Stick welding question

[Shield Arc]

As well as stacked a few dimes of welds in it - LOL.

Thank you very much!

If I ever accidentally come across one of those 10lb rod ovens at a great price (under $40), I will probably buy one and buy some 7018 from someone that uses it regularly and stores it right so I don't have to wonder about the new-but-wet stuff. Practical? Nope. Do I need it for my piddling? Heck Nope. Will I do that just to say I have properly stored 7018? Probably. LOL

Ian

There has been an ad on my Craig's list for months, the guy is way south of me, he's been trying to sell a pallet load of 10# rod ovens for $200.00. So there is deals out there, just have to keep looking.

 

[k0ua]

Heck I spent the first 30 plus years of my life without a welder and tinkering on junk and making improvised repairs with clamps, wire, bolted scab plates, etc in lieu of welding. I was in heaven when I obtained the ability to weld even at my rudimentary skill level

The only difference in this story and my story is that it was 40 years for me instead of 30. I just got tired of scabbing things together with hardware and scrapped up enough money for a Lincoln AC225. The thing payed for itself pretty quickly keep a couple of old lawn mowers patched up. Then when I go my DC inverter welder I was really on cloud 9. Now I am learning how to TIG using the DC welder, and it is great..

James K0UA

 

[Shield Arc]

Well, You are correct in that welding is only a hobby for me. I too have hobbies that I am much less practical with in regards to splurging with costs (ATV'ing, camping, antique tractors, dining out, etc.).

I probably could put more money towards welding, but it would be at a cost somewhere else in my budget that I am not currently willing to sacrifice. In cracks me up when all the retired people mention living on a fixed income. I am in my 40's and working, but my income is fixed too and there is still only so much money to spread around.

Heck I spent the first 30 plus years of my life without a welder and tinkering on junk and making improvised repairs with clamps, wire, pop rivets, bolted scab plates, etc in lieu of welding. I was in heaven when I obtained the ability to weld even at my rudimentary skill level.

Until my equipment becomes the limiting factor in my welding processes then I do not see myself upgrading any. Until I can utilize the equipment that I have to its full potential then no need to upgrade as my skills are currently the limiting factor not the equipment.

That's about the way I am with a lathe, people walk into my shop and ask where is your lathe? I can only think of very few times in my life when I needed a lathe, I have a couple friends with complete machine shops, I'm not wasting valuable floor space on a lathe, if I find any free space I'll buy another welder!:licking::laughing:

 

[Haywire]

pallet load of 10# rod ovens for $200.00

Did a craigs search an hour or so ago and nothing came up for "Rod Oven" in a 400 mile radius.... well, I got hits on a bunch of kitchen ovens, but not exactly the same. When I said "accidentally", I meant come across one while perusing the junk shops. Even if I found one on craigs for a good price, I probably wouldn't go after it. It would have to appear on a shelf beside a bunch of old hammers and hoes with the checkout a few feet away.

Ian

 

[rankrank1]

The only difference in this story and my story is that it was 40 years for me instead of 30. I just got tired of scabbing things together with hardware and scrapped up enough money for a Lincoln AC225. The thing payed for itself pretty quickly keep a couple of old lawn mowers patched up. Then when I go my DC inverter welder I was really on cloud 9. Now I am learning how to TIG using the DC welder, and it is great. James K0UA

Yep some repairs are almost impossible without a welder (e.g. building up worn parts or oblonged shaped holes comes to mind).

I picked up an ebay tig torch with manual gas valve off ebay that I plan to try out on my Miller Thunderbolt AC225/DC150 buzzbox. It would be an old school set-up similar to what Shieldarc set-up for the kid he has been helping to use on his Hobart Stickmate.

I doubt that I will ever use tig much, but it was such a minmal investment to try it. I will have less than $60 invested so figured why not.

 

[Shield Arc]

I ran a Tig rig on this machine for years. Try getting an amp or 3 change with that slide handle.:laughing:

 

[rankrank1]

I ran a Tig rig on this machine for years. Try getting an amp or 3 change with that slide handle.:laughing:

That looks like an old Century. My uncle used to have one that he purchased brand new back in the early 1990's from the home improvement store Builders Square (Builders Square is long since out of business and were the precursor to stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and Menards).

Anyway, I only had the privledge of using that Century buzzbox once and I was not all that impressed. Of course I did not have clue what I was doing either. I do remember that I did not like that slide adjustment handle. I do know after a couple years of use that my uncles Century spent more time with the shroud cover off as the cooling fan would not work properly and you had to reach in there and spin the fan to get it to work. I am sure a replacement fan would have fixed it, but it should not have needed one for no more use than it had and being nearly new.

Regardless this exposure to the Century was the welder that initially made me afraid to get a welder of my very own for many years. With AC/DC and high and low ports and that diffcult adjustment handle I firmly believed that there was no way that I would ever learn how to use one properly with all those complicated settings and ports. The internet changed all that fear.

If I recall correctly, I think the OCV voltage was only 72 on the Century buzzboxes. I will take the 79 OCV that Lincoln used or the 80 that Miller used anyday for slightly easier arc starts. Unfortunately UL (Underwriter Labratories) limited welders OCV to 80 volts max on homeowner grade buzzboxes sometime back in the 1950's or 1960's. Not sure if professional grade machines are limited in OCV or not.

 

[deereman75]

I ran a Tig rig on this machine for years. Try getting an amp or 3 change with that slide handle.:laughing:

You think that is hard, try to change the amps by 3 with this! :laughing:

Either too cold or too hot... Except for 3/32 6011, the 75 amp setting is spot on for that.

 

[Shield Arc]

Actually that is a Montgomery Wards machine. Seems as I remember reading in the brochure it was built by Lincoln. It has a pretty nice arc, but like you say what a pain to get a small change in amps, stick welding it's not too bad but Tig welding it would make a preacher curse!:laughing: It was bought in the mid 1970s, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it, so it's parked so far back in the barn it would take a week for me to crawl back there!

 

[Shield Arc]

You think that is hard, try to change the amps by 3 with this! :laughing:
View attachment 244177
Either too cold or too hot... Except for 3/32 6011, the 75 amp setting is spot on for that.

I don't think I've ever run one of those, I'm gonna have to find someone who has one.