AC vs DC Welders

Should you buy a DC or an AC stick welder?
This is for us hobby welders, not you professional types.

[@stephensheridan6332]

Best welding advice video on you tube, straight talking and to the point, just what i was looking for after watching endless confusing videos. well done sir, regards from steve, bournemouth, england.

[@dogf4ther]

fucking love this guy

[@georgedennison3338]

"equally rusty metal" ”cheapest, nastiest rod lying around the shop" without a doubt, this IS a real life comparison!

[@millomweb]

With bits missing :(

[@diagorosmelos3187]

Haha. Loved it. I worked as a Blacksmiths apprentice and got to say Inverter welders were the game changer. Using bloody Transformer welders were like flicking a Rottweilers balls! Any chance it would jump up and bite you.I never liked holding a thin plastic handle with the national Grid buzzing through it! I felt in charge with the Inverter .

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Coolest trick you can do, is to take an old Lincoln 225 (red box) and add a 300-Amp rectifier to it...making it DC!!! Cost you $30, plus a bit of AC wiring knowledge, some terminal ends, a quick trip to Amazon, and about 1-hour of work. Then, if you know enough, you can even make this 'AC/DC' switchable!!! LOT CHEAPER than paying $700 for the AC/DC Lincoln red-box OEM welder (though not as powerful, as you end up with about 130-amps, give or take, in your 'homemade DC Lincoln). Here's the video... watch?v=_VL_ggERQjU

[@Metzger23]

They are far more efficient.

[@tamz2alcalasinfuegomipa223]

Nothing beats the classic! AC is the Best!!

[@jimme8499]

I expect you still drive around in a steam car at 4 mph.

[@rabbit73au]

Mine does both

[@jonathangraham82]

I got the Sungold inverter welder to try out, based on your video, rather than the AC buzz box. I have been happy using it to repair my cracked lawnmower deck, some gates, and other hardware. I've been able to focus less on striking and keeping an arc and more on applying good welding technique to make neat beads.

[@alexanderd.m.565]

That ending was just perfect, and the glass bottle, I'll say it's just a sponsor, so, great video!

[@benzonjhermogeno]

Thanks dude for this vid, You focki'n made me decide which one to buy.

[@neildelaney5199]

i have to agree the DC inverter welder is far superior,, easier to use, lighter, can be used as a TIG welder... but are very short lived ,even the best quality one's, where as the old AC transformer welders are basically bomb proof i have 3 all at least 45 years old and they never fail,,, but as david said for home use you should buy a DC, happy welding!!

[@MaritimeFox]

An excellent no nonsense video. I have a narrowboat and need to tackle a few minor jobs like putting a weather strip on my side hatches and other little non structural welds here and there. A DC welder will be just the job for these tasks. Thanks!

[@carloslaban1013]

This is the number 1 video about Igbt Welder...Thanks for sharing. GOD BLESS U.

[@Alasdair-Morrison]

You cracked me up @ 7:37 lol "Sweet Mother baby Jesus" :)

[@OzScout66]

HaHaHa @ 6:40 ....AC is a CUUNT to start ! ...HaHaHa !!!

[@rodmagee7895]

I am picking up my Amazon supplied Sungold 200 from the PO tomorrow. I'm happy to see how well it welded that angle iron. Lots of little projects to do now. What number was the stick you used? Thanks for the vid. New sub.

[@GRDray]

Good video.Im now thinking about a dc. I've never welded before maybe this would be good to start out on.Thank you..

[@diesalweasel]

G.R, Dray same here I'm learning to arc weld at mo. Did you purchase one ?

[@jodiebowles2110]

If you are new to your welding game i would reccomend a cheap 2nd hand yet€ name brand inverter welder like lincon, michigan, WIA ect since they are relatively cheap say 200 bucks while they are earthed properly and more reliable than a cheap Chinese machine

[@richardturner9755]

'But it's a c#$% to start' 🤣 hahaha that's my favorite word too

[@Seirryu-heart8]

Can please someone tell me if u ever hear of a phocee'nne inverter welder? I bought it earlier and im a bit worried coz i cant see it in google or here in youtube...

[@caratcranker5874]

" IT's a cunt to start". that is pure gold.. A+++.

[@brmelectric]

hey. thanks for the video. you helped me decide. Cheers mate

[@tomvana4270]

Grounds keeper Willie?

