Do I need my AC buzzbox?

[RonHopeful]

My Parweld xti 160 DC inverter finally arrived today (OK, I only ordered it a week ago, but waiting for it has made for a very long week). I've only had time to fit a plug and run a few test flat welds. My first impression is that it's certainly somehow smoother than my buzzbox. And quieter.
Anyway, I'm wondering whether to donate my 160 amp buzzbox to Tools for Self Reliance (http://www.tfsr.org/)
But I want to be sure that I won't miss it. So, are there any circumstances in which I (a novice hobbyist) am likely to need the buzzbox - especially as I can't run it at anywhere near 160 amps on my home electricity supply?

 

[Richard.]

Well the question is can the buz box do anything the parweld can't. I'd say probably not. I'm not one for keeping stuff I don't need so personally I'd be shot of it. But that's just me. Some people like to hang on to stuff even if it's not used for years and years. I'd say the best thing to do if you do decide to get shot is try and keep it in the family and donate it to someone who might be interested in learning. Unfortunately they don't fetch any money used so it's best to see someone you know enjoy it.

 

[zzr1200]

Well the question is can the buz box do anything the parweld can't. I'd say probably not.

A buzz box usually makes a good door stop, the Parweld maybe a little light on a windy day to stop the door moving....

 

[cumbriasteve]

Well about the only reason you would be keeping it is as a backup if the new one broke and as such it does have some value for that purpose, I did the same then sold the buzz box a couple of months down the line after tripping over it a few times.

It would be worth keeping if you have 'can I borrow' mate's, give them the buzzbox instead of the good un.

The charity is a nice idea and worthy cause if it is as genuine as detailed.

 

[Bill Edwards]

The only thing the buzz box can do that the Parweld may not is to be more long lasting in terms of reliability.

Now, I'm not saying your parweld will break, but as with anything electronics inverter welders can and do fail. Buzz boxes are such simple, basic devices that they rarely burn out.

 

[GeorgeB]

My Parweld xti 160 DC inverter finally arrived today (OK, I only ordered it a week ago, but waiting for it has made for a very long week). I've only had time to fit a plug and run a few test flat welds. My first impression is that it's certainly somehow smoother than my buzzbox. And quieter. Anyway, I'm wondering whether to donate my 160 amp buzzbox to Tools for Self Reliance (http://www.tfsr.org/)
But I want to be sure that I won't miss it. So, are there any circumstances in which I (a novice hobbyist) am likely to need the buzzbox - especially as I can't run it at anywhere near 160 amps on my home electricity supply?

I have three DC inverters, yet I would never dispose of my transformer-based arc welders. For a start, they supply AC which I often prefer to DC. Second, the buzz boxes are highly unlikely to stop working whereas the same cannot be said for complex inverter technology, as Bill Edwards said while I was writing. Third - one way, in my opinion, of maximising the life of a DC inverter is to hardly ever use it at anywhere near full power. So, when I need to apply a weld with a lot of current, I would nearly always use a buzz box even if I've tacked the joints using an inverter. As for running a welding machine at anywhere near 160 amps, have you tried connecting it to the cooker point in your property?

 

[Richard.]

Everything can fail. Buz boxes are much simpler/repairable and less likely to go wrong but inverters have nicer charectoristics to weld with IMO. If it was mine I wouldn't be keeping it on the fact that my new one might blow up other wise is have a garage full of stuff and no room to move. I certainly would not sell it as it's worth f all as a cash return. If it was mine it would be given with a hand full of rods to a close friend or family member as my son is a little young to be learning to weld.

 

[Maker]

Are you ever likely to need AC and not have it with the Parweld?

 

[dannyp]

problem with keeping the buzzbox as a spare is if the inverter ever blows up you'll find yourself heading into town and buying anothe rather than dusting the buzzbox off.

