arc force

[leadpig]

how important is adjustable arc force in the real world. i will be getting a small mma for outside jobs i was thinking around 160/200 amps and the brand im looking at has
160a 4mm rods.
200a 4mm rods
or 200a adjustable arc force 5mm rods
but the price difference from 160 to 200 adjustable is over double and i honestly cant see me ever needing 5mm rods
i have very little experience with mma, but was doing a repair job last week and the wind was a pain, luckily the guy had a barn and brought the work inside for me but i wont always be so lucky lol
tia dave

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've found arc force helps with some of the sort of jobs when you struggle to get into position or can't see the weld properly.

Not found it necessary in the workshop when the pieces are set up nicely for welding but then I'm only doing general fab/farm type stuff not heavy wall pipe or anything.

Check the specs of the welders as generally, a 200a machine will have a better duty cycle at 120a than a 160a machine at 120a.
If you only ever use 120a I'd also expect the 200a to have a longer service life but that's offset by the higher initial cost, maybe heavier, and will break just as easily if you drop it.

 

[leadpig]

I've found arc force helps with some of the sort of jobs when you struggle to get into position or can't see the weld properly.

Not found it necessary in the workshop when the pieces are set up nicely for welding but then I'm only doing general fab/farm type stuff not heavy wall pipe or anything.

Check the specs of the welders as generally, a 200a machine will have a better duty cycle at 120a than a 160a machine at 120a.
If you only ever use 120a I'd also expect the 200a to have a longer service life but that's offset by the higher initial cost, maybe heavier, and will break just as easily if you drop it.

yeh tbh i was thinking about the 200a normal as its only £50 more with a 100% cycle at 155a while the 160a is at 95a

 

[hotponyshoes]

I'd go for the 200a if that's the case.
That should just run all day without worrying about it.
If you're below the 100% on the 160a you might risk it cutting out after 10 Rods when you are half way up a barn wall or something.
If you want to use long leads on site the extra power is handy as well

 

[leadpig]

I'd go for the 200a if that's the case.
That should just run all day without worrying about it.
If you're below the 100% on the 160a you might risk it cutting out after 10 Rods when you are half way up a barn wall or something.
If you want to use long leads on site the extra power is handy as well

ta m8