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110V to 220V
- Thread starter alex123
- Start date
You're talking about spending a shitload of money and taking up a lot of space when your needs are still not all that defined.
Why not buy decent 120V stuff and try it out. See how things go, and if you just can't stand working with 120V machines, then maybe pursue other ideas.
For the welder, get a decent 120V machine and try it out. The flux core machines will get a lot of stuff done, or step up to a machine that can use gas. You may find that it does pretty well for many or most of your uses.
If not, you can sell it on CrackList very easily for very close to what you have in it.
Same for the air compressor; there's a 2HP model at HF that runs on 120V and has large enough tank that it will run an air impact or short bursts with an air hammer pretty well. You can't run a lot of stuff continuously, but it'll be pretty handy. And again, very easy to sell quickly if and when you move or get 240V somehow.
I really don't think I'll be welding thicker than 1/4" to 5/16" steel... Will the 120V welders suffice for this purpose?
smokeysevin
Well-known member
Not that it is a super great/legal idea but could you find 2 circuits, one on each leg of the breaker box and just pull the one hot leg from each? Basically make a Y adapter. In principle its basically the same thing as a 2 leg 220 breaker unless I am missing something.
Sean
Sean
Not that it is a super great/legal idea but could you find 2 circuits, one on each leg of the breaker box and just pull the one hot leg from each? Basically make a Y adapter. In principle its basically the same thing as a 2 leg 220 breaker unless I am missing something.
Sean
Not sure if I want to try that... lol
Gunfixr
Well-known member
I have a Forney 120v 140amp Flux core welder, and it welds 1/4" steel. It has both 15 and 20 amp plug capability.
You can weld thicker if you grind some bevels and run multiple passes.
You can weld thicker if you grind some bevels and run multiple passes.
Jersey Drew
Well-known member
If 5/16 is the thickest you think you will be welding then a 110v 140 machine is what you need. Forget a 240v welder.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
I appreciate you sharing those numbers. I would like to have the option to weld up to 1/4" steel on Mig . I am currently not using TIG or Stick, but based on the figures you shared, it seems that Mig will be my most power hungry of the three. With that said, if it is specified to be 240v/30A, that would work out to about 7200 running watts, at which point I'm assuming a generator like this would suffice?
To your point, IF I can get away with dong 1/4" steel on Mig, on 120v then I can purchase the generator at a later date. I don't think that gauge steel, however, can be done on 120V... but I may be wrong.
Keep in mind the HF welder you linked to is a dual voltage, so you are pushing it but it should be adequate for up to 1/4" on a 120v 20A circuit. You have plenty of welder for that thickness on 240v, even upwards of 3/8".
Also stick is the most power hungry, you are only capable of 80A with stick vs 140A with MIG, so stick requires nearly double the draw. I think you are confusing input with output.
As far as a generator, my welder is about the same power requirement, perhaps a bit more and Miller recommends a generator with a minimum of 10kW continuous output 12.5kw peak at 240v, so you are probably looking at $1500-3000 and 200-300lbs for an acceptable generator. Of course as a bonus you do get a generator that could probably run your whole house if the power goes out.