Nice looking piece of work, with the paint job on it the bar looks pro. And you are very much right: never throw out something that might prove useful (if you do, you'll need it a week later).
G'day Rob, I bought the little Usewell 250 Inverter Welder after your review. I've flogged it all day long on 12mm plate with 3.2 sticks and it hasn't missed a beat. Amazed at the size of weld that can be laid in with one pass and the quality of the weld is brilliant. One thing I will say about it, it doesn't like reversed polarity and its pretty fussy on which rods it will run with. For me the Satincraft worked best but not the cheapest, certainly doesn't work well with the Bunning's home brand rods. Cam
Hi Cam, Funny you should say that. I actually used Satincraft 3.2 on the spreader beam I made up, and they worked beautifully. They are an excellent reliable rod, but not cheap. I've fed a variety of rods (including good quality Chinese) through mine without a hitch. Negative polarity seemed to work OK for me. It even welded some old deep penetration CIG rods that my AC welder just turned into sparklers - I was about to chuck them out. I generally buy brand name rods. However, if you want a good Chinese rod use SWEC. They are used a lot in industry and you often see them being flogged on Gumtree for peanuts (eg. how does $1 a Kg sound ? ). Stay away from anything else. I love the duty cycle on the Usewell, it's awesome. I've seen Aldi and Supercheap inverter welders at a similar price with a 10 and 20% duty cycle. OK you get cables as well, but the welders themselves are pretty weak. I hate to think what those Bunnings rods are ;) Cheers Rob
I see where some of the small CIGWELD units have an over voltage problem where they won't start up/or immediately shut down if the mains voltage is too high (approx 250 volt). This is exactly the voltage my mains is. No problem with the Usewell. The one thing that is annoying with the Usewell is that the control knob scale is small and it's easy to over compensate when adjusting. Also the scale is not precise as it uses block sections with the amperage printed in it. The upcoming welder review unit has a digital display, which should be better. Specs and price are about the same as the Usewell. Cheers Rob
Hi Chris, They fold up pretty well but still intrude somewhat. I got to the stage where I just had to get one to lift heavy stuff. Pretty good value - you couldn't make one for the price.
Nice looking piece of work, with the paint job on it the bar looks pro. And you are very much right: never throw out something that might prove useful (if you do, you'll need it a week later).
Great job Rob, wish I lived closer than 10,000 miles I would like to borrow that.
G'day Rob, I bought the little Usewell 250 Inverter Welder after your review. I've flogged it all day long on 12mm plate with 3.2 sticks and it hasn't missed a beat. Amazed at the size of weld that can be laid in with one pass and the quality of the weld is brilliant. One thing I will say about it, it doesn't like reversed polarity and its pretty fussy on which rods it will run with. For me the Satincraft worked best but not the cheapest, certainly doesn't work well with the Bunning's home brand rods. Cam
Hi Cam,
Funny you should say that. I actually used Satincraft 3.2 on the spreader beam I made up, and they worked beautifully. They are an excellent reliable rod, but not cheap.
I've fed a variety of rods (including good quality Chinese) through mine without a hitch. Negative polarity seemed to work OK for me. It even welded some old deep penetration CIG rods that my AC welder just turned into sparklers - I was about to chuck them out.
I generally buy brand name rods. However, if you want a good Chinese rod use SWEC. They are used a lot in industry and you often see them being flogged on Gumtree for peanuts (eg. how does $1 a Kg sound ? ). Stay away from anything else.
I love the duty cycle on the Usewell, it's awesome. I've seen Aldi and Supercheap inverter welders at a similar price with a 10 and 20% duty cycle. OK you get cables as well, but the welders themselves are pretty weak.
I hate to think what those Bunnings rods are ;)
Cheers Rob
I see where some of the small CIGWELD units have an over voltage problem where they won't start up/or immediately shut down if the mains voltage is too high (approx 250 volt). This is exactly the voltage my mains is. No problem with the Usewell.
The one thing that is annoying with the Usewell is that the control knob scale is small and it's easy to over compensate when adjusting. Also the scale is not precise as it uses block sections with the amperage printed in it.
The upcoming welder review unit has a digital display, which should be better. Specs and price are about the same as the Usewell.
Cheers Rob
That's a handy bar - and of course the paint job just adds that certain something :)
I sure does the job nicely. Wish I had space for an engine hoist!
Hi Chris,
They fold up pretty well but still intrude somewhat. I got to the stage where I just had to get one to lift heavy stuff. Pretty good value - you couldn't make one for the price.
Nice one Rob!! It looks good, very handy.
Banggood is a honey hole for Engineers tool wise.
Things seem to have really gone up a notch lately with the quality and price of this stuff.
Hi rob . I’ve just got another little bangood welder and I’ve set It up for scratch start tig welding and I’m very impressed!
Really ? Which one is it ? Model number ?
Cheers Rob
Machining Basics - yes I was wondering whether the Banggood DC welders would be suitable for mild and stainless steel TIG welding.
nice work as always, thanks for sharing
regards...keith in Swindon uk
Better than what you buy! TU!
the empire of junk she provides thanks for sharing !!
No such thing as junk. Everything is recyclable.
G'day Rob, still got that air compressor, isn't the bro-inlaw going to pick it up. Cheers Peter
Hi Peter,
He came down town to get it but had a full load and couldn't fit it in. I might have to put it on my ute next time I go up his way.
Why don't you patch your concrete?
Looks like a bought one!