Metal fabrication is one of the major economic activities in the world and has impacted various areas such as; automobiles, skyscrapers, aircraft, factories etc. The major part of fabrication is the welding of metals by the use of different welding machines. This article details the key considerations when buying a portable welding machine.
A welding machine is electrical equipment that uses current to generate heat that melts and joins the metals together. Gone are the days when the welding machine was so huge and could occupy a large space but with this new era of technology, many portable modifications of welding machines have been invented. Thus, you can weld in any place, large or small, garage, workshop provided you have a power connection.
However, during purchasing, you don’t just have to go and buy any machine because you may end up falling into losses. Below are some of the key considerations.
Input power
Almost all portable welding machines use electricity to operate. Thus, the power supply should be highly considered, and the more welding power that the machine generates, the more electricity is required. For example, a standard 120V welding machine can do light industrial works like; maintenance and repair, fabrications etc. But if upgraded to 240V, more complex work is attained but with relatively high electricity.
The type of metal and their thickness
Portable welding machines work on different metals and thicknesses. The buyer needs to know and list the type of metals to be worked on so that the right welding machine is chosen for the task. For example, a portable stick welding machine welds metals of thickness different from a mig portable welding machine.
The price of the machine.
Every perfect commodity deserves a high price, therefore, the portable welding machine price in Kenya is somehow high. The customer needs to have a clue about the price of any product before going to shop. This reduces the risks of embarrassment. The price of the portable welding machine starts from four thousand five hundred Kenyan shillings and above.
Output power
An amperage, which is the number that corresponds to the amount of current running through the work and welding machine is a suitable device that is used to show the capabilities of the portable welding machine. Thus, a low amperage range will produce shallow welds as compared to a high amperage range.
Welding processes
As it’s in the mind of every manufacturer to have specialised machines which produce specific weldings, that is machines performing one type of welding. However, there are multipurpose welding machines that can be changed from one setup to another. These type of machines provides an added advantage over specialised machines.
Conclusion
Just as it is important to first survey a product before purchasing it, the above considerations are best if you are willing to buy a portable welding machine, and if rightly considered, you will have the best machine that will help your industry, workshop or activity related to welding a success.