Got me a new welder!!

Morning guys!!

So, lastnight was day two at Hobart. Today is day three. We're still in the classroom, but I've already learned a lot. Im really loving it there so far... I'd take pictures but they're VERY strict on that, except some of the teachers will let you take pictures of your welds or the things you make, so that'll have to do

Anyways...

I recently got this nice little inverter stick welder. I love my StickMate, and the stick setting on my Precision Tig, but the problem with both of these machines is the low duty cycle, probably around 30-40% on either of them, when you're running 1/8" 7018. I hate pushing a machine past its duty cycle, but I also hate sitting there waiting for one to cool down, so I knew I needed something that could run longer.

After working with Longevity with one of their plasmas, I told the salesman I knew what I needed, and they set me up, which was VERY cool of them. I guess they like my videos lol.

This little StickWeld 250 has a 100% duty cycle, at 200 freakin amps. And 60% at 250 amps, so it DEFIANTLY can keep up. When I got it, it came wired for three-phase, but I got it setup for single phase and tried it out. This little thing is a beast, its small but it has to weigh every bit of 40-50 pounds. The knobs could be a little heavier-duty, (but that seems to be my complaint on all my welders), but aside from that, it seems pretty sweet. I know that Puddles has the Everlast version of this welder, and he thinks these inverters are best thing since sliced bread. And ya know what, he might be right about that

Aside from the current control, it has adjustable hot start, and you can adjust the arc force, how much the arc "digs" into the metal. There is also a special "plug" for when you run 6010 with it. I've been told that some little inverters don't like 6010, but with this one, you just plug the ground lead into that port and it runs it well. I don't have any 6010 to play with (I see a pilgramage to the LWS in my near future), but it does run 6011 with or without the use of the 6010 port.

Its really fun to play with, especially because prior to this, I had ZERO inverter welding experience. My plasma's are both inverters, but my old welding school had nothing but ancient dial-arcs and idealarcs, big old syncrowaves, etc. No inverters there, so I'd never used one before. Hobart, on the other hand has a fleet of Miller XMTs which I can't wait to play with

Annnnyway, I made a couple videos about my new toy. Looking forward to using it more... Enjoy the videos, guys, and happy welding


video1 video2
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I have never heard of that name before but have not bought a welder in a few years either.

I agree with you on the inverters. I have a lincoln invertec and love that machine. Thought I had something with my old dialarc but the inverter is much smoother and portable. It really wakes up those 6010's so I think you will be pleased when you get a box of them.

Lanse I found with my V350-Pro with 6010 I can get the stack of dimes look at +2.0 on the arc force with out even trying.

Wow, thats NICE!!

Sooo... Arc Force on 2? It reads up to "10"...

I'll learn all this stuff sooner or later...

Oh you're going to love that machine! :wink:
The V350-Pro goes from 0 to -10 on the arc force, or from 0 to +10, once you go past +9.5 the voltage jumps up to 70 from 60. For open root pipe with 6010 I like +9.5 on the arc force.
When Furu brought his Stickweld 250 here we discovered it liked Lincoln's Excalibur 7018 better than ESAB's Atom Arc 7018. I don't remember what we did far as 6010. I really like ESAB's Sureweld 10P, like it even better than the 10P-Plus.

This makes me want to trade my 2 yr old syncrowave 250 off for a inverter tig machine. Any suggestions?

(quoted from post at 15:24:14 11/28/12) This makes me want to trade my 2 yr old syncrowave 250 off for a inverter tig machine. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Dynasty 350, or even better Dynasty 700! 8)

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynastyseries.php

Puddles,

Do 6010 welds have to have that stack of dimes look to be correct? Does a smoother weld indicate improper technique, or other welding problems?

Stan

I don't really know Stan, I guess it's the way it has always been done. But, I do know several rig weldors, and pipeline weldors who have stated when capping with 6010 vertically uphill they run a side to side motion just like you would do with 7018. As with a lot of things in welding, what we think are rules, really are not.
I tried it on some 2 1/2-inch pipe, 5-G vertical up.

You don't always have to have the stack of dimes look but generally with 6010 you use a whipping motion(to get the best penetration) which gives the stack of dimes look. Some welders go in little circles and it has a similar effect. Most pipeline welding with XX10 rods is downhand really hot with a drag technique that is smoother but being XX10 not as smooth as 7018. Having the right machine makes a big difference in how you much weld build up you get. That's why Lincoln SA 200's, especially the older ones, are so popular for pipeline welding. When we did uphand groove welds in school using 6010, they told us to use a stepped U shaped weave. Never did much uphand 6010 on the job other than the odd root pass on pipe. Most root passes I did were roll welded with MIG and the fill and cap 7018.