Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
, he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
plasma cutter .
--
Snag
"You can lead a dummy to facts
but you can't make him think."

"Snag" wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...

Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
, he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
plasma cutter .
Snag

-----------------

Good catch!

Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.

On 12/15/2022 9:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>
>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
> plasma cutter .
> Snag
>
> -----------------
>
> Good catch!
>
> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>

I can't help you with that question , but I have seen some interesting
plans based on MOT's ... (microwave oven transformers)
--
Snag
"You can lead a dummy to facts
but you can't make him think."

"Snag" wrote in message news:tngse3$3aecb$1@dont-email.me...

>On 12/15/2022 9:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>
> Good catch!
>
> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>

I can't help you with that question , but I have seen some interesting
plans based on MOT's ... (microwave oven transformers)

Snag

---------------------

I've built quite a bit of high power industrial equipment, up to 1000A and
1200VAC plus 300VDC EV batteries, and seen the damage a mistake or poor
connection can cause. Although a spot welder is simple it is considerably
beyond what I'm willing to build working alone without engineering advice.
I'm very careful with 120V and bought a megger to check insulation.

I was out sick one day and came back to find a large black burn circle on
the floor, centered on where another piece of equipment had been and
extending up onto the machine I had been working on, where I had been
standing. The story was that some newly hired junior engineers had been
trying to determine the proper phase sequencing to a power supply by holding
the 480VAC cables against the terminals, and one slipped and touched and
grenaded a large electrolytic capacitor.

One of them had previously tried to convince me that the base of a
grounded-emitter transistor would draw only microamps from a connection to a
higher voltage source, a TTL output, because that was a simplifying
assumption in the transistor model. I couldn't convince him that the base
was a forward biased diode that would short out the source.

On 12/15/2022 7:01 PM, Snag wrote:
>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
> plasma cutter .

Nice. Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon. I know. I
know. You might not have a large welding table fully tacked up ready
for a nonstop welding just now. When you do have a project like that
let us know how it goes.

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>
>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
> plasma cutter .
> Snag
>
> -----------------
>
> Good catch!
>
> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>

I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/16/2022 6:28 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngse3$3aecb$1@dont-email.me...
>
>> On 12/15/2022 9:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>
>> Good catch!
>>
>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>
>
> I can't help you with that question , but I have seen some interesting
> plans based on MOT's ... (microwave oven transformers)
>
> Snag
>
> ---------------------
>
> I've built quite a bit of high power industrial equipment, up to 1000A
> and 1200VAC plus 300VDC EV batteries, and seen the damage a mistake or
> poor connection can cause. Although a spot welder is simple it is
> considerably beyond what I'm willing to build working alone without
> engineering advice. I'm very careful with 120V and bought a megger to
> check insulation.
>
> I was out sick one day and came back to find a large black burn circle
> on the floor, centered on where another piece of equipment had been and
> extending up onto the machine I had been working on, where I had been
> standing. The story was that some newly hired junior engineers had been
> trying to determine the proper phase sequencing to a power supply by
> holding the 480VAC cables against the terminals, and one slipped and
> touched and grenaded a large electrolytic capacitor.
>
> One of them had previously tried to convince me that the base of a
> grounded-emitter transistor would draw only microamps from a connection
> to a higher voltage source, a TTL output, because that was a simplifying
> assumption in the transistor model. I couldn't convince him that the
> base was a forward biased diode that would short out the source.
>

Electricity is some funny stuff. I've mentioned this before but it may
be worth another mention. For about 10 miles of an 18 mile underground
telephone cable there was a 100KV (I think that's correct) cross country
transmission line running parallel... on the other side of the road...
A long way on the other side of the road. The induced voltage on our
telephone cable was so high it was dangerous. I didn't understand it at
the time, but we ran some sort of step down transformer to drop the
voltage. I still don't know how we overcame the noise completely. We
had physical pairs, 4 24 channel digital T carriers, and a couple 82A 6
channel analog carriers on that cable as well. I guess to some extent
that goes to how well the old 500 desk/wall sets were built. LOL.

