On 2/11/2018 6:01 PM, BobH wrote: > On 02/11/2018 05:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote: >> On 2/11/2018 4:49 PM, BobH wrote: >>> On 02/11/2018 04:21 PM, Bob La Londe wrote: >>>> On 2/11/2018 3:21 PM, BobH wrote: >>>>> On 02/11/2018 12:36 PM, Bob La Londe wrote: >>>>>> Well I got it all setup, and I think the unit is dead. I was not able to get anything that looked like a high frequency start. No hum, no whine. Nothing. By cranking up the current on the source I was able to get an arc that sustained briefly by touch starting (yuck!), but it would just vaporize the thin metal I wanted to set this up for. That's about the same result as if I just connected the torch directly to the cracker box. I may tear it apart and see if its something easy to fix, but for now the cracker box gets put back behind my air compressor to get it out of the way. Back to MIGing. >>>>> >>>>> The old HF units used a spark gap and a resonant LC circuit. Check/clean the points in the gap and set them to the correct gap. If that doesn't fix it, the next guess (beside a blown fuse) would be the capacitors have failed. The contacts are a freebie, the capacitors not too much, but maybe worthwhile. Beyond that, probably not worth the effort. >>>>> If the HF is running correctly, on continuous, it should throw an arc 1/2". >>>>> >>>>> Current control on a crackerbox will always be an issue, because you don't have continuous control of it. >>>>> >>>>> BobH >>>> >>>> >>>> I must misunderstand then. Its my understanding that a cracker box stick welder is CC not CV. Its not very complex internally, so I'm sure it will waiver, but then again, I pushed a a little bit of rod with it back in the day, so it can't waiver that much. >>>> >>>> Stick and TIG CC >>>> MIG CV >>>> >>>> Makes me wonder about that new AC/DC Pulse MIG/TIG/STICK machine from Everlast. (well a year or so old now) >>>> >>> >>> You are correct, it is CC, what I was remembering is current adjustability in about 4 steps, up to 225A. I just looked at the ads, and it looks like it is adjustable in 5A increments, which should be adequate. It isn't foot pedal control, but it is control. >>> >>> When they say CC, it is not perfectly constant, but it is pretty good. The manuals on a lot of machines give a Volts / Amps curve if you are curious. The Constant Current feature of it is achieved via magnetic magic in the transformer core. The newer inverter type machines do have an actual current sense/regulator system, but that takes a fair amount of electronics. >>> >> >> I imagined I would have to do some stop and spot and overlap like I do with MIG since I wouldn't have a fine control, but then I already weld aluminum with MIG and that's what I've had to do with every piece of aluminum I have welded so far. Make short welds separated a ways, go back and fill in. I know starts and stops are bad, but you can only do as much as you can do. I am not going to get back to playing with this project for a while. I spent a good part of the weekend on it, and didn't really accomplish anything. Next weekend I'll likely open the box and take a poke around with a stick. This whole thing has kind given me the itch to get a brand new HF start AC/DC TIG setup. With low end 200 amp machines starting around $900 its tempting. I can't bring myself to pop $2+ grand for that multi process AC/DC Pulse MIG/TIG/STICK machine though. Besides I already have a couple MIG welders. >> >> P.S. For those guys who still think Everlast is just Harbor Freights younger brother ESAB is supposed to be coming out with a similar machine soon. Lincoln and Miller still didn't have one last time I looked. Not like those anyway. >> > Miller has had one for 5 years I think. The Multimatic machines. >
Which one is AC and DC with Pulse for MIG or TIG and even a 6010 mode in the stick settings. I see several with just DC TIG and stick and one I saw was MIG/TIG/Stick, but all DC and no pulse. The 350P a is really nice (and very expensive) pulse MIG, but its just a MIG rig. I'd own that instead of my 212 if I could afford it.
I watched Chucke2009 weld all processes with the Everlast machine on his YouTube channel last year and I looked to see if there was another machine that did everything it does back then. I didn't find one. I did find some references to the ESAB machine he mentioned that was not released yet. Now Chucke is a good welder. He could probably weld with a car battery a clothes hanger and spit for flux and make a decent looking weld, but he made ok looking welds with all the processes to my inexperienced eye. I think his comment was it was not really bad at anything, but some of his dedicated single process machines were a little better at some processes.