ARC welding uses a welding rod that melts to encourage a protective cover that prevents oxygen from reaching the weld. These rods must be changed by the welder and fed into the weld puddle manually. In MIG welding, however, wire is used that is automatically fed into the weld joint. The difference between ARC and MIG welding is all in the technique, as the act is generally the same. 

If you are a beginner and you’re unsure which ARC welder will be best suited for you, the best thing to do is contact us! Our highly experienced team of technicians will be able to point you in the right direction and let you know which ARC welder you need. All we need to know is your skill and experience level.

The best ARC welder is undoubtedly the Jasic Arc 400C MMA Inverter Welder. This is thanks to the high-duty output of the machines, their latest IGBT technology, and TIG functionality. These features make the 400C MMA an ideal choice for industrial welding applications. 

Choosing you rod size depends on two things. One the thickness of the material to be welded. Two the power output of your welder. Welding Rods have a current band that they flow in best and so should be matched. There is no point using a 3.2mm rod on a 100 amp machine to weld a 2mm plate. The welder cant supply the current to weld the rod sufficiently and if it could it would then be too hot for the thickness of the material. Choosing the correct rod and set up may require advice, something which we are always able to offer.

Very simply put, duty cycle is how long something will work before it overheats. Most manufacturers test a duty cycle over 10 minutes at a set current. For instance a machine is rated at 100A @ 40% Duty. This simply means the welder will produce a 100 amp weld for 4 minutes before it overheats. Comparing duty cycle times of welders is important and the best indicator of quality. the higher the duty cycle a welder has usually the better the components as its able to work for longer compared to its competitor.

Generally the answer is yes apart from one thing, and thats reliability. Inverter arc welders offer more weld control as the current is controlled electronically in very fine amperage step. They are lighter and can me carried more easily. They generally use less power from the supply and can have special features such as ,anti-stick and hot start programmed into them.