Looking for advice on a cheap 115v Buzz Box

[newbiesmith]

I'm limited to getting a welder that will run on 110v. I've tried to coax my landlord into letting me run 220 for my Lincoln 180 and I feel pretty confident we'll be here at this rental for a while. In the mean time I'd like to get started welding a little here and there. I figure having a portable welder will be beneficial in the long run as well.

What I'm looking at is a

115V 70A ARC WELDER
Campbell-Hausfeld
Model: WS0970
Do it Best SKU: 338441
Online Price: $99.99

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? This is my budget and it seems to be a descent deal for what it is.

-Dan

[Jose Gomez]

Always buy the best tool that you can afford. Then, once you have the capability, use it to it's fullest potential to expand what you can offer to the customer. A new tool means new abilities. This means you are capable of tackling a wider group of jobs, and most likely produce a higher quality finished product. So if you do it right, even the most simple machine should at least pay for itself. The trick is to make sure that the tool lasts long enough to not only earn back your original investment, but continue to work long enough to pay for a better replacement. I started 17 years ago with a miller stick welder, and 6 or 7 jobs later managed to earn enough to buy a nice little mig. Now i'm buried in welders, power hammers, and tools. But I Usually have the right tool for the job.

That being said, though the price is right you must understand that the machine you are looking at has extremely limited capabilities.

Input Power115 Volt - 20 Amp
Output Power70 Amps / AC
Duty Cycle10% @ 70 Amps / 20% @ 50 Amps
Use Rod Size1/16" to 5/64"
Welds18 Gauge to 1/8" Steel

At it's maximum capacity it can only weld light materials (1/8 or less), and you can only weld for 1 minute out of every 10 minutes if you don't want to over heat it. Make sure that it's plugged into an outlet that has a 20 amp breaker (some outlets are 15 amps) or you won't get much welding done.

If this will do what you need then go for it. If not then you might look into this Clarke 131E Arc Welder - 120V, 130 Amp, Model# WE6519 it's a lot more machine for a little more money.

[newbiesmith]

Thanks man. I'll take a look at the clark too.

I'm thinking that from the specs of the one I was looking at that I should be pretty well content. If I'm right, what I'm thinking is that I'd go through one rod in the minute of welding time. At that point chances are I'd have to stop put a new rod in (and hopefully take the step back to think that I usually don't do).

-Dan

[Jose Gomez]

No matter what you get it's going to be better than nothing. And once you have one you'll wonder how you did without. good luck, and kep us informed on how things work out!

[Finnr]

I have that model and have had no trouble with it that wasn't my own fault.Decent cheap welder and it does what I have to do on light items.
Finnr

[ThomasPowers]

I bought a used Lincoln tombstone, probably older than I am, for US$40. Copper wound.

1/8" max sounds like car body repair rather than a blacksmith's welder. Do you have an electric stove of dryer whose plug you can "borrow" with an extension cord to be able to use a 220 welder?

I'd look for a used welder by a "name" in the biz myself.

[newbiesmith]

Finnr,

What kind of rods do you use for this welder? Ever stray from the recommended diameter? If so what were the results?

-Dan

[Finnr]

I pretty much use the recommended sizes with reasonable results. It won't do near as well as my 220 welder, but that's at my mom's place and not here. I have the same problem with an outlet that you have until I get a shop finished. I have run 6013 and 7018ac mainly.
Finnr

[evfreek]

Hi newbiesmith. These little 110V transformer machines are really marginal. 3/32" rods are the biggest that will work. 5/64 or even 1/16 are better. If you are near Harbor Freight, you might try their little 110V inverter machine. That has a much better duty cycle, and you will have more time to weld. I hear that they often burn out, but you can easily return it, especially if you go for their buyer protection plan. I have an AC buzzbox, and I rarely run it above 100 amps. It is just great, and it is a real compliment to smithing, especially for making tools. One nice thing is that working at 140 or less amps, I don't need to worry about the duty cycle, since swapping rods and chipping let the welder cool sufficiently so I can just keep going for hours.

[aametalmaster]

My buddy has me fix some of his old cars in his garage so i take my welder there and i have a pigtail made up to fit his elec stove plug, just pull the stove out and weld...Bob