We used to trouble shoot induced noise from distribution lines with an
AM radio. Just drive around with the truck radio tuned to signal free
frequency and listen for a change in the noise. When it spikes the
power pole nearby will almost always have a cracked insulator.

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/16/2022 10:09 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 12/15/2022 7:01 PM, Snag wrote:
>>    Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new
>> condition , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It
>> really is like new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It
>> also came with a 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add
>> some icing to the cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130
>> so my net cost was only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one
>> is 220V , so it's not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be
>> changing some power plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same
>> one . The 8ga power cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the
>> plasma cutter will become an extension cord that will work with the
>> new MIG , the TIG and the plasma cutter .
>
>
> Nice.  Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon. I know.  I
> know.  You might not have a large welding table fully tacked up ready
> for a nonstop welding just now.  When you do have a project like that
> let us know how it goes.
>
>

At 230V input it's rated 30% duty cycle at 130 amps . IIRC the
Weldpak 100 was 20% at max output of 80 amps . The main thing is it will
weld heavier stuff than the 100 does . Rated at 3/16" with shield gas ,
5/16" with flux core .
It's very seldom I need to do a marathon welding project these days .
But it's for sure this machine is more capable than the old one if I do .
--
Snag
"You can lead a dummy to facts
but you can't make him think."

On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:11:51 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
wrote:

>On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>>
>>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
>> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
>> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
>> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
>> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
>> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
>> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
>> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
>> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
>> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
>> plasma cutter .
>> Snag
>>
>> -----------------
>>
>> Good catch!
>>
>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>
>
>
>I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
>could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
>customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
>ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.

Is this the welder in question:

..<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>

I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.

Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.

It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
hole.

Joe Gwinn

"Snag" wrote in message news:tni859$3dksj$1@dont-email.me...

On 12/16/2022 10:09 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> Nice. Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon.

At 230V input it's rated 30% duty cycle at 130 amps . IIRC the
Weldpak 100 was 20% at max output of 80 amps . The main thing is it will
weld heavier stuff than the 100 does . Rated at 3/16" with shield gas ,
5/16" with flux core .
It's very seldom I need to do a marathon welding project these days .
But it's for sure this machine is more capable than the old one if I do .
Snag

-------------------------

I have a PowerMate (Century) Tote MIG rated at 75A. After practicing on the
Miller at the Voc-Tech I took it in to learn to use it better. Although I
couldn't the instructor could weld 3/16" steel with it.

Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

> ... ...
> We used to trouble shoot induced noise from distribution lines with an
> AM radio. Just drive around with the truck radio tuned to signal free
> frequency and listen for a change in the noise. When it spikes the
> power pole nearby will almost always have a cracked insulator.

The gems we get here, the pragmatism, the depth of "how to do it
knowledge" - love coming to this group...
Now you say it I can see it - but I would never have known that "trick
of the Trade".

On 12/16/2022 11:41 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tni859$3dksj$1@dont-email.me...
>
> On 12/16/2022 10:09 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> Nice.  Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon.
>
>   At 230V input it's rated 30% duty cycle at 130 amps . IIRC the
> Weldpak 100 was 20% at max output of 80 amps . The main thing is it will
> weld heavier stuff than the 100 does . Rated at 3/16" with shield gas ,
> 5/16" with flux core .
>   It's very seldom I need to do a marathon welding project these days .
> But it's for sure this machine is more capable than the old one if I do .
> Snag
>
> -------------------------
>
> I have a PowerMate (Century) Tote MIG rated at 75A. After practicing on
> the Miller at the Voc-Tech I took it in to learn to use it better.
> Although I couldn't the instructor could weld 3/16" steel with it.
>

The 100 would do 3/16 with flux core and a slow weave . With solid
wire and gas I'd get cold lap beads if I wasn't careful . It did do
3/16" OK on outside corners but that's about all .
--
Snag
"You can lead a dummy to facts
but you can't make him think."

"Joe Gwinn" wrote in message
news:ec9pphl40dqqjg8d9uo1iuaq096rtvcc0m@4ax.com...

>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>

Is this the welder in question:

..<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>

I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.

Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.

It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
hole.

