How many are converts? (to 3-phase that is)

As some of you may have notice from my posts recently, I have been desperately seeking a quality used welding machine at a resonable price.

In all my ebaying and craigslisting (don't tell my boss) I have noticed that you can pick up some very nice 3-phase welders (not to mention tables saws and band saws and compressors and jointers) at prices comparable and often lower than lesser 1-phase machines.

I am starting to contemplate a store-bought or home made rotary converter.

I guess it may be too much to go that route, but the first set up was in nice shape and with all the parts $400. There is one located nearby going on e-bay in a few hours. Has a spool gun but, apparently, no wire feeder. Current bid is $200 and I am guessing it won't go much higher.

Regarding the Idealarc tombstone AC/DC stick welders - I'd be happy to have one but have not found any yet that were close enough to pick up.

As for going to 3 phase for motor driven machines, sounds like it is a good way to go. We'll see if I live long enough to built that barn!

Thanks again.

I have 200 amps of 208v 3ph. I have three 15hp motors and numerous smaller motors. I can go to an auction and usually buy any equipment I want as most motors are 208/230/460 wired. Even the 230/460 motors work well.

I was assigned a "G" rate. That entitles me to power without a demand meter. There was no bill from the electric company for their equipment. Yes, I had to rewire the barn but there wasn't much there to begin with. The nicest feature of my service is it expandable. I now have eight 3ph subpanels. Total connected load is huge but I am careful about "turning off the lights". I have never tripped the main breaker.

I think you should talk to your electric company before messing around with phase converters. It's goin to hurt when you pinch you foot in a V-belt.

And yes, it has been cold. I wouldn't mind having back the spring weather we had in Dec and most of January ... soon enough I suppose.

• phase converter

We use an old 3 ph motor as a converter for our lathe, Bridgeport and surface grinder. I got it for $3 at a tag sale. However, I would not try to run anything big like a welder or compressor with it.

What type of welder are you considering? If it is a stick welder, the old Lincoln "tombstone" Idealarc AC/DC is a great welder that can be bought reasonably.

For DC work we use an old Lincoln SA-200 engine-driven welder that was given to us. They also can be found pretty cheap and work very well.

We have had an older Millermatic 35 Mig for years that was purchased for $600 and has also been a great welder.

If you look around, you can find good older single phase or gas driven welders that will work great without breaking the bank.

Good luck,
Scott

That said as was suggested in the first post, I wouldn't run a big welder off a converter, same for a really big compressor. Problem is that in the case of the compressor, it'll hit the converter for full power every time it starts. I'd want a converter about double the size of the compressor if I went that route. Same story with the welder. A 400amp welder might require a 30hp converter. That's about 150 amps. So you'd start with a 150 amp or better breaker and #4 or so wire... I imagine you can see where this is going.

Many big welders are single phase. I'd go that route or get an engine driven one.