[@davionaceae]

Heya! Stumbled on your vid; was trying to figure out if an AC welder was worth it just for aluminum ... think I've got my answer. Been welding with DC Inverters for roughly a decade, literally never used AC. should keep that AC for aluminum. Great video, thx for the demo!

[@dexter2433]

for stick welding Aluminum you want DC anyways using E4043 rods DC (electrode positive) only not a AC stick welder

[@d.slater3958]

I'd rather go spool gun with my everlast mig for aluminum. I hear stick welding aluminum is difficult.

[@sephangelo4603]

Stick or arc welding aluminum works better on an inverter than on a transformer welder.

[@patrickhorvath2684]

@@safcforme That's the warm beer talking..lol

[@jodiebowles2110]

Thats fair but some of your terminology was interesting 😂. I would reccomend using mich higher amps say... 115 assuming those were 2.5mm 6013s and gringing that rust off. Also use a new rod for the inverter welder as the half used rod was hotter and well... used thus making it easier to start an arc than with a new rod. However good video though hope u keep up on your welding👌

[@bryanfaciol3917]

Sir me i ask you if the dc welder is not harm for appliances during use dc welder? im from philipines..

[@andylane1968]

thank you for testing the sungold, thats made up my mind to get 1 for my handyman business.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

As someone else pointed out, just check the fuse as at full power it might be overrating a standard UK plug.

[@greezer9716]

@@DavidMcLuckie what fuse do you recommend also does plug have to be earthed ? My new Chinese one came with 2pin plug.thinking I should just swap for 3pin. What's your advice?

[@valvenos]

Thanks for the video! Seems like I have got the same AC machine, though rebranded Luna Svets W150.. Did you use AC sticks for the AC machine?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The sticks I had were marked AC/DC. So should have worked ok for both machines. The AC machine isn't bad, it's just big and heavy.

[@valvenos]

Thank you :) will give it a try soon :)

[@minzahhh1]

I could break those with my teeth lol

[@gbs7144]

Any idea what output voltage and amps are while DC? Or the range?

[@bobisthebuilder3982]

When it comes to ground cords shorter is better. A ground wire of 3 - 5 feet or 1 - - 1.5 meters maximum. A shorter ground will allow for an upgraded gun/ stinger cable. Keep in mind the longer and thicker your cables you will have some voltage drop. A/C is mostly good for aluminum stick maybe cast iron.

[@piecetoyou8285]

Ac back and forth along the rod is better for magnetic steel less drawn to magnatised steel so won`t shift to the magnectic area, but you can percificly get AC rods , Dc electric will be pulled towards any magnetic metal ,DC suppose to get a better penertration due to electricity goes down the rod and being drawn to the metal negative clamp on the metal better. I aint a welder only a hobbiest but I don`t own DC and always wanted to try, but would also like to own a Mig welder so I could do thinner metal welding as ark welder has its limits, aspecially AC,

[@joewest1972]

No doubt DC welders are nicer but you have to give that AC welder a fair assessment by increasing the amperage. The DC welder is flowing current 100% of the time to the work with reverse polarity. The AC welder on the other hand has to alternate the flow of current back and forth so you're getting less heat to the work in a sense in the A.C. current flow. Crank up that AC welder to about 80 amps and it would help it much.

[@joewest1972]

I think.... LOL

[@pirtekguy]

Iv always used ac but recently I picked up cheap ebay dc And I haven't used my ac since The cycle time on the dc is amazing and with a 309 rod it's a pice of art work

[@308dad8]

Best argument yet for get a DC welder

[@lutchiademelo7870]

Hi, Can the orange welder be used for permanent jewellery?

[@poodown82]

Sounds daft but ive a clarke 26te arc welder. How do i tell if its AC or DC

[@VenezuelaNow]

Thanks so much for this awesome basic video, help me decide what to buy

[@ScaleModelVamp]

i bought myself a AC welder from Tradeweld, the small TX130 air cooled like your dc welder, welds exactly the same as your dc welder ;p, awesome review, thank you :)

[@grzegorz16100]

Thanks for your video it helps a lot.

[@LSD97123]

If you cranked up the amperage of the AC welder, that weld would've been a lot cleaner. cloggy unpenetrated welds and hard to start the ark. signs of low amperage

[@casper1240]

Just bought one of these inverter welders impressed so far they start immediately on striking and works perfectly on low Amps for making my Scrapart projects ,also the arc seems more bright somehow , Early days but on first impressions quite impressed .what doe Inverter mean though does it men switching from AC to DC ? sorry just an amateur welder

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The inverter is the part that takes the AC coming from the wall and makes it DC. The other kind (the big heavy ones) use a transformer that takes the AC from the wall and makes it AC you can weld with.