 

[dannyp]

i ended up robbing the leads off my 190A buzzbox tho every time i pick it up i cant help but wondering if theres copper in it and how much as its probaly worth moe in scrap than anything else

 

[chunkolini]

Tools For Self Reliance?
A very genuine charidee.
In 1990 I spent two years in Ghana with the VSO attempting to teach in a special school.
I contacted them and they sent over a big tool box of carpenters tools for the wood work teacher and his gang.
They take tired old tools, refurbish and pack them off abroad to the developing world. The idea is sustainable aid. Tools can be used to do development effectively and carry on working without more money being poured in.
In my last uk job as a care worked I ran a project collecting and sending tools onto them to be packaged up and sent abroad.
They were mostly after older hand tools, stuff that can be sharpened and reconditioned and will last in use.
Would they take welders? no idea, it was a long time ago I was in touch with them.
Contact them and see what they say.

 

[Richiew]

Even if your new inverter eventually dies on you, you wont want to go back to the buzz box after being being spoiled with decent equipment. Give it away as others have said to make some room in your workshop.

 

[RonHopeful]

Thanks all. I'll send it to TFSR.
I don't know anyone who is likely to want to weld. Most people I know say "what on earth do you want a welder for?".
Keeping the buzzbox as a spare sounds sensible but, as dannyp says, I'd probably buy another inverter - and probably persuade myself that, this time, I just need to spend a bit more money.
TSFR have been going for years. I first heard of them about 30 years ago. Their website has a list of the things they do and don't need. Stick welders and angle grinders are both things they want.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Are you ever likely to need AC and not have it with the Parweld?

Personally I'm struggling to think of any reason why you'd need AC...

Some say they prefer it to DC, but there certainly isn't anything wrong with DC, and you have the bonus of being able to reverse the polarity to minimise burn through on thin metal.
All that I can really think of are the things that you can't do on AC - such as run most 7018 nicely, 7016 etc. I can't think of anything that works better on AC.

 

[The flasher]

His Ron since buying the same welder about a year or so ago I've not used my buzz box once. I'm thinking of getting rid. Like other people have said if the parweld ever broke I would definitely get another inverter no hesitation. They are so much easier to use and I like how portable they are compared to my mig for the odd jobs away from the workshop.

 

[zzr1200]

Personally I'm struggling to think of any reason why you'd need AC...


I can't think of anything that works better on AC.

The only possible reason is if you ever suffer from severe "Arc Blow" caused by a magnetic field, as the AC arc tends to less effected than a DC arc.

PS: beaten to it by pdg...

 

[KemppiFrog]

I had my DC Tig/MMA inverter go pop and found I quite liked my old buzz box, when the MIG was not ampy enough. I am only just, (5 yrs later) getting a new DC Tig inverter, as I need it for SS. Used the buzz for big SS, but not so neat on small stuff and, lugging the buzz off to outside jobs is a bit arm stretching. But it won't be leaving home anytime soon.

 

[Richard.]

The only possible reason is if you ever suffer from severe "Arc Blow" caused by a magnetic field, as the AC arc tends to less effected than a DC arc.

PS: beaten to it by pdg...

This isn't a big deal really. 9 times out of 10 a little manipulation with the return clamp resolves arc blow. I'm with bill on this I see no advantage over a DC inverter to having an AC buz box as far as weldability is concerned.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Magnetised material?

The only possible reason is if you ever suffer from severe "Arc Blow" caused by a magnetic field, as the AC arc tends to less effected than a DC arc.

PS: beaten to it by pdg...

As Richard says, rarely is this an issue.
I've recently got a powerful magnet for holding work while tacking and feared it may be an issue when using DC, but after a little use I can say that things seem fine.

 

[awemawson]

When I was welding up 4"x 4" x 1/4" box support arms for my tractor mounted hedge flail one weekend, my Butters big mig decided that was the day it's gas valve was going to fail, so my 'standby' oil filled buzz box saved the day as there was no way I'd source a gas valve locally at a weekend. Fixed the MIG in the next few days, but the lumbering big oil filled AC welder is going nowhere - it's already proved it's worth.