I came across an ArcOne I100 STS on clearance today while out getting bits and bobs for work.. this is the description:

The Arc One I 100 STS is the newest addition to our inverter product line. Weighing in at 7.75 lbs, this rugged 115 volt machine truly puts out 100 amps so don't hesitate to use 1/8" rod.

Duty cycle of 35% at 100 amps, 60 amps full time. 100% duty cycle with TIG at 80 amps; this lightweight machine really goes the extra mile for value.

Nicely equipped, comes with electrode holder and ground clamp with cables plus hot start. An ideal machine for quick on-site repair jobs or the home shop, this ESA approved 100 amp inverter will measure up in performance and value.

The Arc One I 100 STS is a superior inverter welder and is backed by a 1 year manufacturer's warranty against all defects resulting from materials or workmanship.

The Arc One I 100 STS includes:
# Power cable
# ground cable
# electrode holder
# ground clamp



Does anyone know about this machine? I'm hesitant to go down the cheap path and end up paying good money for a piece of shit.. as was my experience with my mig welder a couple years ago.

I've never heard of this company before.. has anyone?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Andrew

BTW, I'll admit I know sfa about tig welders

---

Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

Never heard of it before and only a 1 year warranty is not a lot of faith in their product. You are better off with a used welder from a major brand.

I hear you.

Is a 110v Tig welder a bit of an oxymoron?

---

Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

It's been said before. Consider spending your money on a welding course first. You'll likely use up more electricity and consumables than you paid for and will have access/use of better equipment than you'd likely buy initially. With a little experience you'll know how big a machine you want or can afford and whether you want AC/DC, high freq start, ect. Lots of info on the Millerwelds.com site. Not a plug, I happen to own an ESAB TIG.
JT

hudson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hear you.
>
> Is a 110v Tig welder a bit of an oxymoron?
>

Actually the little 110V inverter Miller and Lincoln TIG machines are quite good within their power range. I have a little Maxstar that we use for field welding and you can't really tell the difference in arc quality between it and the big Synchrowave in the shop. I just don't trust any welding company that I can't get parts for easily.

We just bought a new Lincoln Power Wave C300 today (woohoo it can blast together 1/4" aluminum plate at 300A with ridiculous speed) and it comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty...no BS they send a truck to pick it up and it comes back fixed a few days later. ESAB is nice also but there is no decent local support here. A while back we had a really nice ESAB plasma cutter until it had a power board go bad...then it was a paper weight.

-Tim

hudson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I came across an ArcOne I100 STS on clearance
> today while out getting bits and bobs for work..
> this is the description:
>
> The Arc One I 100 STS is the newest addition to
> our inverter product line. Weighing in at 7.75
> lbs, this rugged 115 volt machine truly puts out
> 100 amps so don't hesitate to use 1/8" rod.
>
> Duty cycle of 35% at 100 amps, 60 amps full time.
> 100% duty cycle with TIG at 80 amps; this
> lightweight machine really goes the extra mile for
> value.
>
> Nicely equipped, comes with electrode holder and
> ground clamp with cables plus hot start. An ideal
> machine for quick on-site repair jobs or the home
> shop, this ESA approved 100 amp inverter will
> measure up in performance and value.
>
> The Arc One I 100 STS is a superior inverter
> welder and is backed by a 1 year manufacturer's
> warranty against all defects resulting from
> materials or workmanship.
>
> The Arc One I 100 STS includes:
> # Power cable
> # ground cable
> # electrode holder
> # ground clamp
>
>
>
> Does anyone know about this machine? I'm hesitant
> to go down the cheap path and end up paying good
> money for a piece of shit.. as was my experience
> with my mig welder a couple years ago.
>
> I've never heard of this company before.. has
> anyone?
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Andrew
>
> BTW, I'll admit I know sfa about tig welders
>
>
> Andrew McNally
> Hamilton ON
> 28

That kind of sounds like one of those DC only tigs, though you didn't specify. I wouldn't bother with a tig that won't do AC because sooner or later you're going to want to weld aluminum. Some of those inverter tigs are really good. We bought one for the race team transporter (I forget the brand, I'll have to check) and it welds really nice and is easy to use once you figure out how to program it. Super small and light, I was surprised at how powerful it is. The Miller tig I have in my shop is quite the opposite! Oh, it's powerful at 450 amps but it's old and big. It's 40 years old and it's literally the size of a refridgerator and weighs about 1,000 lbs. I found it on Craigslist for only $900, bought it from the original owner. It's not as easy to use as newer tigs because it doesn't have some of the modern circuitry but you could weld a ship together with it! It will easily weld 1/4" aluminum but I've also welded razor blades together with so it can do low amperage stuff equally well.

This is a good thread, I've actually been looking to buy a TIG to do some minor stuff like aluminium sheet and thangs like that so it doesnt need to be pimp. 110v or 220v doesnt really matter as long as it can do AC and about 150 true amps. I've used TIG before but never owned one.