[@casper1240]

cheers

[@Jacob-64]

Great review ,which of the two welders can you weld the longest with . I'm on the look out for a welder just now .

[@DavidMcLuckie]

That's an excellent question. I can have a look at the duty cycles if you like.

[@Jacob-64]

David McLuckie if you would, thanks .

[@DavidMcLuckie]

So the Chinese one has a duty cycle of 60%, at 200 amps you can weld for 6 minutes then let it rest for 4. As for the SIP I can't find anything online and I gave the welder away to someone who needed it. But looking at similar machines it's about the same as the Chinese machine.

[@casper1240]

I bought an Aldi Inverter brilliant welders for the money and made in England

[@machiningbasics1729]

casper1240 REALLY !?? that’s impressive

[@TA-op3vn]

Got my answer and good laugh, thank u

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

What was the output voltage of each welder

[@MrThenry1988]

You can buy a/c rods. It helps when using a/c. I've been told welding a piece of steel thats been magnetized is a use for a/c stick. I've used a/c stick on d/c. Welds good enough. An a/c machine is better for aluminum. Just get a d/c machine if you welding rust at home. Lol.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Most of the time I'm fixing rusty metal. Rarely do I get to weld new clean metal. :)

[@rapnahedbtsrm2903]

Thanks

[@johnnorth9355]

OK, as a welding newbie I have just purchased a second hand A/C buzz box for the princely sum of £10 (you will always find me in the cheap seats if possible :-) ) and once I have the mask, rods, gloves and chipping hammer I am going to see just how hard it is to get decent welds with it. I figure that if it is crap I can write of the £10 and the other bits are re-usable with a DC inverter. A fabricator friend advises that buying good quality rods and setting the amps right for the job is the key (as is a steady hand so no booze binging the night before) - practice and experimentation are the order of the day at first. I will let you know if I set the garage alight !

[@DavidMcLuckie]

£10 is a bargain. I got the SIP Weldmate for £15 is it didn't work, was just a loose connection. I'm sure you'll weld just fine on the AC welder, I too started with one. As everyone say it's all practise. The longer you spend doing it the easier and better the welds. DC just makes it a little easier. :)

[@Derrmo]

Great comparison video. Thank you.

[@mikenco]

"The AC welds, but it's a C*** to start!" Hahaha... SOLD, I'm binning my shitty Clarke buzz-box and getting a DC welder.

[@elguero1300]

What type of rod where you using

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

Did you have the ground clamp as positive and electrode negative? If not, it will work even better that way!

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Forgive me if I'm wrong here. But I was under the impression AC swapped polarity in line with the mains frequency? So there is no positive or negative like in a DC system.

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

on the DC welder @@DavidMcLuckie

[@dibraniuk]

great! so a dc then for every job! or is there a place for ac?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

There are some jobs where AC would help. Welding magnetised metals are one of them.

[@mohamedsayed4254]

Hello Could you tell me plz what's the best and the cheapest welding kind for corners of server cabinet sheet plate 1mm (mass production). Thnx

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I'm not a fabrication or welding expert but I think a MIG welder would be what you want.

[@johncooke8959]

Spot welder would do ya,

[@matthewpreston3627]

Great video....funny and informative!

[@BestUserNameUK]

Was thinking of buying that very same Sungold. Is it still working and would you recommend it?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Used it yesterday. Still working. If it's still under £100 I'd recommend it.

[@BestUserNameUK]

Thanks for replying.

[@ariscanete5863]

what rod are you using here?

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Had me LMHO narrating the grand donning of the hood and gloves.. Oh, and Except for aluminum.

[@devidaspasalkar7291]

thank you ....you clear my concept about to buy...

[@Vo0d0o2009]

thanks for clearly demonstrate this , that was usefull to better know !!

[@TheSign2020]

HELP..!?!? bought a new cheap welding machine and it blows the fuse the moment I turn it on. What could it be

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Could be anything really. Ideally, you'd be returning it.

[@davidpeckham2515]

No need to change polarity on the ac machine, but sometimes have to on the DC.

