How to Select Welding Equipment

Find one with Caps Lock off!!!!

Please turn your Cap Locks off. It sounds like you're shouting at us.

The company that powers this site, GlobalSpec, allows you to search for welding equipment by specification. If you're looking for a list of the specifications (i.e. parameters) to consider, then this link is a good place to start.

Here are some question you need to ask yourself and consider that a human duty cycle for a manual (hand held) MIG is 30% to 40%:

1. What sort of power supply do you have available? Example 230V, 110V, 400V, 415V single phase, 2 phase or 3 phase. A thing also to note is do you have a current available? Example 230V 1 phase MIG welder often need more than 15amp current draw
2. Do you need to be able to carry the machine around or is it okay for it to be on wheels? Would a remote be handy?
3. What process MIG, TIG, MMAW (SMAW) is preferred or is their a need in your shop for a machine to do serval processes (like a CC/CV machine)

You've stated that you weld anywhere from 5 to 30mm structural CMn steels pipe with fillets sizing of 3 to 10mm

You be using 1.2mm to 1.6mm (maybe 2.4mm for fluxcored) wires or if not using MIG, 3.2mm to 5mm Eletrodes this means for MIG you will machine will need to give you 320 to 390amp at ideally 30% duty cycle minimum.

What you also may consider if doing pipe work is a MIG with some sort of wave form function.

If he buys a machine as big as you recommend, he will loose his finesse at the low end. Besides, the practice of stringer bead welding is better all around for everything except speed. A CV / CC machine capable of 60% duty cycle at 200 to 250 amps would be quite adequate coverage for the parameters as described, and are available in single and 3 phase models.

Pls. try ESAB welding machine, recommend the Caddy welding machine wighs about 7Kg, with option to weld aluminum. Estimated cost at (UAE) Dhs 3500 to 4000. Said welding machine can be plug to normal house outlet as one of their advantage.

Nelson

The question suggests you may be putting the cart before the horse.

Consider this: if a friend of yours had decided to open a fine dining restaraunt and came to you enquiring: 'what kitchen equipment is best for cooking contemporary italian cuisine for up to 300 people per night?'. Would you be concerned about the success of your friends venture? If your friend has not already sourced an individual knowledgable in this type of food prep, how likely is he to budget correctly, get the correct equipment, or serve decent food in a timely fashion.

There is more to welding than having the necessary equipment and knowing the specifications required of the product.

The most appropriate answer to your question might be.... 'You should hire a competent qualified individual with experience managing a welding shop...or you should outsource that portionof the job'

Benbenben

Thanks for your guidance for how i do not ask ??

I suggest talking to a the weldind professionals at Miller and Lincoln to help you with your current and future needs

I agree that Lincoln and Miller would be a good source for this information. ESAB and Thermal are also able to furnish power sources and feeders. There may be a local welding supply distributor that could be of great help. I try to purchase my equipment from a company that will give me service and provide solutions to my welding problems. I have been in this game for nearly 50 years and it is changing so rapidly that I must contact my equipment providers very frequently.

I want a knowledgeable, RESPONSIVE supplier!