New member here - total noob.
So that nobody is in any doubt, I will immediately demonstrate my complete ignorance - things can only get better from there, right?
I have one of the much maligned HF AC welders - I can't afford to replace it, so I'm looking at improving both it and me. First task seems to be converting to DC.
All of the DC-AC conversions I've seen use a bridge rectifier, and most of them use a large electrolytic capacitor for smoothing. But I was thinking of something else. For the decorative welding I have in mind (garden ornaments etc), I find that the MIN setting allows me to lap-weld 3/8 rebar, but cuts through sheet metal like the proverbial hot knife through butter.
Has anyone tried using just a half-wave rectifier, thus reducing the voltage, and hence current as well?
My thinking is that this might allow me to weld sheet metal on the MIN setting, and still weld rebar on the MAX setting.
Any experience? Thoughts? Comments? Complaints? Insults?
Thanks!