[@panzerofthelake1623]

Can these 2 types of welders possibly melt aluminum cans and copper wires completely or is it just one of them or do they not at all?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

If you use carbon or graphite rods you can create an arc that will melt just about anything. Either type of welder can do it.

[@panzerofthelake1623]

Ok thanks

[@panzerofthelake1623]

Oh wait one more question, what metals can a normal welding rod melt?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

All of them (unless it melts hotter than the welder can make). But you'll mix whatever the rod is made of with the metal you are melting.

[@thatoneguy454c]

Gotta love a good Ole buzz box. I personally prefer the DC inverter welders though but that is just personal preference I suppose.

[@steventoner4126]

Great video, you Crack me up, you sound just like Chief Engineer Scott from the Enterprise

[@joewest1972]

Thats 80-90 amps for nice weld imo, thx for the comparisons

[@millomweb]

How do the welders' voltages compare ? I suspect the ease of striking is nothing to do with AC/DC but is a result of being a higher voltage.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Both. High voltage is what gets you a nice start. Expensive welders have a built in high voltage start. The AC problem is there is a chance you're starting at or on the AC wave as it passes through 0 volts.

[@millomweb]

@@DavidMcLuckie At 50-60 Hz, it's not going to be long before you get a peak voltage !

[@MrMillander]

Hello I’m looking at getting the sun gold welder here, is yours still alive and would you recommend it? Can’t find any videos on it or any good reviews. Cheers

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Still going. If it's still under £100 it's well worth getting. Leads could be longer, but as it's light it's easy to move around.

[@MrMillander]

David McLuckie ok thanks I think I’ll go for the purchase and it was £110 when I sent that message and now today it’s been dropped to £99!

[@charlescarabott7692]

Thinking of buying a reboot 150. Its a mig, flux core and stick DC welder in one machine

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Looks very similar to the new welder I bought. It's also an all in one machine. I find it great being able to tack things up with the MIG then flip the switch and leads and finish off with stick.

[@charlescarabott7692]

@@DavidMcLuckie yes and up to 150 amps they are quite cheap between $200-300. Some have tig welding too. I have an old telwin mig welder which i bought second hand years ago and am looking forward to see the difference between a welder of 20+ years ago and the new generation welders.

[@macomak8445]

Good video mate.....just l think AC welder is for welding aluminium...DC for carbon ...stainles...and other.....if you grind the rust weld going to be much bether...with DC....

[@tziirkq]

That's TIG.

[@920PC]

Does this go the same for gasless wire feed welders?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Unless you specifically need the ability to weld AC, DC just makes your life easier. So, yes. :)

[@carleynorthcoast1915]

I wonder if a marine battery is a better choice than an AC welder; they cost about the same new.

[@Geosbudy]

I'd like a demo on that Jack daniels by the Dc welder

[@ArcanePath360]

*Can someone please explain to me*: If a welder says 100amps 230v, how does it run with a 13A fused plug? This is confusing the crap out of me. I want to buy a welder but I'm limited to 30A to my house where I live.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

13A and 230V is the supply to the welder. The welder outputs around 40-50V, so with science, this means you can have a higher current, peaking at around 100A in your welders case.

[@dexter2433]

lower volts higher amps by way of transformer in side of the welder it is like having a large leverage bar were a small amount of power moving 3'ft can move something very heavy 6" in low amps at higher voltage can be converted to low volts but very high amps for welding

[@ArcanePath360]

Thanks, where it has been confusing is where a lot of vendors say 100 amp but don't mention the volts or that it's DC. I figured there had to be a DC converter. Anyway I bought one and it runs fine on my meager house supply. If it's 50V at 100amp =(5000W) then science says it draws 21 amps from my house. Just have to make sure I'm not running the washing machine or heating while I'm using it.

[@robinturner2300]

ArcanePath360 it's easier to think in terms of power... This is usually expressed in terms of Watts. So a 240 volt 10 amp welder would draw 240 X 10 = 2400 Watts. Using a transformer to alter the output voltage to 24v steps up the current to 100 amps so the calculation still gives the same answer 24 X 100 =2400. As the voltage drops the current rises in proportion. So long as the input current, the load, doesn't rise above 10 amps a household ring main circuit would be safe and the fuse or breaker won't blow. I use a cheap AC buzz box in my home workshop all the time typically I'd have chamfered the edges of a butt weld and used a 2.5mm rod at 90 amps. Striking an AC arc at 50 amps would also be difficult and waving the end of the rod about doesn't help. I always wear gloves and steady the rod tip with my free hand.

