Advise for a first time Welder

[kevin37b]

You can't weld in even mildly windy conditions with a Mig.

Repairs on old weathered stuff isn't easy either. Not that I know what I am doing, but I ripped a safety chain off of a trailer last week and tried to weld it back on with my Mig. It was just put on with some snot as a steel boat builder I once knew called it. I managed but it wasn't a pretty job.

Migs are best for putting together shiny new stuff! So if you are planning on building stuff, Mig is the way to go. If you are doing a lot of farm repairs, a DC welder is probably better. Lots of rods to chose from.

I disagree . The first thing you are going are going to do is get real familiar with a 41/2" grinder and cleanup . MIG is much handier on poor fitup on repairs . If wind is a problem throw a cheap tarp over your back and the work . Did the plumbing on a fertilizer plant with an old 200 miller and a spool gun , 045 wire , worked great .

 

[MH8675309]

I ran miles of mig wire in the shop but when it was a heavy maintenance repair we got the stick welder - and we had some big migs too. For the shop at home the stick will handle most of what you need to do. It is harder to learn but once you learn it every other process is easier to pick up on. If you're just starting out stick is a great platform to build on. Good luck with it!

 

[IslandTractor]

The buzzboxes are fine, as a beginner machine but the cheaper AC DC ones like the Stickmate, Tombstone, and Thunderbolt don't put out the power of the little PowerARC 140sth from Everlast on DC. If you want to weld and get good at it, DC is the way to go. If you want plenty of power, the PowerArc 200ST. This unit will put out plenty of amps for most welds.

Of course the AC DC buzzboxes will typically put out up to 225 amps AC, but when you experience the difference of a really good DC machine, all that AC power will not be as charming.

I agree. The buzz box is dead. Long live the buzz box. There is simply no significant advantage to buzz box welders, even AC/DC versions, over modern inverter stuck welders. The difference in price between a used buzz box and a new Chinese inverter is almost trivial.

 

[Reverser]

I agree. The buzz box is dead. Long live the buzz box. There is simply no significant advantage to buzz box welders, even AC/DC versions, over modern inverter stuck welders. The difference in price between a used buzz box and a new Chinese inverter is almost trivial.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment. There are advantages to buzz boxes over inverters. They are significantly longer lived, simpler to repair when and if they do need repair, and don't mind beat around in a dirty environment. And buzz box welds can be more than adequate, even on AC.

Don't get me wrong. I like inverters, and they do have some advantages over buzz boxes. But there's also some disadvantages.

 

[IslandTractor]

I respectfully disagree with your assessment. There are advantages to buzz boxes over inverters. They are significantly longer lived, simpler to repair when and if they do need repair, and don't mind beat around in a dirty environment. And buzz box welds can be more than adequate, even on AC.

Don't get me wrong. I like inverters, and they do have some advantages over buzz boxes. But there's also some disadvantages.

Well, I cannot really imagine anyone repairing a buzz box. Not sure exactly what a welding shop charge would be but I'm having a hard time thinking it would be less than about $100 plus parts. That and the fact that getting one of those things into a welding shop almost requires two people. I never had trouble with my buzz box but I've never had to repair any of my three inverters so IMO those are pretty darn reliable too.

I owned a Lincoln AC/DC buzz box at the same time as I had a Miller Maxstar 150. There was just no comparison in which was the easier to use and transport and work with. Buzz boxes are like 57 Chevys. They did their job well back in the day but you really have to be a diehard fan to consider them anywhere close to a modern inverter welder. That doesn't mean take the buzz box to the junk yard, just means that the old adage that to learn welding you should go to CL and grab a used buzz box for $200-300 is not really the best advice IMO. Spend $350 on a new inverter stick machine and you'll be much happier in the long run.

Most buzz boxes these days are the old entry level versions from Miller and Lincoln and that is what I was referring to. Not sure a Lincoln Idealarc or Miller equivalent is really a buzz box but if so then I am wrong about the quality.

 

[Shield Arc]

These inverters amaze me. 7018 welds made with a buzz box, and the Everlast PowerArc 200.

 

[IslandTractor]

These inverters amaze me. 7018 welds made with a buzz box, and the Everlast PowerArc 200.

That is not a Home Depot buzz box. I gather that my concept of the buzz box just being the cheapest stick welders sold by Lincoln and Miller and virtually never used professionally (anymore) is wrong then.

 

[Shield Arc]

That is a Montgomery Wards welder, bought new in the 1970s. Pretty much bottom of the line if you ask me.

 

[IslandTractor]

That is a Montgomery Wards welder, bought new in the 1970s. Pretty much bottom of the line if you ask me.

Do you consider a Lincoln IdealArc to be a "buzz box" or is that term reserved for the bottom of the line equipment??

 

[Shield Arc]

Do you consider a Lincoln IdealArc to be a "buzz box" or is that term reserved for the bottom of the line equipment??

No, I wouldn't. I'd consider an IdealArc a low end to mid range commercial welder. The term buzz box means to me something that the uninformed home owner would buy.