There are many professional welders presented on the modern market. Choosing a welder machine for operating with it in your house, you should take into consideration an array of factors, from cost to safety.
Running a welder at home
Working in a private house, you may need a welding machine. Since this is quite a powerful electrical appliance, its operation can be a severe test for household wiring, so you have to be careful purchasing a welder.
Experience has shown that the use of a welder in everyday life may well be safe, but it is necessary to comply with several conditions.
For the normal operation of the welding machine, the method of protecting the wirework must be no worse than the wires themselves.
In some cases, even with formally correctly equipped electrical communications, unpleasant consequences are possible. In case of the slightest non-compliance with the rules for connecting the welder, there is a chance to cause wires to catch fire, damage the cores or burn off the terminal.
How can I avoid damaging a home and tripping a breaker while using a welder? How important is it to take into account the suitability of the equipment for use at home? Can I plug a welder into a regular outlet? You can find the answers in this guide.
Main types of welding
Choosing the right welder for running at home, you should start by deciding what type of welding you want. The features of each determine the scope of the application and the quality of the result.
There are several types of welders:
- TIG welding. Many welders with more skill use TIG welding for high-quality metal bonding. This type produces a direct current suitable when dealing with fenders, bike frames, and lawnmowers.
- Gas welding. It is fusion welding using a mixture of oxygen and combustible gas. The main advantage of gas welding is its simplicity. Though it has been replaced by TIG welding, gas welding is still widely used for pipe welding.
- Stick welding. Also known as arc welding, stick welding is the most common method of metal bonding that uses a rod or stick. An electrode protects the weld pool instead of shielding gas. Today it is successfully used almost in every sphere.
- MIG welding. MIG welding uses flux core and is appropriate for the production, repair, and creation of metal structures of varying complexity. Wires don’t need shielding gas, which ensures savings on costs. This type is the best choice for most welders who work at home and do not have enough experience.
Which welding is better to purchase for use domestically depends on the types of materials that are supposed to be welded. You can run stick welders and MIG welders at home. MIG is appropriate if you don’t feel quite confident using a welder machine, and it is suitable for automotive repair.
Shielding the weld pool at home
After you choose a type of welding, you should decide if you have to use a shielding gas. Using stick welders, you don’t need it. However, many welders prefer MIG welding as it provides a clean weld, but MIG welder demands shielding gas to protect it.
Note that it is vital to buy a gas cylinder for shielding. Buy gas canisters in large amounts to save on refill costs and time. Thus, it is better to buy 80 or 125-cf fuel cylinders than a smaller 20-cf one. What is more, be careful keeping canisters upright and don’t let them fall over for safety reasons.
Before purchasing gas, pay attention to property restrictions and home insurance because storing gas at home or garage involves certain risks. Your storage must be a safe place for keeping such equipment.
The check of electrical setup for welding domestically
Using the welder for the first time at home, don’t forget to check your electrical box for meeting all conditions. A line has to provide 120 volts and not less than 20 amps. Moreover, it is necessary to periodically check the condition of the wires and outlets for malfunctions.
If you can’t change your home setup, you can use generators or a combination of them and welding machines so that they can supply from 3000 to 4500 watts of power. At the same time, be aware of the amount of noise produced by them.
What should I take into account while using a welder?
Running a welder at home, especially for the first time, is quite dangerous, so it is vital to follow the user’s manual or consult a welder who has got certain skills already.
It doesn’t matter whether you work in a garage or at home, you should always observe safety precautions while running the welder.
Consider that a welder requires electric current which not every place can provide.
Running a welder, don’t forget about ventilation, during the winter times it is especially important. In most cases, you can ventilate your place using only a small window. If you want to run a welder with a door open, put up clear screens which help to block the rays.
Pay special attention to checking the workplace for any smoke after finishing. There shouldn’t be any wood scraps and sawdust because it can lead to a fire.
Make sure you have fire extinguishers before welding. If the socket overheats during the operation of the welding machine, it can lead to a fire. Moreover, keep all the flammable materials (for example, acetylene) far away from the welder if you don’t use them.
To avoid a short circuit, be sure of the tight connections provided to your regular outlet. Your work area must be free from any other unnecessary hoses.
To avoid problems with the voltage, use a welding shield. The welding site must be protected, so you may add hooks in the ceiling for hanging the flame-resistant blankets. They can help to prevent splashes from welding.
If possible, work with metal in one place and with wood in another one.
Choosing a separately located outlet specifically for the welding machine, you should check the conditions in which it will be used. If it is located within a heating room, no additional protection will be needed.
What accessories do I need to run the welder?
The main tools for running the welder using a regular outlet include the following:
- electrode,
- shielding gas,
- work clamps (for achieving a neat weld and keeping the welding materials in place),
- chop saw or acetylene torch (for cutting metal),
- angle grinder (for example, flap discs),
- welding helmet,
- leather shoes,
- rubberized gloves and protective clothing.
Note that acetylene is a flammable material, so protect yourself during the work process and after it. In case of proper care, you can use a chop saw for various cutting needs.
The main requirement for workwear is its protective function. It has to cover your body and be made of natural materials, not synthetic ones.
Pay special attention to covering the face, neck, and wrists.
One more essential thing which you shouldn’t forget about is a welding cart. Some people buy it, while others prefer to make it themselves. In any case, it is particularly important to have it, as a welding cart helps to store a welder in safety and work in comfortable surroundings.
Don’t neglect using these mentioned tools and safety gear as they provide a safe working process, which is extremely important.
FAQs
What outlet do I need for a welder?
You can use a regular outlet for low voltage welders, but not for the higher voltage models. The first type is specially designed for operating at home.
In case of dealing with a MIG welder, you can use a standard 110V outlet. However, make sure that your welder is singly phase and suitable for a standard wall socket.
Can you plug welder into outlet?
Most home electrical outlets are appropriate for plugging the welder. However, you need to choose the most powerful outlet at home, limit the output current on the welding machine and work for a short time. Welders that are no more than 160 amps can operate on 13 amps regular socket.
Can I plug 110v welder into a regular outlet?
Yes, you can plug a 110v welder into a regular outlet. Many houses have this kind of power supply system. For running a MIG welder, 110v is enough.
Note that if you plan to plug a 220V welder for home projects to produce sufficient heat for getting stronger welds, it is necessary to install the plug handling the extra amperage.
In another case, you can use a combination of a welder and a generator.
Does a welder need a dedicated circuit?
A circuit breaker should be correct and not overloaded. You should make sure that your regular outlet supplies enough electric current to the welding.
In conclusion
As you can see, a standard outlet is suitable for welding at home if you observe some conditions. Welders should safely operate and be single phase. Be sure to double-check your wirework with the correct circuit breaker.
Furthermore, don’t forget about essential welding tools (not only shielding gas and electrode, but also angle grinder, protective clothing, and other equipment). Keep safety in mind and start running the welder!
