Buying a welder
#241
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
Total Cats: 1,866
<p>Last weld from yesterday, playing with the thumb switch. My breaker tripped after about 20 seconds of 120amp AC welding. I don't like tripping the breaker because it doesn't let the fans run to cool down the welder, I wish it had some backup power.</p><p><img src="https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.miataturbo.net-vbulletin/828x1471/80-oykonhflgndxhbqypqqqjmg_914iydbps4snm0q83yzi_w829_ h1471_no_jpeg_6729e2d9a7dfa6c62190ca07145be13fd6ff b450.jpg" title="" /><br /><br /> </p>
#249
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
Total Cats: 1,866
<p>Because rental house. And safety. I won't rely on the fan caps, but you never know what will happen.</p><p>Longer explanation. In my current house for less than 2 more months. Next house I will get my own fuse box panel and add in my own 220 outlet in the garage. But for now I'll deal with tripping breakers.</p>
#250
Cheers,
-JB
#251
I hear ya. Though I think I've justified it. Benefits- learning to TIG and having a capable machine for aluminum which I'm sure I'll use more than a few times. IF I had to have the cash back I'm sure I could sell it at $300 loss, which would IMO be worth the benefits already attained.
I'll take the selling of the Eastwood over the AHP as your choice on which is the better unit.
I'll take the selling of the Eastwood over the AHP as your choice on which is the better unit.
#252
I'll take the selling of the Eastwood over the AHP as your choice on which is the better unit. [/QUOTE]
The AHP has more ***** to mess with.
It's almost a flip of a coin. The Eastwood is a few years old. If you base the decision on customer service I think Eastwood will be easier to get a hold of. I have made good welds with both. I think the AHP has the edge because of the digital amp control, meaning if I wanted to weld a couple of razor blades together, I believe it could be adjusted super low and still work.
My
The AHP has more ***** to mess with.
It's almost a flip of a coin. The Eastwood is a few years old. If you base the decision on customer service I think Eastwood will be easier to get a hold of. I have made good welds with both. I think the AHP has the edge because of the digital amp control, meaning if I wanted to weld a couple of razor blades together, I believe it could be adjusted super low and still work.
My
#253
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
Total Cats: 1,866
Thumb switch is also fits.
<br />
<br />Got my own bottle today. Little 40cf I borrowed from a friend. Also going to pick up a 200cf oxygen bottle later this week.
<br />
<br />Got my own bottle today. Little 40cf I borrowed from a friend. Also going to pick up a 200cf oxygen bottle later this week.
#255
There are a lot of other things you could waste $700 on that would show little to no benefit. Let's say a person bought this TIG welder instead of a TV and spent all those TV hours learning how to weld instead. This thread pretty much proves a TIG welder makes you a better person.
I can justify your purchase.
re: Customer Service- I did read a less positive review on Amazon where the guy's AHP had issues upon arrival. He actually spoke to a support person more than once who was able to walk him through trouble shooting and arrived at a decision that a new part was needed (ordered and shipped). No follow up, but that's not too bad.
I can justify your purchase.
re: Customer Service- I did read a less positive review on Amazon where the guy's AHP had issues upon arrival. He actually spoke to a support person more than once who was able to walk him through trouble shooting and arrived at a decision that a new part was needed (ordered and shipped). No follow up, but that's not too bad.
#256
There are a lot of other things you could waste $700 on that would show little to no benefit. Let's say a person bought this TIG welder instead of a TV and spent all those TV hours learning how to weld instead. This thread pretty much proves a TIG welder makes you a better person.
I can justify your purchase.
I can justify your purchase.
#258
Man I really need a mig welder, and a plasma cutter. Using a hole saw in a 10" HF drill press (with a new and improved minimal runout chuck) to make 2.5" holes in 16ga 304 stainless for custom mufflers really really sucks. And using a tig to tack up a big heavy steel jig is also silly, but yay for thumb controls though. Are they any decent mig plasma combos like those tig plasma combos?
#259
All the research I did seemed to indicate the combo units aren't that great. Eastwoods has a couple of reasonably priced plasmas, and they have a couple good MIGs as well.
I bought a used Lincoln 25A Plasma, and it's just not enough oomph for 1/4". I think I'm going to CL it and buy one of the Eastwoods this fall...
I bought a used Lincoln 25A Plasma, and it's just not enough oomph for 1/4". I think I'm going to CL it and buy one of the Eastwoods this fall...