Re: Stick Welder

Your wife can save a bit if you buy from an industrial supply store. Of course Binondo offers the best prices but it is not the ideal place for non-professionals like you and I.

For light duty work even a 100A unit will do. This will be small enough to store almost anywhere and you won't need a separate breaker for one. The only thing is as you grow in your use a 100A might not be good enough. I'm not a pro so I don't know if there are techniques to get around this.

To weld metals other than regular steel you'll need to use special welding rods. I know there are special electrodes for stainless steel and cast iron though I've only used those for stainless steel. Special electrodes are a bit pricey but still affordable. I've heard of welding rods for aluminum but only the AAA welders can acceptably use them. Here's a tip: it is a lot easier to get good results welding steel if you use the welding rods for stainless steel.

I have a 300A Yamato (I think) welder at home. This is the maximum a hobbyist would need I think. As far as I know this is the smallest of the "typical" welding machines. Usually, I weld small things so it is normally set to something below 100A. I've only used it to its maximum when I made a trailer for our boat.

By the way, you'll also need an angle grinder, and don't forget the safety equipment.

Re: Stick Welder

I just bought my 1st welding machine at Alonzo St., Manila yesterday. It was also my 1st time in that area. Nakakataranta pala sa dami ng gamit dun! Before going there, I only canvassed at DIY stores and the cheapest I saw was around Php 6k.

I was choosing between a 220A portable (Php 4.4k) a 175A standard Yamato brand (Php3.8k). Portable is just slightly bigger than a car battery, and the standard was about 3-4 times bigger.

Even if the portable unit had a bigger current rating, the shop owner still recommended the Yamato because it is "heavy duty". It is bigger, but it can still be carried by 1 person. It also has a heat sensor to shut down the unit in case it overheats.

Re: Stick Welder

"Heat Senor" - that's new. Congratulations.

I guess we know where the extra bucks are going to go in the near future.

You'll also need some clamps and a "tick-tick" hammer (sorry I don't know what it is called). Also, get a couple of steel brushes.

Re: Stick Welder

tnx! i have not been to alnzo st. but i heard a lot can be bought there.

if its near raon, that'll be great.

btw, those in ACE (FUJI, i guess japan made) are rated 300A so i guess that's more than what i need around the house.

Eagle brand is 250A.

you suggest those need separate breakers. what i see from local talyers are welding machines with improvised breakers attached to it. they usually tap the electricity directly from the breaker box of the house by-passing the breakers meant for the lights and the plugs (and possibly saving them). is this a correct practice?

Re: Stick Welder

Always the idea with breakers is you want to protect the wire so breakers should always be at the junction box. My shop has a satellite junction box which if fed from a 100A breaker in the junction box in our house. The feeder from the house terminates in another 100A in the shop junction box. The welder is then tapped to a 75A (maybe 60A not sure) breaker in the shop junction box. All the breakers are rated based on the size of the wire they protect, not the loads.

Yup 300A is more than enough for household work. You can even use it for occasional heavy work but it would be wise to keep an eye (hand) on how hot the welding machine gets.

Remember stay safe, use the proper safety equipment.

Re: Stick Welder

ok thanks for the useful information!

Re: Stick Welder

I got this quote for a Stick welder:

YAMATO 200A machine = 5,500

Upgrades :

Jackson 300A Welding Rod Handle ( is this the correct term? ) - 600
Welding Cable 10m - 1,500

Total = 7,600 pesos .

Is this a good price ?

tks

Re: Stick Welder

Sounds reasonable.

Better also have them include the other stuff you'll need but don't have yet. This way you can haggle a little more. My welding stuff includes: welding mask, a "tik-tik" hammer (don't know the term, sorry) and an assortment of vise grip clamps. The clamps can be a bit costly but over the years I've noticed that these kinds of things often go on sale.

Re: Stick Welder

Yeah I think it would be wise to include if possible the other basic welding needs in order to squeeze some more discounts. If I am not mistaken the tik tik hammer is called a Chipping Hammer.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920729000P

Re: Stick Welder

Chipping Hammer - got that thanks!

If you want to splurge, I buy a auto darkening welding mask. This has been on my list and it really is not that expensive. I suggest it because I think it would make welding a lot easier. I've done a good amount of welding but I always find I have to practice a bit to get the hang of it even just after a few weeks of not having done any welding.

Re: Stick Welder

So which auto darkening Hood are you looking at? Will this work for MIG welding as well?

Re: Stick Welder

Hmmm come to think about it I can't remember which mall hardware store it was. If anyone can make suggestions that would great.

I've never used one but I suppose it would work with MIG. On the other hand, from what I understand of MIG, you might not need an auto darkening mask since starting and maintaining the arc is done automatically by the welding unit.

I'd like an auto darkening mask because I often make mistakes starting the arc with my stick welder and end up getting temporarily blinded.

Re: Stick Welder

Replace my welding cables last Saturday so I thought I'd post the costs for the benefit of others.

The cable cost P38/foot and is rated for 300A. P450 for the holder, and P200 for the ground clamp. All are industrial quality because my neighbors and our village association have made a habit of borrowing it.

[OT]: I also had the brushes and brush caps replace on my LG angle grinder. The whole cost only about P200. I was surprise that brush caps could be bought. Someone broke one of the brush caps a long time ago and I've been holding the brush in place with a rubber strap.

Re: Stick Welder

I was able to visit some hardware stores in Alozo St. near Ongpin. Some stores were closed. Those that were open offered prices that were a lot cheaper that what I first saw in ACE.

I was initially thinking of about a 200A welder but after I saw how big a 175A Yamato welder is, I'm leaning towards the min 160A. These were the prices I got:

Yamato 160A - Php3,600 to 3,800 (compact type stainless steel body)
Fuji 160A - Php3,800 (compact type stainless steel body)
PowerStar (Japan din) - Php2,500 (compact type yellow body)

Yamato 175A - around Php4,100 (with automatic shut-off)

I was almost tempted to buy the Yamato 160A but I was short in cash. Didn't bring cash for safety reasons because my main purpose was to go to Quiapo and Raon. And also, my wife was having second thoughts already even if I will be the one to spend on it.

I'll still try to compare with those from ACE.

Anyway, is the Alonzo St. near Ongpin the same as the Binondo Area? I mean, should I go to Binondo to scout for better deals? or the place I went to is Binondo already? (Obviously I'm not from Manila)

Re: Stick Welder

Those are good prices. Alonzo is not 1km from the other tool places so I suggest you go. You are right though not to bring too much cash but for the wrong reasons ... I don't carry too much because I'd end up spending it all 🙂