Page 2 of 2

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:52 pm
by lumley32
as for the current draw it will only be at 15 amps when the welder is flat out, so if you only gonna weld at 50% then you might be able to get away with a 13amp plug. but it depends on what sort of duty cycle its rated at!

as for the inverters being better, i don't agree, i have a miller aerowave TIG and its by far the best welder i have ever used. much smother than inverters and will work fine down to 1amp! even welded coke can sides together!

why use such thick walled tube? what's that 5mm? surely the added weight will negate the HP increase? on our stuff we try to go down to 1mm wall but the bends arnt always available!

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:35 pm
by Jon K
lumley32 wrote:as for the current draw it will only be at 15 amps when the welder is flat out, so if you only gonna weld at 50% then you might be able to get away with a 13amp plug. but it depends on what sort of duty cycle its rated at!

as for the inverters being better, i don't agree, i have a miller aerowave TIG and its by far the best welder i have ever used. much smother than inverters and will work fine down to 1amp! even welded coke can sides together!

why use such thick walled tube? what's that 5mm? surely the added weight will negate the HP increase? on our stuff we try to go down to 1mm wall but the bends arnt always available!
The new inverters (higher end) are awesome. Also good down to low, low amps but half the size of similar transformer machines.

We run 0.109" tubing which is 2.7mm wall thickness. We find it much more durable than thin wall on the high output turbo setups especially on street cars.

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:05 pm
by stevieturbo
Ive had no issue running my welder flat out off a 13A plug. Duration of any high current draw will be limited anyway.
I always use plain Argoshield light for the MIG, Never had an issue with mild or stainless. I think it's classed as 93% argon with about 5% CO2 and 2% Oxygen

Also dont forget when comparing to US stuff. We use 240v here, so 13A/240v will carry a lot more power than US 110v/13A

Although I think you also have access to 230v in the US for some stuff ?

I really wouldnt even contemplate the little CO2 bottles. Even some of the bigger BOC bottles dont last long if you use it a lot. I use the fat 4ft bottle, about 10-12" diameter.
It's just a pain in the hole paying rental for it. Although you'll have far more choice in England than I do here. Nobody else offers the damn gas !


http://www.weldequip.com/mig-welders.htm

Thermalarc Fabricator

http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/MIG_Welder/T ... _181i.html

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:10 pm
by T66
If you cut the pipes to your satisfaction, your small mig will tack the parts in place, ie form your bends etc. Then take the tacked pipes to a friend with an eye for welding.


Get them done with a tig which gives nice smooth internal welds.

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:35 pm
by Jon K
T66 wrote:If you cut the pipes to your satisfaction, your small mig will tack the parts in place, ie form your bends etc. Then take the tacked pipes to a friend with an eye for welding.


Get them done with a tig which gives nice smooth internal welds.
Yeah if you MIG though, you want to MIG with a stainless setup which is pretty % and "exotic" for MIG work.

I just picked up a Miller Diversion 180 and have been LOVING it.

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:25 pm
by Simon P.
I've always been a Miller guy myself! ;) I use a Millermatic 252 for all my MIG work and a Syncrowave 350 for TIG. The 252 is really versatile and is run single phase at 3 different voltages which means I can run it on a 600V/15amp plug at work and then bring it home in the truck and run it 220V/30amp with just a simple tap swap. I pre-wired my garage for the 30A circuit, it didn't come that way! :lol:
The Synchrowave is a pre-digital readout unit which is just a workhorse. I swear by the damn thing it's so reliable. But it weights close to 600lbs and needs a cooler to run so I leave it at work... :roll:

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 5:36 am
by x30xe
Thanks Jon sharing this !

I've tried alot to make 3-1 collectors by hand tools, but it won't just work. Now I understand the correct angles and how to make precise job with very simple tools...

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:50 pm
by 86sixsix
good read, that. purchase double - love it :-)

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 6:43 am
by mefmotorsport
I have a 185A Single phase Murex Mig welder machine, I had to "uprate" the 13A plug in the mains lead, on high settings it sometimes trips the 32A circuit breaker in my Garage consumer unit. I think it's normal for a ring main that feeds your 13A outlets to use a 32A MCB. The mains cable that comes on this welder is nice and thick. I've previously had 2 Cebora 180A machines but since I upgraded to the Murex about 5 years ago I've never looked back, it's superb.

I also have a Cebora 200A AC/DC Tig welder (single phase too) that I mainly use for welding alluminium with pure Argon, it doesn't really get used so much, I should use it more to get more experience but never seem to have the time! I recently got rid of the large Argon bottle back to BOC as the rental was crippling! I found a local company who keep smaller bottles of Argon, a one off deposit on the bottle and no rental fee, much more affordable.

I still have the Agoshield on rental from BOC but that will be going back as soon as it's empty and I'll get something equivalent from the local guy too, it's so much more cost effective.

Martin

Re: Excellent method for creating merge collectors!

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:10 pm
by The Zedhed
Jon K wrote:
Was up until 3:30 - 4:00 AM this morning finishing this up:

Image
Collector Design 2 by Jon Kensy, on Flickr

Jon that looks awesome, very cool ;)