ready welder MIG welding from batteries

By - Date 07-11-2000 02:18

We had one of these on consignment in our store and I took it home to see how well it would work. I had a flux core .035 wire in and hooked up to two batteries. I didn't run it for long (maybe three welds at about 8 to 10 seconds each) I didn't know how much power it actually used and If I killed the battery from my wife's car... she'd be pissed.
Anyway, the welding that I did do was actually quite good. excellent penetration seeing as how I was getting 24 volts and I would guess about 300 to 350 amps. I just welded up two pieces of flat bar and could'nt break the weld when I put it in a vice and bent it about 125 degrees. As for aluminum, I don't see why it wouldn't work other than feeding problems that might occur. The drive roll tension is just a spring with different tension points. Overall, it is a decent piece of equipment for emergency use out in the field. We were retailing this at I believe about $900. Canadian.
Hope this helps

By snuffman (***)

Date 09-17-2008 15:29

Anyone ever use one of these?

By wytruckwrench Date 09-18-2008 04:05

I have one that i got for aluminium have played with steel seems to do real well. I run it off of my cv its a nice spool gun for about $600 Have been through about 10 spools of wire welding on cattle pots.

By snuffman (***)

Date 09-18-2008 04:07

Cool. I was wandering because a friend had a stick welder like this he kept on his tractor but it just did a good enough job to get the equiptment home.

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 09-23-2008 05:23

They are frequently on eBay. I think the idea is OK with regard to portability, but unless You can find self shielded wire that is aplicable to Your base metal, You still have to have shielding gas.
Does anybody make self shielded wire for aluminum?

By darren

Date 09-23-2008 15:09 Edited 09-23-2008 15:11

ive had a couple as a friend and i where looking onto the distributorship in canada. they do some things very very well and are a great hobby or emergency tool. i dont think they are robust enough for heavy industrial service, just my opinion. the absolute smoothest arc ever though. and aluminum was mind blowing smooth. you can use them as a spool gun for regular welding machines and the thumb control for wire speed is also a great idea. very good tool to have as part of a collection of tools but i would not want it to be my only tool if i was a welder by trade. again when using batteries, the smoothest arc ever.
you can use shielding gases as well. for the price they cant be beat.
http://www.readywelder.com/
darren