Joe Gwinn

-----------------------

Yes, the 240V model since I have 240V outlets in the shop and
garage/driveway, and a heavy extension cable. Do you reduce the voltage
below half, similar to running the 240V one on 120V for thin material?

0.002" 321 SS is heat treating wrap of which I have a partial roll. Is that
what you use it for?
jsw

On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:59:23 -0600, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:

>On 12/16/2022 10:09 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> On 12/15/2022 7:01 PM, Snag wrote:
>>>    Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new
>>> condition , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It
>>> really is like new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It
>>> also came with a 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add
>>> some icing to the cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130
>>> so my net cost was only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one
>>> is 220V , so it's not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be
>>> changing some power plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same
>>> one . The 8ga power cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the
>>> plasma cutter will become an extension cord that will work with the
>>> new MIG , the TIG and the plasma cutter .
>>
>>
>> Nice.  Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon. I know.  I
>> know.  You might not have a large welding table fully tacked up ready
>> for a nonstop welding just now.  When you do have a project like that
>> let us know how it goes.
>>
>>
>
> At 230V input it's rated 30% duty cycle at 130 amps . IIRC the
>Weldpak 100 was 20% at max output of 80 amps . The main thing is it will
>weld heavier stuff than the 100 does . Rated at 3/16" with shield gas ,
>5/16" with flux core .
> It's very seldom I need to do a marathon welding project these days .
>But it's for sure this machine is more capable than the old one if I do .
With the 225 amp Lincoln AC/DC tombstone you have a somewhat enforced
duty cycle - you gotta stop and reload the stinger every once in a
while. I went from an old Emmerson 175 to the Lincoln a couple
decades ago - actually I lent the Emerson to my younger brother and
did without for a few years until I got a deal I couldn't turn down on
the Lincoln (300 Canabux). I think my brother still has the old
Emerson.
I had a small job to do on a shipping container a few weeks ago - too
far from a 220 volt plug to use the Lincoln so I would have had to
haul the genny out as well - friend said he had a 110 volt stick
welder he could borrow from his neighbour and a 100 ft #12 externsion
cord. what a useless POS that thing was - even with 1/8" rod .I'm sure
I wasn't getting more than 50 amps and I managed to trip the 20 amp
breaker twice.. The work of loading the genny and the tombstone onto
a trailer would have been worth it for the aggravation

On 12/16/2022 11:07 AM, Richard Smith wrote:
> Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:
>
>> ... ...
>> We used to trouble shoot induced noise from distribution lines with an
>> AM radio. Just drive around with the truck radio tuned to signal free
>> frequency and listen for a change in the noise. When it spikes the
>> power pole nearby will almost always have a cracked insulator.
>
> The gems we get here, the pragmatism, the depth of "how to do it
> knowledge" - love coming to this group...
> Now you say it I can see it - but I would never have known that "trick
> of the Trade".

During dove season we could just look for feathers on the ground. LOL.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/16/2022 10:12 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:11:51 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>>>
>>>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
>>> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
>>> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
>>> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
>>> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
>>> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
>>> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
>>> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
>>> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
>>> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
>>> plasma cutter .
>>> Snag
>>>
>>> -----------------
>>>
>>> Good catch!
>>>
>>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>>
>>
>>
>> I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
>> could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
>> customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
>> ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.
>
> Is this the welder in question:
>
> .<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>
>
> I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.
>
> Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.
>
> It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
> transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
> dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
> 0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
> hole.
>
> Joe Gwinn

Do you use the 120V one you linked to or the 240V version?

I happened to have a variac on the shelf I had planned to use for a
plastic bending setup, but then I just used polycarbonate which I can at
bend room temperature in the sheet metal brake.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:28:44 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
<muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

>"Joe Gwinn" wrote in message
>news:ec9pphl40dqqjg8d9uo1iuaq096rtvcc0m@4ax.com...
>
>>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>>
>
>Is this the welder in question:
>
>.<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>
>
>I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.
>
>Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.
>
>It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
>transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
>dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
>0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
>hole.
>
>Joe Gwinn
>
>-----------------------
>
>Yes, the 240V model since I have 240V outlets in the shop and
>garage/driveway, and a heavy extension cable. Do you reduce the voltage
>below half, similar to running the 240V one on 120V for thin material?

