Dialarc HF-p

[VW_r32]

Hey can anyone tell me what the difference is between a dialarc hf and a HF-p.
One other question when welding with the older machines like the dialarc HF-P because you dont have the same options as you would on a late machine does it make it more difficult to weld alumium? i mean if u learn to weld really good on a older machine wouldnt it make it easy with a late model machine?

just a thought what are other peoples opinions

Cheers

[c wagner]

i mean if u learn to weld really good on a older machine wouldnt it make it easy with a late model machine?

Well if you get really good on an older machine you won't necessarily use some of the options on a newer machine. Pulse for example, I only use pulse if I'm working with really thin material, and sometimes I start without it because I forget I have it!
All machines and processes have a learning curve, when you start using a new machine with new features you sometimes dial yourself right out of the ball park.

I guess in the long run you'll at least have experience in the process (torch and filler control, etc.) so yeah it will make things easier.

[VW_r32]

dialarc

I'll just keep practising i'm looking at upgrading the machine at some stage but until then i'll keep the old girl hehe

[Aeroweld]

Nothng at all wrong with a Dial Arc HF for TIG welding. Great machine. I've had mine for about 27 years and still use it daily. They are also a good machine to learn TIG. As Cwagner alluded to...you can't adjust yourself out of the ballpark. Personally I think you would be a better welder if you learned on an old school machine like that. You would have a better understaning of the weld as opposed to using a machine with all the bells and whistles as a crutch. A high tech machine won't make a bad weldor good.

I think the "p" suffix stands for a model with a "Power Factor Correction" option installed.

[VW_r32]

Dialarc

Yea i kinda agree with you i've got mates over here with brand new lincolns and millers and i can still weld much better on my old machine. I dont think it has anything to do with the machine but the person operating it. Although the new machines do have alot more features i still think that if you can learn on a older machine and master the basics it makes it a breeze if you go to a later model machine.
What does the power factor actually mean? as opposed to a model that dosent have it?
One other thing i've noticed that my machine is red i thought all Miller machines were blue? someone told me that the reason they are red is because some of them were built in Italy. They are still genuine Miller machines but just put together in Italy and painted red. Can anyone confirm up on this?
Thanks

[cruizer]

Miller made machines for a wide variety of firms over the years, Red in North America generally said Canox on the side.

Power factor ideally charges a set of caps so your end result would be a lower power consumption with no primary surging, that said, it would make your power meter turn so fast you'd think it was in a race with itself. So if you were running the welder all day, sure you would see some savings power wise, For a couple of hours or less a day not so good and on par with a machine without the correction in place.

The Dialarc HF's are a great long term extremely reliable machine, but being transformer based, not to effecient on the ole power bill.

[bob_e95482]

Sometimes at work, when I pass by one of the Syncrowaves, I'll kind of wish I had one. But my Dialarc HF welds just as well. It's not what you've got, but what you do with it.

[VW_r32]

Hey thanks for that i've always wondered what the p stood for now i know
One other thing i have noticed with this machine is when u flick the amps up to the top notch i think its 125-330amps on AC ive noticed that when you start to get a weld puddle going its like the arc is blowing to hard and it makes a mess of the weld puddle. you cant get a nice bead. its fine on the middle setting where its only 125amps but anything more it seems to make a mess.
I'm using pure Argon with a 2.4mm thoriated tungsten and a size 8 cup has anyone struck this problem before?

[Hayden's truck]

Need some info

HI All
I recently purchased a used dial arc HF-P it seem to be a great machine one of the best i ever used but when i called my dealer to find out about a mig for it he told me i needed one thing so me being me i called several other dealers to get their opinion and out of 4 i called i got 4 different answer's so i am asking all of you WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE IT MIG ALSO ???? any help would be greatly apperciated

Hayden Eady
[email protected]
256-466-9521

[Tryagn5]

Voltage sensing feeder

Any voltage sensing feeder(ie lincoln ln25) will make that a MIG, However since that machine is only CC, any wire u burn through it will burn very hot and have a lot of splatter. I have found CC power sources weld wire best when used with self shielding wire like lincoln nr212 or other similiar wires. Yes u can use solid gas shielded wire in CC current, but it does not weld very well out of postion. If you weld in postion with material thicker than 1/8 it would be ok. Also be sure the feeder has a contactor or the wire will be hot all the time.
Kevin

[weldersales]

Dialarc HF-p

While you can run a voltage sensing feeder on the HF-p, it is not the best machine for that for two reasons. It is single phase and the arc for wire is not the best (beats stick, though), and then there is the problem of someone leaving the HF on and smoking the feeder board. weldersales

[Aeroweld]

I have used my S-32s Miller feeder with my Dial-Arc 250HF a couple of times. I have never used solid wire with it but instead one of the Hobart Dual Shield wires. With the maching being CC only you will not be able to short circuit MIG weld so you will be limited to thicker material.
My advice would be that if you have a voltage sensing wire feeder go ahead and use it, but I wouldn't invest in a new wire feeder just for this machine.

[Tryagn5]

Single phase???

While you can run a voltage sensing feeder on the HF-p, it is not the best machine for that for two reasons. It is single phase and the arc for wire is not the best (beats stick, though), and then there is the problem of someone leaving the HF on and smoking the feeder board. weldersales

So what if it is a single phase machine, that machine would have plenty of power to burn the wire. My maxtron runs on single phase, as does an XMT 304, does a shopmaster....miller 252..... The only probelm would be the wire would run very hot, and out of postion welding would be difficult...

[Hayden's truck]

ok Thanks Kevin i found a cobra matic today that i can buy cheap and the guy has it on a machine identical to mine but i am wondering how out dated it is and if parts for it are even still avaible it is a nice liquid cool mig that has dual feed motors for steel and alum and it welds real good but i dont really know what to look for as far asproblem area's on those and parts availability