Welding Tips and Tricks

What are the advantages and disadvantages between a transformer welder vs. an inverter welder???

Inverters are lighter and use less power.

Transformer machines are stout, heavy and most can run all day/every day.

Stick welding is more about the guy behind the stinger. IMHO

I've got a two page article on the topic.
I've had many stick welders, and have burned many boxes of 7018, and rake is 100% right.
You can throw a "pro" on an AC225 and he can do Amazing work.
You can throw a "newb"on an inverter, and he can do amazing work.
Inverters, have smoother arcs, smoother everything.
Inverters are light, I had a Invertec V275-S, 50lbs on 220.
I also had a Airco 300, 400lbs on 220.
I wish I had never sold that Airco.
I wish I had never sold that Invertec.
Those were two of the best stick machines out there. IMO.
Just adjust the nut behind the stinger.
Now, I've got to dig myself out of the hole I just typed.
Stick is so fun with an Inverter, hot-start, dig.
I would buy another Invertec 275 in an heart beat. $1000 brand new.
I would buy another Airco 300 in a heart beat. $100 with a million hours.
To answer your question, which is better, inverter or transformer, just reread my post.
Lets keep this thread alive.
~John

rake wrote:
Stick welding is more about the guy behind the stinger. IMVHO

Wow, this is a subject with a lot of opinion. I have both as well and would say I like the inverter the best. John has said everything I would say on the actual welding, so I will defer you back to his post.
From a power stand point, the invertor does have the advantages of consuming less juice and has the portability. Less juice equals more places you could use the machine. However I have large machines I could run all day on 3/16" rod but they are locked to one location and consume a lot of power.
Again a lot of opinion and it all depends on what your particular needs are.
-Jonathan

2 good clamps and a high quality electrode and I don't much care what lies on the other end of the cables.
HINT: If you haar a a "pop"/ and no more sizzle, hook them up to the heavy red box, OK ?

What color do you like best. Blue red? I have had both and both work great! I love stick welding.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

I prefer Lincoln Arcs.
The inverter machines I've run have been a Lincoln SW 175.
Invertec V275-S, Today I was running my Lincoln PM 300, By far the best arc I've ran.
For millers, I've run a Maxstar 200, and a SW 250.
I live Lincolns best, And I'm looking for a good Invertec, again.
My 2 cents on the matter,
~John

rahtreelimbs,
What power and portability do you have/need???

I'm gonna buy an Invertec 275, next time I see one for $1000.
One of the nicest 7018 arcs out there.

About 50lbs, and solidly built.

AKweldshop wrote:rahtreelimbs,
What power and portability do you have/need???

I'm gonna buy an Invertec 275, next time I see one for $1000.
One of the nicest 7018 arcs out there.

About 50lbs, and solidly built.

I just picked up one new.awesome machine.

Good for you!!!!
Your gonna love that beast.
You get it used????

I got mine off eBay, Its was a demo with only a couple hrs, gave a $1000 for it shipped.
There was another one on there that went for $700.
Dang....
I was outbid at the last second.
I can get them for all day for $1300.
But if you see one for $1000, let me know.
One thing I'm going to start buying simple welders.
Non digital, less electronics....
You got a good welder.
Good luck.

~John

I got lucky, damn lucky.
brand new off ebay for $899.
it cost a bit extra to get it posted here, but worth it.its performance on 60/70/8010 is great, you can long arc to about 2 inches without it going out!an everlast p.o.s. with a 6010 port cant do 2mm.
I only got it a week ago and havent tried 7018 yet.
ive lots of 6 inch sched80 carbon to do next week,6010 root and 7018 out so itll get a good seeing to.
ill report back

I've burned through at least a ton (metric or English, take your pick) of 7018 on Invertec 275 machines, and learned to TIG with them as well. Damn fine machine, and quite reliable. On one job, I had 100 feet of ground lead to the structure, and as much as 350' of lead to my arm, welding hours at a time (1/8" 7018) pausing only long enough to drop a butt and load a fresh rod.

I think you'll be very pleased, especially at that price!

Steve S

wheresmejumper wrote:I got lucky, damn lucky.
brand new off ebay for $899.
it cost a bit extra to get it posted here, but worth it.its performance on 60/70/8010 is great, you can long arc to about 2 inches without it going out!an everlast p.o.s. with a 6010 port cant do 2mm.
I only got it a week ago and havent tried 7018 yet.
ive lots of 6 inch sched80 carbon to do next week,6010 root and 7018 out so itll get a good seeing to.
ill report back

Man, why didn't I see it before you???
I was in your same shoes, and kinda stuck my foot in my mouth on the Everlast forum
Asking about there powerarc 300. I'm gonna buy another 275, if you don't buy it first.
I don't want too buy an Neverlast. PERIOD(and if you don't like me for that, well just get over it.) Ever here of freedom of choice????
You just bought the best 275amp stick machine ever manufactured..
no digital readout, no plastic, no BS.
Just 6010 and 7018 awesomness.
You can resell it in 10 years for what you paid a week ago.
You have my utmost respect for buying that machine to learn on.

You are gonna become the best stick weldor, if you keep that welder and learn on it.

Good luck man.
And post up some pics of it, and some of her welds.

~John

I did a quick butt today.esab 6011 root,6013 fill n cap.
6011 a bit of a shitty rod, but goes in a lot nicer with the lincoln

Looks really good for 6011 and 6013....
I hate those rods, IMO....

Better get 5p+ 6010 and Lincoln 7018 ( I prefer Jet-LH 78)

Good luck,
~John

6013 arent bad when brand new or completely dry.they get very slaggy if not, or if the amps are a little on the cold side.you can vary the arc length a little to compensate, unlike 7018.

I have some 60 and 7010s too, ill give them a burn tomorrow with some lohi's.
Good 6010's are expensive here, works out about $130-150 for 10lbs.
esab 6011 are $120 for 45lbs, so I use them mainly practicing

Oh well,
I didn't realize where you were.
I hear some rods are more readily available in certain places....
Keep up the good work.

But when it comes to 6011 and 6013, I'm not your guy.

~John

A lot of the inverter machines don't run xx10 rod very well from what I understand. Glad to know that the Invertecs do. Where I'm at I can get fleetweld 5P+ for about $130 a 50 pound can.

Arizona SA200 wrote: Where I'm at I can get fleetweld 5P+ for about $130 a 50 pound can.

$150 here.

Transformer units are relatively simple and can last decades. They cant change the frequency but may have most other features. My transformer beast is now 40 years old. Some do have electronics for pulse, slope etc and that may be hard to maintain long-term (finding circuit boards.)

Inverters are software-controlled so they can vary the frequency. They use switching controller like a PC power supply. Also have power-factor correction for reduced current draw. They are complicated and often cant be fixed easily other than replacing expensive boards.

Logosweld wrote:Transformer units are relatively simple and can last decades. They cant change the frequency but may have most other features. My transformer beast is now 40 years old. Some do have electronics for pulse, slope etc and that may be hard to maintain long-term (finding circuit boards.)

Inverters are software-controlled so they can vary the frequency. They use switching controller like a PC power supply. Also have power-factor correction for reduced current draw. They are complicated and often cant be fixed easily other than replacing expensive boards.

Good advice.

Learned it the hard way....

~John

I like both styles for different purposes. If I had to choose only one however, it would be an old Idealarc 250, hands down.