welding

what would be a good welder that runs on 115v stick or mig?

 

Miller Maxstar 150 is a good welding machine... but only has 20-100amp range at 115v...

Why not 230V?

 

i am interested in learning how to weld. What would be a good first welder to purchase? Something that would allow aluminum too.

 

Miller dynasty 300 xd I think. Neat little machine. Not sure if you can mig off of it. Probably can but id rather get a dedicated mig machine. Dynasty ain't cheap but its pretty solid, can do most anything, pretty compact and lightweight. We run maxstars and dynasty's at work and not too much probs considering we run it nearly everyday including Saturdays and Sundays.

I agree with the other guy. 110 will get you about 100 amps. If you're welding sheet metal and pipes maybe. Prob take forever to weld stuff. Multiple passes will mean more distortion. Dynasty can run off anything but is still dependant on your power supply.

 

115v stick is a pain.
You're stuck with 1/16" or 5/64" rod (which can be hard to find, you can't run 1/8 and don't even think about 3/16), and there's just not enough current available to work with much more than 1/16" to 1/8" mild steel stock. You can work 1/4" bar stock, but fillet welds and multiple passes are difficult because the arc really wanders. Lack of penetration is a big problem with the little guys.


In a wirefeed, if you go whole-hog with a true MIG system with gas, you are also going to be very limited in a 115v unit. You won't be able to work aluminum or stainless.
Fluxcore wire burns much hotter, and I haven't encountered anything (steel) in my hobby projects and household repairs that I can't handle (rebuilt my buddy's fence)... but the 115v units have a very short duty cycle and a long cooldown time, and you still can't do aluminum or stainless with fluxcore. Even if you could, the 115v unit isn't hot enough for aluminum.
My unit was around $250, and I have basically about 8 minutes per hour of welding time. If I hit the thermal limiter, I'm done for an hour.

 

Aluminum you're looking at either a true MIG system with gas in 240, or a TIG system. TIG is much more flexible, but also takes a lot more skill than MIG.
You aren't going to be able to work aluminum with the low current available in the 115v units. Aluminum is too good of a heat conductor. The combination of that and the cooling effect of the shielding gas makes the 115v units too cold.

 

Okay sounds like aluminum is more of a challenge than I need. I'll look into those units. I appreciate the help!