Long out of practice stick welder.

   / Long out of practice stick welder. #1  

torrin

Bronze Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
58
Location
Stanwood, MI
Tractor
Kubota B2650HSDC
Good Morning;

I am a long out of practice welder who has a project the is causing me to question my sanity.

I bought a used lawn roller cheap and need to rebuild the hitch frame. My buzz box (Lincoln 180) only seems to work at over 100 amps (7018 1/8" rod). It is blowing holes in my tubing.

I had the same problem with another buzz box, and found out it the transformer was only partially conducting so 135 amps work out to about 60.

Anyway, I am looking to do one of two things. Purchase an inexpensive 150 to 200 amp DC welder, or go to a wire welder. My concern is I have heard so much negative about wire welders that I am not sure that is the way i want to go.

I found that Everlast has a nice ac/dc stick welder for under $250, but no local dealers. I can get Miller, Lincoln, and Hobart locally, but the price includes the reputation and name.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #2  
Buy the Everlast, pay the shipping cost, stop agonizing and enjoy your new welder.

Good luck.
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #3  
I recently bought an Everlast that doubles as a wire welder and stick welder. I don't weld often and can't imagine being restricted to stick only. Wire welding is so much easier.
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #4  
I am very pleased with my Everlast PA160 DC stick welder. I also use it to TIG with when I need to weld thin lightweight materials including brass and copper.


IMG_20131023_145811_920.jpgtig and ground.jpgDSCF0525.JPGDSCF0520.JPGIMG_20121117_165336_859.jpgIMG_20121117_165303_772.jpg6outside weld.jpgPicture 015.jpgPicture 006.jpgPicture 007.jpgPicture 011.jpg17V torch.jpg
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #5  
Buy the Everlast, pay the shipping cost, stop agonizing and enjoy your new welder. Good luck.

You will have a good welder with either option, but I too would go with the above advice. Let us know what you do.

Terry
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #6  
I am very pleased with my Everlast PA160 DC stick welder. I also use it to TIG with when I need to weld thin lightweight materials including brass and copper. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386971-long-out-practice-stick-welder-img_20131023_145811_920-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386972-long-out-practice-stick-welder-tig-ground-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386973-long-out-practice-stick-welder-dscf0525-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386974-long-out-practice-stick-welder-dscf0520-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386975-long-out-practice-stick-welder-img_20121117_165336_859-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386976-long-out-practice-stick-welder-img_20121117_165303_772-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386977-long-out-practice-stick-welder-6outside-weld-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386978-long-out-practice-stick-welder-picture-015-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386979-long-out-practice-stick-welder-picture-006-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386980-long-out-practice-stick-welder-picture-007-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386981-long-out-practice-stick-welder-picture-011-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/welding/386982-long-out-practice-stick-welder-17v-torch-jpg"/>

You know James, I never get tired of seeing that pic of hook on your loader bucket. I like it!:)

Terry
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #7  
You know James, I never get tired of seeing that pic of hook on your loader bucket. I like it!:)

Terry
It is all I got Terry.:laughing: You should see some of my failures!:D
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #8  
I tell you what though, welding those chain links or welding those copper rings was a heck of a lot harder to do!
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #9  
Good Morning;

I am a long out of practice welder who has a project the is causing me to question my sanity.

I bought a used lawn roller cheap and need to rebuild the hitch frame. My buzz box (Lincoln 180) only seems to work at over 100 amps (7018 1/8" rod). It is blowing holes in my tubing.

I had the same problem with another buzz box, and found out it the transformer was only partially conducting so 135 amps work out to about 60.

Anyway, I am looking to do one of two things. Purchase an inexpensive 150 to 200 amp DC welder, or go to a wire welder. My concern is I have heard so much negative about wire welders that I am not sure that is the way i want to go.

I found that Everlast has a nice ac/dc stick welder for under $250, but no local dealers. I can get Miller, Lincoln, and Hobart locally, but the price includes the reputation and name.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

If your welder is AC only, it will not run regular 7018. That may be your problem right there. I have an Idealarc that will run it on the AC side, but it's more of an industrial unit. Smaller AC units like yours will run 7018AC though.

If you want to stay with what you have, try a pound of 7018AC and it'll probably run that fine.
 
   / Long out of practice stick welder. #10  
Here are some fairly decent beads welding on a piece of reinforcing flat bar on the top of my old Kubota bucket.

DSCF0463.JPGDSCF0459.JPG
 
 
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