Well, I bought another crappy buzz box welder after all.
$30 bought me a Chicago electric 120/240 volt 70/140 amp welder.
I have already torn into in and will be modifying it extensively for the sake of trying.
The cord that came with it was 16ga, it's now 12ga.
I will also be reworking the voltage selector switch so that I can run 140 amps at 120 volts. This is only possible as that primary winding is 4 tap.
I will post pictures I promise.
I can also improve the duty cycle by adding a fan as there is not one. I will also be adding a heat sink to the transformer. I will also try converting it to DC if I can find enough capacitors for free.
Thanks for the advice every one! In the end I was leaning towards a lincon migpak 140, but they go for $500 used here and that just was not happening any time soon. The welders I was talking about before were Everlast, I like them.
I think I will be happy (for now) with my new (to me) welder. When I have a real shop, I will buy a real welder.
I must also say in defence of my previous welder that it is actually preaty good for what it is. It loved I built and repaired many things with it, I just need to be able to weld 1/4 in.
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"...Baler twine tie downs goin' down the road
On two bald tires and an oversize load..."
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