PowerArc 140ST just arrived

[MuttonHawg]

Arrived via UPS today, got the NEMA 6-50 plug attached (took a bit of doing making the strain relief functional - that plug is designed for a MUCH larger diameter cable). Box was completely undamaged - not even bent corners. Packing inside was great, though one of the tabs that holds the lens into the minimalist welding mask was broken, so that's non-functional. But I wasn't exactly planning on using that mask myself, anyway. There were a couple pieces rattling around inside the machine, so I took the cover off to make sure they weren't metallic - turns out they were 2 plastic tabs that snapped off something attached to the bottom. Buttoned it back up, powered it up, and no problems.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to actually trying it out soon.

I feel like a kid at Christmas - excited to have a new toy, and to learn a new skill! It's killing me that I won't get a chance to play with my new toy until this weekend.

[Tanh]

Haha. I feel like a kid when others talk about their units. You have a great piece of equipment there! Will you be using the tig function with it?

[MuttonHawg]

I plan to TIG, but not right away. I still need to clear a space in the garage for the bottle (a space which will eventually be filled by the welding cart, once I build it and put the bottle on that). I'm sure that learning to stick weld properly will keep me busy/entertained for a little while, anyway

[agent4573]

I just wrapped the power cord with electrical tape until it became the right diameter for the strain relief to start functioning. How'd you rig it up?

[performance]

Most people don't know, but the strain relief on those plugs are reversible, at least on the brands I have. Thy have a large side, and a smaller side. If you have a metal half circle type, just turn it over.

[Markcuda]

The one I bought you could turn it around, but the 2 screws then became to short.