One more welder thread 240V vs 120V

[jives]

Okay, tons of threads and comments on entry level welders, including my own. But I've got a different sort of question that I've not found an answer to. In essence, cheap 240V welder or better 120V welder? Consider these:

HF Chicago Electric "MIG 170" 240V MIG + Flux Core ~ $209
HF Titanium 125, 120V Flux Core ~ $199

I have a 240V circuit put in for a welder. Which one will give me a better weld, particularly for 1/4" steel? Novice welder, have a project that I want to learn to weld on.

Obviously the MIG + Flux Core gives more options, but mainly concerned with any benefit of 240V versus the better perceived quality of the Titanium.

 

[BolognaBlake]

That titanium welder is an inverter welder and much easier to use with flux core than a transformer welder will be.

 

[sz0k30]

Don't even bother with a flux core.

 

[Ign]

I'm still gonna opt for more power - if it's got 240V available to it it can be inefficient and still result in adequate penetration.

Never understood the hate for flux core. I definitely wouldn't want it as my primary in-shop process but it can produce beautiful welds if you just slow down.

 

[Dan V.]

Don't think you will find a 120v welder that will do 1/4".

And what is a "cheap" 240v - how much do you want to spend?

I am a dabbler - I play at teaching myself with a mig and tig. I have a WeldPro multi-process unit, and a YesWelder tig machine. You could consider them "cheap" welders, but they are both 120/240v capable and very nice machines IMO. Check out those brands. I was turned on to the WeldPro by my LWS.

 

[sk farmer]

there is no way in hell i would buy a 120 volt only welder if you have access to 220/240.

if you don't have access then that is another thing but i still call bs on it most times. almost every building has 240 someplace. electric stoves, electric dryers, electric water heaters. almost exclusively on 240. if you don't have 240, you should have a minimum 20 amp/120v dedicated circuit and most places wont have that either. get 240 to a welder and be done.

 

[MoonRise]

Don't think you will find a 120v welder that will do 1/4".

120V FCAW machine with about 140A output will usually be able to successfully weld 1/4" steel with something like 0.035 Lincoln NR211-MP FCAW wire. BTDT, when I had to.

But absolutely, more available power from a 240V unit will be 'better'.

You are NOT going to be able to MIG weld 1/4" steel (in short circuit transfer mode with C25 or 100% CO2) with solid wire with a 120V wire feed machine.

Heck, you might not be able to PROPERLY MIG weld (solid wire with C25 or 100% CO2 shielding gas) that 1/4" steel with some 'small' 240V machines either. The wire will (almost) always melt, but whether the arc can successfully and PROPERLY melt the parent material in order to get a CORRECT weld (adequate fusion/penetration) is another story.

And I personally would not buy an FCAW only machine.

GMAW (aka MIG) generally gives 'nicer' welds (cleaner, minimal spatter and slag and hence less clean up needed after welding) IF the machine and welding parameters are correct for the task at hand.

Most (that I know of) GMAW machines can also do FCAW welding (switch the polarity and turn off the shielding gas).

An FCAW-only machine generally has the wrong polarity for GMAW welding and also usually does not even have any provision or capability for the required shielding gas needed for GMAW (aka MIG).

GMAW and FCAW both have their uses and 'places'. I uses both, as the task and machines and available wires dictate.

And there is a BIG difference in welding capabilities from a 125-140A class machine (120V input power) to a 170-180A class machine (240V input power) to the most recent 200-210A class of machines (240V input power).

 

[DTE]

Don't even bother with a flux core.

This !

 

[rlitman]

Don't think you will find a 120v welder that will do 1/4"...

There are plenty of inverter stick welders that would fit this bill. Good FCAW wire is multipass (everything else is **** anyway), so there's that option as well, though it raises the effort bar a lot.

The huge advantage of a 120V welder is that you can take it anywhere and plug it in.
If you're only using it in your shop, 240V FTW.

 

[Jland]

It seems to me one of the things that is often over looked on here when considering tools for home use what your needs and abilities actually are. This is especially true when it comes to welders... . If you have no formal training/experience with welding then pretty much ANY welder will meet your needs. A guy that knows how to weld and has a Chicago Electric 140amp flux machine will weld circles around every guy that has a 3000.00 Miller Syncrowave 210 with no experience. If you will likely never weld anything over 1/4" then you dont need a 240v machine. If the rare occasion comes when you need to weld 3/8... use multiple passes. Most welding done at home doesnt need to meet ANSI strength standards so flux core is usually all a guy needs at home. From my experience anyway...

 

[SeisMec]

Amen Jland.

However, as others have said, you'll need a dedicated 20 amp outlet for 110V. If you need a new circuit anyway, then 220V ought to be considered. That said they do make 110V/220V machines. Lincoln K3018-2 for one and no doubt there are others. An advantage to 110V is that if you want to use it a some other location than its home in your shop (eg your buddies house), then you can probably unplug enough stuff on some circuit to make a temporarily dedicated circuit (at the risk of POing his wife/GF).