3/8" plate and even the tiny unit was coasting along. (I actually popped the breaker a few times with my chop saw, but never with the welder)

Edited December 27, 2014 by impulse

[impulse]

One more comment- regardless of which welder you buy, head over to Youtube and download all of Chuck E 2009's welding videos.

The kid does some amazing welding instruction videos. As an over-educated, cranky old fussbudget, I should hate the pimply faced, newly minted trade school grad making a living publishing How-To videos on welding.

But I just can't.

His stuff is amazing, practical and FREE (well, advertiser sponsored).

[elgato]

Thanks for the info impulse. Will check the videos.

[Cashboy]

I know this is an old topic but found it useful and shall tell you what I think having just bought a welder.

 

I bought an Arc (Stick) welder after watching ChuckE2009 as recommended by "Impulse" on this thread and seeing that most Thais only use Arc (Stick)

 

I then looked at all the welders available in Global House, Thai Wassadu, DoHome, HomePro and the thai girl asked the assistants in the shops what they thought were the best.

Thai Wassadu appears to have the most knowledgeable and helpful staff.

 

Most Thais just buy cheap-cheap and pay about 5,000 bt for a 160 Amp Arc Welder that will probably do most jobs.

 

I came to the conclusion that the best quality welders are Wel Pro and Rowel.

I ended up buying a Rowel 250S on the basis that the case is physically large and made of steel and comes with a 3 year warranty.

I understand that the 250S over the 250 means that you can run it better on a generator that I may well need to do in the future.

http://www.rowelthailand.com/v2/product-detail.php?model=เครื่องเชื่อม โรเวล ARC250S&id=77

I got a good deal getting a welding mask (Rowel RW-ADF300S) and Hyundai HD-150S grinder and vouchers for future purchases for 17,992 bt.

 

I hope this information helps other farang that had no idea like myself.

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Edited June 9, 2018 by Cashboy