I have only the 110 Vac version; although I do have 220 Vac available,
I didn't need the bigger unit.

>0.002" 321 SS is heat treating wrap of which I have a partial roll. Is that
>what you use it for?

No, the heat treating wrap was just a handy test case.

Joe Gwinn

On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:19:06 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
wrote:

>On 12/16/2022 10:12 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:11:51 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>
>>>>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
>>>> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
>>>> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
>>>> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
>>>> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
>>>> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
>>>> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
>>>> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
>>>> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
>>>> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
>>>> plasma cutter .
>>>> Snag
>>>>
>>>> -----------------
>>>>
>>>> Good catch!
>>>>
>>>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>>>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>>>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>>>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
>>> could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
>>> customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
>>> ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.
>>
>> Is this the welder in question:
>>
>> .<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>
>>
>> I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.
>>
>> Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.
>>
>> It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
>> transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
>> dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
>> 0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
>> hole.
>>
>> Joe Gwinn
>
>Do you use the 120V one you linked to or the 240V version?

120 Vac.

>I happened to have a variac on the shelf I had planned to use for a
>plastic bending setup, but then I just used polycarbonate which I can at
>bend room temperature in the sheet metal brake.

Variacs are pretty handy.

Thin foil welds pretty fast, so one just operates the switch fast,
without looking to see if the weld is done yet. An old photo printing
timer (for an enlarger) would also work.

Joe Gwinn

On 12/16/2022 3:48 PM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:19:06 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/16/2022 10:12 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:11:51 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>>
>>>>>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
>>>>> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
>>>>> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
>>>>> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
>>>>> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
>>>>> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
>>>>> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
>>>>> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
>>>>> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
>>>>> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
>>>>> plasma cutter .
>>>>> Snag
>>>>>
>>>>> -----------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Good catch!
>>>>>
>>>>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>>>>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>>>>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>>>>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
>>>> could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
>>>> customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
>>>> ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.
>>>
>>> Is this the welder in question:
>>>
>>> .<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>
>>>
>>> I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.
>>>
>>> Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.
>>>
>>> It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
>>> transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
>>> dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
>>> 0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
>>> hole.
>>>
>>> Joe Gwinn
>>
>> Do you use the 120V one you linked to or the 240V version?
>
> 120 Vac.
>
>
>> I happened to have a variac on the shelf I had planned to use for a
>> plastic bending setup, but then I just used polycarbonate which I can at
>> bend room temperature in the sheet metal brake.
>
> Variacs are pretty handy.
>
> Thin foil welds pretty fast, so one just operates the switch fast,
> without looking to see if the weld is done yet. An old photo printing
> timer (for an enlarger) would also work.
>
> Joe Gwinn

I wonder how my dad would feel about me getting into his old dark room
stuff to "borrow" his enlarger and scavenge for parts. LOL.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 12/16/2022 3:01 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:59:23 -0600, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:
>
>> On 12/16/2022 10:09 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>> On 12/15/2022 7:01 PM, Snag wrote:
>>>>    Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new
>>>> condition , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It
>>>> really is like new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It
>>>> also came with a 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add
>>>> some icing to the cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130
>>>> so my net cost was only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one
>>>> is 220V , so it's not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be
>>>> changing some power plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same
>>>> one . The 8ga power cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the
>>>> plasma cutter will become an extension cord that will work with the
>>>> new MIG , the TIG and the plasma cutter .
>>>
>>>
>>> Nice.  Now lets hear about duty cycle on a welding marathon. I know.  I
>>> know.  You might not have a large welding table fully tacked up ready
>>> for a nonstop welding just now.  When you do have a project like that
>>> let us know how it goes.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> At 230V input it's rated 30% duty cycle at 130 amps . IIRC the
>> Weldpak 100 was 20% at max output of 80 amps . The main thing is it will
>> weld heavier stuff than the 100 does . Rated at 3/16" with shield gas ,
>> 5/16" with flux core .
>> It's very seldom I need to do a marathon welding project these days .
>> But it's for sure this machine is more capable than the old one if I do .
> With the 225 amp Lincoln AC/DC tombstone you have a somewhat enforced
> duty cycle - you gotta stop and reload the stinger every once in a
> while. I went from an old Emmerson 175 to the Lincoln a couple
> decades ago - actually I lent the Emerson to my younger brother and
> did without for a few years until I got a deal I couldn't turn down on
> the Lincoln (300 Canabux). I think my brother still has the old
> Emerson.
> I had a small job to do on a shipping container a few weeks ago - too
> far from a 220 volt plug to use the Lincoln so I would have had to
> haul the genny out as well - friend said he had a 110 volt stick
> welder he could borrow from his neighbour and a 100 ft #12 externsion
> cord. what a useless POS that thing was - even with 1/8" rod .I'm sure
> I wasn't getting more than 50 amps and I managed to trip the 20 amp
> breaker twice.. The work of loading the genny and the tombstone onto
> a trailer would have been worth it for the aggravation

