Constructive Criticism Please!

[Richard.]

yea you are right...Maybe we all should be a lot of use and still be trying to convince the OP that that little buzz box is perfect to weld that plate on a vibrating wacker plate and wait for the thread "my wacker has all cracked and fell apart"...is that any better for you?

FYI I have just pm the op offering the use of my facility's should he want. I just don't see the point in "if that was mine I'd blast it up with a 200 amp mig" I'm sure you would I would too, he would too.

 

[roofman]

i know oxford make welders but cambrige hmm dunno. university maybee

ive had an oil filled cambridge..identical to the oxford Bsparky

 

[roofman]

FYI I have just pm the op offering the use of my facility's should he want. I just don't see the point in "if that was mine I'd blast it up with a 200 amp mig" I'm sure you would I would too, he would too.

i also checked out his location as i was going to offer mine too but a bit too far..my qoute was a way of saying whats needed thats all.

 

[brightspark]

ive had an oil filled cambridge..identical to the oxford Bsparky

cant find any details on one thats why i asked

 

[Richard.]

It's an hour from me and I'll help anyone out if they need it.

 

[roofman]

cant find any details on one thats why i asked

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/the-cambridge-v-180-welder.19231/

 

[Richard.]

cant find any details on one thats why i asked

I didn't know they were a welding brand either. I assumed when he said oxford followed by Cambridge he was making a light hearted joke.

 

[awemawson]

FYI I have just pm the op offering the use of my facility's should he want. I just don't see the point in "if that was mine I'd blast it up with a 200 amp mig" I'm sure you would I would too, he would too.

You'd be very welcome to use one of my welders - I'm just down the A21 from Sevenoaks - got heavy duty 3 phase MIG and a big oil filled big AC arc welder

 

[Onoff]

I didn't know they were a welding brand either. I assumed when he said oxford followed by Cambridge he was making a light hearted joke.

Love it! I've managed to TEACH somebody something on here!

Let's not all get bent out of shape here please over this. I really appreciate the help and assistance. Yes I've bought a cheap welder and I'm trying to do a lot with it but learning a lot too.

Thanks again.

 

[brightspark]

the job can be done doing a few passes with practice

 

[PTvor]

yea you are right...Maybe we all should be a lot of use and still be trying to convince the OP that that little buzz box is perfect to weld that plate on a vibrating wacker plate and wait for the thread "my wacker has all cracked and fell apart"...is that any better for you?

I've found the thread to be treading a fine line. it's doubtful whether that welder is up to it in anyone's hands. The vintage Screwfix rods were clearly going to cause problems. I haven't heard of Superon and wouldn't be inclined to pay to find out whether they were any good or not, as I've got a few 5kg packets of rods which I know are good.

If I'd put that much effort into making the bits for a wacker plate with such magnificent results, I'd be inclined to splash out on a vac-pac of 7018s, or if my natural meanness got the better of me, shove some 7018s in the oven. There's not a hope in Hell of running 7018s on that machine.

The thread asked for constructive criticism, but I'm inclined to think if I wanted to get there I wouldn't start from here.

However, OnOff's BiL has an Oxford and presumably knows how to use it and there have been other generous offers of help.

 

[Onoff]

No complaints about the comments tbh. I got what I asked for. I'm sure the pro welders are shaking their heads at the DIY'er trying to get cheap gear to do too much.

An impluse buy as it looked small and portable for the odd little welding job which I will use it for, putting nuts on studs to make long bolts etc.

I imagine however if I'd have come on here first and said "This is what I'm thinking of buying.........." maybe I wouldn't have gone down this route.

 

[wheresmejumper]

I'm sure the pro welders are shaking their heads at the DIY'er trying to get cheap gear to do too .

almost everyone has been there

 

[Richard.]

Yep I've been there. Trying to use kit beyond it's limits. Thing is I see no reason why a 130 amp unit even a cheap one cannot run 2.5's hot enough to weld that. Perhaps I'm missing something.

 

[Richard.]

Is it OCV limitations perhaps?

 

[wheresmejumper]

I think its a simple matter of keeping the 45 degree lead angle.the first 2 or 3 inches is going good so there is hope for it.just practice practice practice

 

[Bill Edwards]

Although it's a restrictive, poor unit, I do think that welder is perfectly capable of doing what you want.
It'll hold you back at times when you need less or more power, but it'll allow metal to stick together.

Personally I'd be looking at 3.2 rods still, even though the duty cycle may limit things.
You do have a couple of inches of OK welds, don't give up.

PTvor, I can't really think why that machine couldn't run 7018 - provided they're used on DC as they would be, I think they'll run off anything.

 

[Richard.]

At 21-23 ocv I'm not sure it's gonna be much cop for anything other than rutiles. I'm not an expert on ocv and welding rods but 23 is not a lot at all.

 

[wheresmejumper]

48v ocv,the lower figures richard are working voltages

 

[Richard.]

48v ocv,the lower figures richard are working voltages

Cheers WMJ.