[@ArcanePath360]

but if the sellers don't tell you the watts it's of no use. Maybe it's different where you are by UK sellers of Chinese welders just say 100 amps. In the description they might say AC & DC without any specifics as to what this relates to. Anyway I bought one and have been using it on full power without tripping any switches so it's fine. It's obviously AC powered and converting this to DC.

[@craigedwardjensen6382]

The buzz of ac is familiar to me i weld on a Lincoln 180 welder it’s 59 years old but going strong

[@6lr6ak6]

Thing that'll happen with the DC set is arc blow, it's a pain.

[@evilcowboy]

I had a cheap 220v DC welder. It was the first one I ever bought. It welded pretty good even in flux core mode. Shielding gas could be used as an option. I sold it and then later wanted a welder again. I got the cheapest one from Harbor Freight. That one is OK for metal no thicker than 1/8 inch thick to get all the way through it in a scenario where there is not gap between the joint. Now I have decided to make a stick welder, originally I was just gonna make it straight AC but decided against it due to everyone's input on DC being better. So now it will be an inverted stick welder.

[@ReviewLife380]

DC weld is best thanks

[@casper1240]

After AC have to say DC Inverter welders rule ,would'nt go back to ac much cleaner start up and weld bead

[@adminiraneconomic6231]

I cant thank you enough!

[@luciusirving5926]

My custom welder can make rutile electrodes like 6013 and 7014 deeply penetrate metal while making TIG like beads.

[@grimcat27]

DC rods don't work well on an ac welder. Ac also has it's upsides like welding aluminum.

[@tutteredboast1268]

It's also good for preventing arc blow

[@BensWorkshop]

Out of interest, how long did the welder last or is it still running?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Still running, used it the other day.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@DavidMcLuckie cheers. There's a few of those about.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@DavidMcLuckie A while back I bought a £40 straight arc welder from Lidl which isn't bad for the money, though welding 1mm stuff is fun.

[@suryanath8755]

7:34 jack danieals😂

[@limeyrock]

I'm glad it's not just me being shite, the huge old BOC AC unit i've been using is also a cunt to start too.

[@frankkeller2649]

Hahaha..... So funny.... Love this channel

[@casper1240]

Inverter for me everytime now smoother start .better weld and also less noisy

[@jeaneric7314]

Thanks U for ze video and it is very helpfull to me ..

[@dooopersuper1497]

can you get electricuted if you hold the metal you are welding using this machine?

[@diesalweasel]

doooper super bares hands you could and the electrode is on the metal. Ive had a shock of ac welder before dc is more powerful than ac if it got more amps and voltage

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I've had a little dunt before. But it was raining, I was wet, my gloves were wet, actually everything was wet. But it's only about 50 volts.

[@dooopersuper1497]

oh... alright... thanks guys...

[@dooopersuper1497]

oh... alright... thanks guys...

[@Boemel]

I got myself a €40 ac buzzbox 90A and it scared the crap out of me. constant sticking and jumping around ... now i want a mig inverter ...

[@DavidMcLuckie]

As AVE wisely says, learn stick frist. Once you can stick weld everything else is easy.

[@SaqibAli-hh9ld]

What s is price of dc welder

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The one I bought was just under £100.

[@ChiNguyen-wf1qt]

I own a Lincoln 225 and a amico 160a. Lincoln is AC the other is DC. They both weld good has their own purpose. I believe most welder switch to inverter. I'm old school I prefer transformer welder

[@osiriso9508]

You can hold the electrode so it's not so shaky

[@DavidMcLuckie]

That was entirely my fault. I should have set it up better for filming around. But I'd still recommend anyone starting to weld to pick a DC machine.

[@tomic0ie]

I wish I watch this 5 years ago

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Just think how good a welder you'll be now.

[@therider3939]

You can buy rectifier and put in the ac welder

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I did just that - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqibkomLbdWshNE . But for someone looking to buy, I'd go for the DC everytime.

[@asharahmadarrauf]

Hii , i agree dc inverter welders are the way to go for beginners, but for heavy duty cycles they can let u off, i do have many inverters but they tend to have issues on haeavy work like some components blowing off and like that, but that transformer shit is absolutely bullet proof whateva happens its always up for a rescue, also transformers eat a lot of power increasing our bills and inverters use quite less. just my 2 cents

[@sephangelo4603]

I wish I had a generator so I can dedicate my welding time with the 4 MOT welder that I just made.