I've got a Lincoln AC only buzzbox, and I have definitely run up against
its duty cycle welding well casing together. My life would have been so
much easier back then if I had known that was what the problem was. So
much about welding over the years I thought was my own inadequacies only
to find out later it was the limitations of the machine. I guess the
problem is I learned to weld with a torch, where the duty cycle is when
you run out of acetylene.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:30:10 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
wrote:

>On 12/16/2022 3:48 PM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:19:06 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/16/2022 10:12 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:11:51 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 12/15/2022 8:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>>>>>> "Snag"  wrote in message news:tngjgu$3715a$1@dont-email.me...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>   Well , new to me . Found a Lincoln Weldpak 175 in like-new condition
>>>>>> , he was asking $375 I offered $275 and he accepted . It really is like
>>>>>> new , contactor tip is clean and so is the nozzle . It also came with a
>>>>>> 2lb roll of flux core and a regulator . And to add some icing to the
>>>>>> cake , I sold my Weldpak 100 to a neighbor for $130 so my net cost was
>>>>>> only 145 bucks . The only downside is that this one is 220V , so it's
>>>>>> not as portable as the 110V Weldpak 100 . I'll be changing some power
>>>>>> plugs out so all the 220 stuff will use the same one . The 8ga power
>>>>>> cord (from the panel to a female plug) for the plasma cutter will become
>>>>>> an extension cord that will work with the new MIG , the TIG and the
>>>>>> plasma cutter .
>>>>>> Snag
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Good catch!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
>>>>>> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
>>>>>> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
>>>>>> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I do not know, but I sure would like to. There are some products I
>>>>> could sell if I felt I could recommend a low cost machine to my
>>>>> customers to assemble. There are tax reasons I would just want to sell
>>>>> ready to weld parts and an assembly jig.
>>>>
>>>> Is this the welder in question:
>>>>
>>>> .<https://www.harborfreight.com/120v-spot-welder-61205.html>
>>>>
>>>> I have one of these, and it does work pretty well.
>>>>
>>>> Made in Armenia, not China, at least when I bought it.
>>>>
>>>> It has zero electronics - it is just a very large and heavy
>>>> transformer, so I often run it off a variac (not a thyristor light
>>>> dimmer) to control the welding power. This allows me to spot weld
>>>> 0.002" stainless (321) steel foil strips together without burning a
>>>> hole.
>>>>
>>>> Joe Gwinn
>>>
>>> Do you use the 120V one you linked to or the 240V version?
>>
>> 120 Vac.
>>
>>
>>> I happened to have a variac on the shelf I had planned to use for a
>>> plastic bending setup, but then I just used polycarbonate which I can at
>>> bend room temperature in the sheet metal brake.
>>
>> Variacs are pretty handy.
>>
>> Thin foil welds pretty fast, so one just operates the switch fast,
>> without looking to see if the weld is done yet. An old photo printing
>> timer (for an enlarger) would also work.
>>
>> Joe Gwinn
>
>
>I wonder how my dad would feel about me getting into his old dark room
>stuff to "borrow" his enlarger and scavenge for parts. LOL.
>
>--
>Bob La Londe
>CNC Molds N Stuff

Anyone need a good 25 amp 120 volt or a 5 amp 240 Variac???