I've actually seen some on ebay that are 3 in 1. TIG, ARC and plasma cutter, now that would be kewl but dunno know if they're good or not.

MrToad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's been said before. Consider spending your
> money on a welding course first. You'll likely use
> up more electricity and consumables than you paid
> for and will have access/use of better equipment
> than you'd likely buy initially. With a little
> experience you'll know how big a machine you want
> or can afford and whether you want AC/DC, high
> freq start, ect. Lots of info on the
> Millerwelds.com site. Not a plug, I happen to own
> an ESAB TIG.
> JT

I hear you.. but school and I have NEVER gotten along. I've got 2 degrees, so trust me I know this I imagine being frustrated to no end in a welding course.. I also imagine myself trying to justify a machine that's a lot more than I can afford

It's not a bad idea though.

---

Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

Doivi Clarkinen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That kind of sounds like one of those DC only
> tigs, though you didn't specify. I wouldn't
> bother with a tig that won't do AC because sooner
> or later you're going to want to weld aluminum.
> Some of those inverter tigs are really good. We
> bought one for the race team transporter (I forget
> the brand, I'll have to check) and it welds really
> nice and is easy to use once you figure out how to
> program it. Super small and light, I was
> surprised at how powerful it is. The Miller tig I
> have in my shop is quite the opposite! Oh, it's
> powerful at 450 amps but it's old and big. It's
> 40 years old and it's literally the size of a
> refridgerator and weighs about 1,000 lbs. I found
> it on Craigslist for only $900, bought it from the
> original owner. It's not as easy to use as newer
> tigs because it doesn't have some of the modern
> circuitry but you could weld a ship together with
> it! It will easily weld 1/4" aluminum but I've
> also welded razor blades together with so it can
> do low amperage stuff equally well.

That's good to know. I can pick this particular one up for $360.. so the price is right at least.

Will have to look into it more and probably keep saving.

---

Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

hudson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> That's good to know. I can pick this particular
> one up for $360.. so the price is right at least.
>
>
If it's only $360 then it's gotta be a DC tig.

Neither Lincoln or Miller makes a 110V inverter tig. 100 A is not enough for most things, especially 1/8 rod. You are not going to get what you want out of 110V, especcially if you are expecting to have a usable range of more than 1/8 plate (assuming you use a electrode 50% larger than the base metal, which is typical). As most anything, you get what you pay for. Go to millerwelds.com and check it out. It will give you their range, and give you an idea of what machine was made for and what you want to do. I have worked in this industry long enough to have seen these claims many times, and unfortunately, have seen many get bit by this. The standard industry warranty is three years. Any less is a huge red flag. Only the reputable will offer this.

---

Cable Rhodes
Boise, Idaho
'87 Mazda RX-7 Turbo

Both Lincoln and Miller do make 120V "suitcase" DC only inverter TIG units.
The Maxstar 150 and The Invertec 155. Both run nearly $1000 and lack
AC (for aluminum), high freq. start, and foot pedals or hand controls.
Agree limited range of use. Miller is pushing their new Diversion model
which seems promising by specs and price. Inverter machines overall require
less amperage. It gets pricey running a 40-100 amp 240V service to the garage
but then again you can always plug in the new 240V compressor and on and on
and on.
JT

MrToad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Both Lincoln and Miller do make 120V "suitcase" DC
> only inverter TIG units.
> The Maxstar 150 and The Invertec 155. Both run
> nearly $1000 and lack
> AC (for aluminum), high freq. start, and foot
> pedals or hand controls.
> Agree limited range of use. Miller is pushing
> their new Diversion model
> which seems promising by specs and price. Inverter
> machines overall require
> less amperage. It gets pricey running a 40-100 amp
> 240V service to the garage
> but then again you can always plug in the new 240V
> compressor and on and on
> and on.
> JT


Yep, you're right about the 110v. What I meant to say was (in Miller's case anyway), why run a tig welder on 110v when (auto line/inverter) it is also capable of higher in voltages? It definitely isn't an entry level, and will not give you AL capability, at least for a beginner. The diversion is an excellent machine, but mind the duty cycle, it is not an industrial machine, but is along the lines of a dynasty. It's 80hz and welds nice. I just went through some training on it, going to get one for home.

---

Cable Rhodes
Boise, Idaho
'87 Mazda RX-7 Turbo

http://www.princessauto.mobi/index.php?option=items&task=details&itemid=13317

Anyone know about this unit?

It's hard to get excited abuot 20% duty cycle....

---

Andrew M
Onterrible
30ish

hudson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> Anyone know about this unit?
>
> It's hard to get excited abuot 20% duty cycle....
>
> Andrew McNally
> Hamilton, ON
> 29


That's a DC Tig welder. It can only weld steel. I see no point in a Tig welder that can't weld aluminum.