[@PaulAlford75]

Great video :)

[@RohitYadav-yc2hw]

sir Mai ece se engineering kiya hai but Mai job electrical me job karta hu sir apse request hai ki welding machine me kon se card use hote hai or working kya hai please sir ispar video banaye.

[@williamjones1556]

I got to compare my Everlast inverter welder to a transformer welder. As a hobbyist I liked the Everlast hands down. No comparison in my view.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I'd love the new Everlast multiprocess machine, AC-DC tig, stick and mig all in one unit.

[@wisecitizenry2844]

Lol! Great tutorial. Thank you, it helped me make up my mind as to what to go with. Definitely not Chinese made 😁

[@davekelly2567]

Did you use the same stick for both welds? And would the chineesium welder have started a but easier if you'd warmed the rod up with a couple of bench strikes first?

[@DavidMcLuckie]

That is an excellent question, or questions even. Sadly I cannot remember if I used one stick for both or a new one for each. I've heard running the rods a little on scrap to warm them up does help.

[@davekelly2567]

David McLuckie that's what I've found when I use my welder. When the rods are cold they can be a pain to start so I always try to put some heat in them before I arc up. I know your supposed to keep arc rods in an oven, but that's not realy practical for the amount of welding most people do.

[@diesalweasel]

Dave Kelly your misses will be cooking them for sunday dinner lol

[@davekelly2567]

James Birkin Ah, I see you've heard of her cooking before then!

[@ChiNguyen-wf1qt]

I like AC better than DC. Bought a century 295 amp AC heavy duty welder burn any rod you name it including 6010 while most inverter struggle to weld 6010

[@heavensflame4598]

But is ac durable right?- Jack daniels

[@DavidMcLuckie]

The machines themselves have very few if any electronic parts. The AC welder in the video is just an adjustable transformer in a box. It'll probably still be welding long after I'm dead.

[@mobilechief]

I've been welding with A/c for 40 years old school does the job, that said D.C is great

[@matthewjenkins1161]

Cheap Chinese welds great but you reckon it will be working next time you need it? Has it even got a 3 core mains lead? Many aren't even earthed and have paper, YES PAPER between circuit board and metal casing!!! For that money, especially for workshop use buy second hand Oxford, Cytringan, Pickhill type oil cooled AC, and if really fussy for DC buy/make a bridge rectifier. You'll strike an arc at much lower amps for a given rod size by using the 80v ocv terminal, and produce beautiful arc welds all day long. The humm is very muffled in comparison to a buzz box and just slightly louder than a fridge. Oh and did I mention that it really will weld all day long.

[@PaulAlford75]

Matthew Jenkins that sounds complicated as fuck. I'm just going to buy the Chinese one, and if it doesn't work I'll send it back.

[@matthewjenkins1161]

Nothing complicated about it at all, just an AC arc welder with 2 voltage options. Good luck sending a welder back to China. If you really want to buy one check out ones to avoid that have been stripped down on KZbin. Some are real deathtraps!

[@DavidMcLuckie]

Hi. You're probably correct on all things. But like I said in the video, this isn't for welders. This is for guys like me who weld occasionally. I trawled welding forums looking for people who had made their own rectifiers for AC welders. I didn't find anyone who could/would show how to do it cheaply or easily. So for £99 on Amazon (so Amazon deals with the problems/returns) it is so much easier just to buy a cheap inverter welder and get welding.

[@matthewjenkins1161]

I understand that, but there are good ones and bad ones. Does yours have an earth cable in the flex? There are some shockers out there. Like you I only weld occasionally, but the difference in welds between my 110a Oxford, and my 130a buzz box are night and day. Ideal in a workshop like yours and for as little as £50 on Ebay. You imply the difference in your welds is a direct result of the waveform, but if you tried an Oxford you'd realise that isn't necessarily the case.

[@DavidMcLuckie]

I don't want to argue with you as you seem a nice chap. But you must have had a shot of a DC welder and thought, yeah that's easier to use. Again I did trawl welding forums reading all the 'Should I buy an AC or DC machine' posts. For what I was doing, it was DC all the way. I'm not welding pipe nor magnetised material. Heavy gauge metal with lots of penetration, that's a job for DC. Lastly, it's light as fuck. I can walk around welding fences all day. The SIP welder is like 30kg.

[@sabutiger]

Good one David