Portable Stick Welders

[Unplanned Tourist]

Originally Posted by JETAV8R

Thanks for being one of a few who answered my question.

A lot of people don't understand that some of us are capable of fixing most stuff if we have the tools.

ps. I meant 11018 welding rod for high tensile steel. Good all position rod for repairs and tools.

[mrfix]

I carry a miller maxstar 161 dual voltage stick welder, its no bigger than a lunch box and weighs about 9 pounds. I carry it, 15' of light duty ground and electrode cables and some 6011 and 7018. 3/32" rod. The welder will put out 110 amps when plugged into a 120 volt 20 amp receptacle and a full 161 amps on 220. These are DC welding machines capable of structural welds.

[edge68474]

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

I worked as a HD truck mechanic for 40 years, so got in my share of welding. I have even extended truck frames that had to pull up to 74,800 pounds, so had to be decent welds.

I recently found a DC inverter welder that runs off of a 20 amp 120V AC outlet that lays down surprisingly decent beads with 7018 3/32 rod. It might even work for 1018, but I haven't needed anything that strong. Bonus is it only weighs 10 pounds.

Here's a link and picture of it from Princess Auto, a Canadian store. They are sold under other names also, so look around. Probably Harbor Freight or some similar store.

I got it on sale for $100.00 CAD, and bought a proper rod holder to go with it for another $20.00. It won't be a production welder, but will get me out of a jam if I need some light welding done. And you can always do multiple passes if you need to weld something heavier.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/75a-...t/PA0008785008

Hi Norman. I will put myself in the Dobber class. I think I can probably Dob pretty well, lol. I have used welders before and not very much, but, I have wanted a welder to do small stuff around the place. My question to you is, what do you call a proper holder and can you get it at Harbor Freight? I appreciate your input. Thank you.

[Nwcid]

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

Looks like a new spring pack is in order there. Welding will get you to a shop, or maybe home, but without proper heat treating after the welding, it will probably break next to the weld. But I would tackle it to get me home.

That right there is a good reason to carry a small welder.

No welding, I reapplied the spring. I had all of the tools with me. I broke on a Saturday night and had to wait until Monday morning when a store opened. Took less than an hour once I had the part.

[Old-Biscuit]

Broken Leaf Spring....chain it up and tow it

Broken shackle......chain up the axle and tow it

[twinboat]

Anyone who doesn't think a 50 amp RV outlet is 240 volts should read the outlet or your 50 amp shore cord plug.

It's written right on the outlets and plugs.

Actually it's 125/250 volt, 50 amps.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Originally Posted by edge68474

Hi Norman. I will put myself in the Dobber class. I think I can probably Dob pretty well, lol. I have used welders before and not very much, but, I have wanted a welder to do small stuff around the place. My question to you is, what do you call a proper holder and can you get it at Harbor Freight? I appreciate your input. Thank you.

This is what I bought. I don't like the one that came with the welder (clamp style)

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by mrfix

I carry a miller maxstar 161 dual voltage stick welder, its no bigger than a lunch box and weighs about 9 pounds. I carry it, 15' of light duty ground and electrode cables and some 6011 and 7018. 3/32" rod. The welder will put out 110 amps when plugged into a 120 volt 20 amp receptacle and a full 161 amps on 220. These are DC welding machines capable of structural welds.

I have the STL 1500 and it is wonderful on 240. Have you been able to make successful structural welds on 120 volts? Just curious, I haven't tried.

[edge68474]

Originally Posted by Unplanned Tourist

This is what I bought. I don't like the one that came with the welder (clamp style)

Thank you Norman. Pictures DO help. Cheers.

[mrfix]

yes, using multipass stringer beads, the little inverter rocks, it's not cheap but if you are a welder you can't beat it, it will get you out of a jamb. I can run it plugged into my wet bay outlet while running the generator and get 70 amps out of it. I have helped many rv'rs with it, it's small , light and easy to store, It stays in the basement of the rv, where I go, it goes because everything man made will eventually break at most inconvenient time.

[JETAV8R]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Anyone who doesn't think a 50 amp RV outlet is 240 volts should read the outlet or your 50 amp shore cord plug.

It's written right on the outlets and plugs.

Actually it's 125/250 volt, 50 amps.

Okay, great. Since the post has 220 volts, can you tell me how to wire an adapter to deliver 220v to a welder. I can buy the 50AMP male plug and a 220v female. Please tell me how to wire it so I can power a 220v welder from the RV post. I already have permission from the park owner.

[Nwcid]

Originally Posted by JETAV8R

Okay, great. Since the post has 220 volts, can you tell me how to wire an adapter to deliver 220v to a welder. I can buy the 50AMP male plug and a 220v female. Please tell me how to wire it so I can power a 220v welder from the RV post. I already have permission from the park owner.

What plug does your welder have on it since it apparently does not have a 14-50 plug on it. No-one can tell you how to wire your adapter without knowing what plug you have.

Here is a chart to identify what plug you have, https://www.americord.com/nema-charts If you are not sure, post a picture.

On one side you you will need a 14-50 plug to hook to the 50 amp outlet (which is standard 4 prong receptacle not just "RV") and you will need a proper receptacle for your welder.

[JETAV8R]

Originally Posted by Nwcid

What plug does your welder have on it since it apparently does not have a 14-50 plug on it. No-one can tell you how to wire your adapter without knowing what plug you have.

Here is a chart to identify what plug you have, https://www.americord.com/nema-charts If you are not sure, post a picture.

On one side you you will need a 14-50 plug to hook to the 50 amp outlet (which is standard 4 prong receptacle not just "RV") and you will need a proper receptacle for your welder.

For this welder.

https://www.harborfreight.com/stick-...der-64978.html

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by JETAV8R

For this welder.

https://www.harborfreight.com/stick-...der-64978.html

That looks like it has a standard 6-50P like most welders. Regardless when making an adapter from a 14-50 which is 240/120 going to a straight 240 hookup you only need the two hots and the ground, you don't need the neutral.
Easiest way is to buy a 4 wire range cord and connect the proper receptacle for your machine to the other end.
Here is one I made for a 30 amp dryer outlet, yours will look the same except it will have a 50 amp plug (14-50P) and #8 wire. The neutral (white) is cut off in the 6-50R surface mount receptacle, not needed. This works for all my welding machines, even my Miller dual voltage inverter (when using on 240).