OK I can't deny it, I'm an idiot. T'other day I decided that I wouldn't mind having a go at welding. I did a wee bit of 'stick' arc welding at college some thirty years ago and have always wanted to have another go so I could take care of little fabrication jobs myself. Having a bit of spare cash and a 20% off offer from Ebay I decided that my best bet would be a gas/no gas Mig welder and settled on a Sealey Mightymig 240v unit but, somehow I managed to screw up and buy myself a three phase Sealey 220XTD Arc welder instead from DemonTweaks on ebay. Having no real knowledge of Welding equipment or industrial three phase electrics I need some advice. Can this be converted to 240v domestic supply? Is it worth doing or am I better trying to either persuade them to take it back or flog it off? All help very much appreciated! I am still shocked at having managed to screw up like this after hours of perusing listings and reading reviews and then somehow managing to buy entirely the wrong thing and bloody useless as it stands as well.
Hmmm.... I think I might have a 'get out of jail free' card! Re-reading the listing from DemonTweaks it clearly says that the machine can run on 230V single phase when, according the instructions in the box, that model can't and, although there is a switch on the front of the unit that is supposed to switch the unit between 230V single phase and 415V three phase, there is a post screwed in to stop the switch being moved to the 230V position. Fingers crossed I can get them to swap the unit for the Mightymig100 they sell and disaster (for my wallet) will have been averted.
Send it back. Yes 3 phase converter is possible but extremely expensive. And probably not suitable for welding use.
I have had a response from Demontweeks to say that they have checked with Sealey and that Sealey have said it can be used with 230v single phase supply but the instruction manual in the box says it can't and the machine itself is blocked form switching over to 230V. They have asked me to send some pictures which I'll do. I guess I am the first domestic user to buy one or they would already know of the problem.
Is it a three pin plug by any chance as that’s the first tell tail sign? Post a picture of the welder AND plug
How about the distance selling regs? If you received it less than 14 days ago can't you return it for refund without reason?
I think I should be OK to send it back as being 'Not as described' under ebay's terms and conditions @Samsgrandad as it clearly says on the listing that it is able to operate on 230v single phase (domestic supply) and they even responded to my message saying that they had checked with the manufacturer and been told that it was meant to be useable on 230v single phase where the Instruction booklet in with the welder clearly says "Must only be used only on a 3 phase supply".
Comon DD lets see some of your welding before taking the mick out of the rest of us used to think mine was crap ...well looks it but some is still going strong 30 years later.
Once I get myself sorted out with a decent home use unit I will update everyone on my progress. The basic welding I was instructed in at college was heavy duty arc welding on steel about ten mm thick with an industrial grade arc unit so I am guessing that it will have little similarity to using one of these domestic units on much thinner bits of metal. Going to be a learning curve I think.
Best advice i can give with arc welding is always keep you rods somewhere warm and dry as they will stick like shite to a blanket if they get damp....oh hold on didn't you say gasless mig?
Distance selling regs mean you can send it back and get a refund. They might not know about or like them but they have to suck it up. Plus if it clearly can't be used on a single phase 240v supply then they have misrepresented it!
Oh it's definitely going back as, even though I admit that I bought it in error thinking it was a different model it is definitely misrepresented on their listing so I am expecting that they will arrange for it to be picked up (I don't expect to have to spring for shipping and the bugger weighs a ton!) and then I will go down the gas/no gas mig route. I did initially want to go down the 'stick' arc route @Tricky-Dicky but from what I could determine online, as an amateur, gas/gasless Mig seems to be considered the better option especially for use on a domestic supply that can't give the big amps for serious arc welding. Never dealt with Demontweeks before but they seem to be a decent mob so I'm hopeful of a happy ending.
I have had the best luck with the small 110/240 mig units when using the 230 v and gas. The non gas/ flux core wire will not make as nice of a looking weld as the gas shielded. You will have better heat and control if you don't run it on 110. The small welders will perform better with a dedicated heavy plug/ breaker and a good cord. I have seen lots of the small welders that will run on both 110-230, but I haven't seen one that would be both single and 3 phase. That doesn't mean they don't make one, just that I haven't seen one. Are you sure it isn't just variable voltage 3 phase? That it can do 230 and 460 3 phase? Here in the States, I'm familiar with Lincoln, Miller, ESAB and Hobart. And the no name Chinese units that probably come out the other door of the same factory. Personally, I'd send it back. Doesn't seem like it should be your problem.
You had me there Jez. I was thinkin' "Feck me now those are some real nice smooth welds and they even look cool! I'll just send Jez anything I need to be welded as it'll be worth the post for that sort of craftsmanship".
My guess is that those welds were done by robotic welders. The first two could easily be done by a robot (I've watched way too much 'How It's Made'!!!) though I don't know if the last one could be done by a robot.
I suppose I should have done this earlier but I'll do it now, here is the link to the welder I bought. If you scroll down and look on the right hand side you will see that the description clearly says Super-Duty arc welder offering dual voltage input, allowing use on single phase 230V input up to the maximum that can be achieved on a 30Amp power supply. Higher performance can then be achieved by switching to 415V and connecting to an appropriate supply. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Arc-Welder-220Amp-With-Accessory-Kit-Bodyshop-Welding-Repair-220XTD/301280526858?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Oddly in the listing the actually show a different model - the 250XTD and it looks like it can run on both supplies in the image as there is no 'post' blocking the voltage switch but if you look at the pics of the unit I received below and the instruction manual you will see that it ain't meant to be used on 230v single phase.