Only problem is they are up here in Kitchener Ontario

On Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 10:33:52 PM UTC-5, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> Speaking of new welders, a couple of impending projects are pushing me
> toward buying a spot welder. I've used an industrial one and have some
> experience with adjusting the settings. What's the opinion of the 240V
> Harbor Freight one? It lacks a timer but they aren't that hard to make.

There's nothing much wrong with it. But the transformer inside mine is
wired with aluminum, and the connection to the incoming copper wiring was
rather wretched: they crimped a thin copper sleeve around the aluminum
wire and soldered to that. Expect it to fail. It can be fixed with either a
heavy crimped connection or aluminum-compatible solder and flux.

As for a timer, you don't need to make one; they're readily available as
cheap circuit boards from China. But you will likely need to
make an enclosure for it.

The wiring for the 240V version is thin enough to make it seem like the
120V version might be just as powerful (as their specs claim).

Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> writes:

>
> During dove season we could just look for feathers on the ground. LOL.

Oh no!!! How things are.

I've put out a feeder with just "vegetarian" bird seed to try to help
the doves nesting on the side of my house, behind an old satellite
dish.
I love to see them, but as ever it could be shown that life is hard,
seeing their travails really brings it home.

"Norman Yarvin" wrote in message
news:86e27dc8-cfd6-4ca5-867f-e9b4e4c099a5n@googlegroups.com...

There's nothing much wrong with it. But the transformer inside mine is
wired with aluminum, and the connection to the incoming copper wiring was
rather wretched: they crimped a thin copper sleeve around the aluminum
wire and soldered to that. Expect it to fail. It can be fixed with either
a heavy crimped connection or aluminum-compatible solder and flux.

As for a timer, you don't need to make one; they're readily available as
cheap circuit boards from China. But you will likely need to
make an enclosure for it.

The wiring for the 240V version is thin enough to make it seem like the
120V version might be just as powerful (as their specs claim).

-------------------
Thanks.

The HF website specs claim 1.5KVA, 1/8" steel for the 120V model and 2.5KVA,
3/16" for the 240V, though both weigh the same. The difference may be
degrading the 120V model to fall within wall outlet and extension cord
capacity. I'm equipped to machine custom electrical connectors and fabricate
sheet metal housings.

I have a 20A, 120V Variac and large zero-crossing solid state relays to
control power and duration, and for brief pulses the line current may fall
within the overload curve (Figure A) for my 9A, 240V Powerstat.
https://datasheet.octopart.com/10C-Superior-Electric-datasheet-5868.pdf

If the Variac brush wears or burns out replacements are scarce and
expensive, or tricky to mill from larger brittle carbon brushes. They need
to be a precise press fit into the brass holder, or can be glued with silver
epoxy. I made the carbon for a replacement VBT-10 brush thicker and stronger
than the original and filed the tip to the original's width. As it wears it
will need filing again, so it doesn't short turns.

The Ox-Gard I use on my TV antenna keeps its aluminum electrical contacts
good for several years outdoors. I notice the signal loss when the contact
resistance rises to several tenths of an Ohm and bring it down (from 50')
for cleaning, back to a few milliOhms. The original rivet joints are now all
aluminum bolts so it comes completely apart.
jsw

"Richard Smith" wrote in message news:ly4jtul3c9.fsf@void.com...

I love to see them, but as ever it could be shown that life is hard,
seeing their travails really brings it home.

-------------------------

Subsistence was hard for humans until quite recently, my father was a
barefoot Appalachian farm boy whose parents didn't have electricity or
running water until he installed them in the 1970's. I've carried a kettle
of hot water out to thaw and prime the water pump on a freezing morning. My
mother told me how she hated having to pick the worst looking potatoes out
of the barrel to eat, so the supply would last until the next crop. Now
people have forgotten what the advances gave us and oppose them, for
instance vaccines, electricity, fertilizer.