70 Amp Arc Welder

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

If you can weld it a great little welder but do not use it to learn on. I use with a generator. Self learner go with a mig 230 vot

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I must confess , I dont have this exact unit . I have the Hobby arc 110. It is adjustable for electrodes ranging from 1/16 to 3/32 with amp output ranging from 15-75 amps when using 110v . For larger projects it can be rewired to 220v (25-115a ) to weld up to 1/8 electrodes .
When using it on the 110v setting , having it cranked all the way up to 70 amp output it has no issues welding 1/8 angle iron ( bed frame) with nice penetration using a 3/32 (6011) rod . This is about as thick as I'd go , but its nice to know that if I had to repair something heavier I could change it to 220v and melt some metal.

***NOTE***
As with any weld -PREPPING THE SEAM IS KEY-(grind clean) a monkey can run a bead if the stock is properly : removed of rust/paint/gaps set with the right rod and amp setting.

It being so small i can easily put it in my truck with a 3000w gen set and weld in the field if need be.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I have a rusted frame on 87 toy that is a project truck. welded 1/8" plate with 3/32" rods with great results. I learned gas welding in high school 25 yrs ago and forgot everything since then.
with this welder you can expect a pretty long learning curve if your new to it. it took me a few full days and several pounds of rods to get satisfactory practice welds down.

It will melt up to 3/32" and yield a 60k psi tensile if you get max penetration which is fairly difficult but can achieved with this welder
in my opinion

in conclusion this is a big bang for the buck welder if your just looking to use it for light duty 2 min use 8 min cool down. also 120v makes it very convenient

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I was thinking about buying the 90 Amp wire welder CE, but thought about the pentration of the wire. I decided to get the 70 AMP stick, and man I does the job.I tried the 1/16 rods that come with the welder they did greater on every setting. Then I went to TSC to buy some 3/32" 6013 rods and they got burnt down on the min and max settings on this welder. I had to see for myself listening to so of these reviews that it will not. We potential buyers they are lying. I somewhat a novice, but took my last shop classs in highschool about 12 years ago and that was the last time I welded. I bought this to just practice again. All I have to say is that i VALID that it will burn a 3/32. Maybe the other people metal wasn't cleaned or grounded well. I had fun today using it, and didn't know I had such excellent welding skills thanks to my 70 amp. I am ready to take on any project with this. Lastly, I don't know why it doesn't have more reviews than these 12 I have discovered. It verstilty with SS, MS, AL welding rods.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I don't write many reviews (although, I buy and test many products)... However, after reading the other reviews on this welder, I had to throw in my 2 cents. First off, it MOST CERTAINLY WILL strike 3/32 rods, I even burned a 1/8 (6013) rod just to see and YES it did weld. Okay, here's what you NEED to know... this machine is very finicky with the thicker rods, so you will need to find the sweet spot (perfect distance between surface and electrode) but once you develop a feel for it, you'll be melting stick like a champ! Make sure your surface is CLEAN and your sticks are DRY, this is extremely important. I use a small propane torch to heat my rods, but you can use a Zippo or butane lighter too. This will help!! Also, the minimum power setting is pretty much useless, so keep it on MAX, and it works fine. Yes, it's just a small hobby welder, so if you want big power, then spend more and go big! If you follow my tips, you'll have a good experience with this!
Enjoy!!
By the way, if you are new to welding, HAVE PATIENCE and learn the basics first !!

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

This was the second welder I bought from Harbor Freight. This is a little more tricky than wire feed but the welds are strong and clean when you get the hang of it. So far I welded an exhaust pipe for my dirt bike it has held up great. The only problem I've had with it is that it claims to be able to strike 3/32 electrodes and I can't get them to work. But it melts 1/16 rods just fine and those are what I mainly use. All in all I'm happy with it.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I bought the unit to do some light automotive welding. 1/16" diameter rods worked fine and, for added strength, extra beads were run. I actually wanted to buy the adjustable output buzz box but it's no longer available; so, I settled for the two settings model.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

My dad has had one of these for years. he uses it maybe every 6 months. a while back he got a golf cart and ordered a 4 seater kit to get rid of the golf club racks. the kit didnt fit right, so he stuck it to the frame and made it work with his little welder. other times he filled in breaks and cracks in his table saw or shed in the backyard and sanded the weld down then painted it to make it look good again.

if you plan on having a real project or a bigger job, buy the bigger welder. this is a just in case tool or plaything around the house.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

I have never welded, but was going to teach myself. Bought this unit, auto-dark helmet, 2 lbs of electrodes, and gloves for not much more than $100. Found it dificult to make strong bonds with the Chicago Electric 1/16" e-6013 electrodes. Could not find any 1/16" e-6011 locally, so I bought 5 lbs of 3/32". It is listed as 40-85 amp electrodes, but doesn't seem to work well with this unit.

It might have been smarter to have spent a little more for the 90 amp model so I could use fatter, more penetrating sticks. This opinion is based on 1 hour total operating time on the welder.

Comments about Chicago Electric Welding Systems 70 Amp Arc Welder:

Brought this for a friend as a wedding gift. Metal needs to be real clean to get a good arc. Don't belive that it can use a 3/32 rod because that is a joke tried three different brands of rods and no luck no matter how thick the metal. Now on the other hand 1/16 rods burn like a champ. I recommend getting a better ground clamp and rod clamp. Over all it does work and for a novice welder its a great start. Get the extended warranty it is well worth it