Mig Welders

[Sodo]

I've heard all my life the best way to learn how to weld is to start with oxygen & acetylene. This is the fastest way to learn puddle control. Once you learn puddle control, then you have to learn how to read the puddle, and anticipate what the puddle is going to do, so you can make corrections, before the puddle falls on your feet.

I agree with this. We had a Miller with the big "M" of outlets. But I didn't have many (-- any) tractor projects. Consequently my projects were maxed at about 1/8" and more often 1/16" & less. Stick welding is pretty much MINIMUM 1/8" rods & material for a newbie. So the Oxy/Acetylene torch was the best way to do it and I leaned how to weld steel nicely with a torch. Motorcycle exhaust pipes, go-carts, bicycle frames, all kinds of stuff. Also did a lot of brazing. And stick-welding too. I did LOTS is stickwelding rust holes too!, it's good practice and nobody calls it bird poop when it's almost a hopeless repair anyway.

Which brings me around to the MIG (------of course )

Anybody who has 3 or 4 different kinds of welding devices sure as heck ought to learn them all. Stick will take awhile. TIG too. If you try to learn these "all by yourself" (unless you're a natural) you will make a lot of bird poop, ruin a lot of projects and won't want to show your projects to anyone. This could take awhile.

If you buy a MIG, and work at it, you can have reasonable success quickly, which will inspire you to create more. And as you create more, you will gain experience. As you tack stuff together, (and then break the weld) you learn what makes a weak weld and a strong weld (if you're observant). The best way to learn to weld is to have expert help - it's very very lucky to have that and most people don't have that luxury. The next best way is to have lots of projects, and the interest to do them.

 

[Shield Arc]

Since April of 2012 I've been told / cautioned / corrected numerous times that this is a tractor maintenance forum. Even tho I can't find that in writing anywhere! :confused3:
Welp, I must have bought the wrong tractor! I've been all over my tractor, and I can't find any razor blades on it anywhere!

If you want to buy one welder that will do anything a tractor maintenance welder would need, it is a Tig welder. Tig will weld really thin material, and most Tig machines can SMAW as well. Only thing Mig brings to the table is speed! How many of us tractor maintenance welders care about speed?
You can find these Tig welders on Craigs list between $400.00 and $1,000.00 It will weld pop cans together, or structural steel.:cool2:

 

[Sodo]

Uh-oh, I remember this stage. I wrote my opinion and should probably bow out if my advice is not good, and let the pro advise as he sees fit. :shocked:

 

[aczlan]

Or just keep your language family friendly...

Aaron Z

 

[Shield Arc]

Well now you're learning! Some people do it for a living, others play weldor on the Internet.
Is that to abusive for you?

 

[mikehaugen]

Since April of 2012 I've been told / cautioned / corrected numerous times that this is a tractor maintenance forum. Even tho I can't find that in writing anywhere! :confused3:
Welp, I must have bought the wrong tractor! I've been all over my tractor, and I can't find any razor blades on it anywhere!

If you want to buy one welder that will do anything a tractor maintenance welder would need, it is a Tig welder. Tig will weld really thin material, and most Tig machines can SMAW as well. Only thing Mig brings to the table is speed! How many of us tractor maintenance welders care about speed?
You can find these Tig welders on Craigs list between $400.00 and $1,000.00 It will weld pop cans together, or structural steel.:cool2:

I sure saw a lot of those when I was looking for a welder. People were letting them go for $250, then some wanted up to $1500. I ended up with my idealarc tig 250/250 for $1100 with stick leads, tig torch, foot pedal, and 3/4 argon bottle. Not the deal of the century but I was happy. It sure has done a lot of work for me in the last 5 years. I'm sure it has paid for itself.

 

[Sodo]

Way to git'er done shield! But I guess I shoulda knowed it.

----- point taken Aaron, but that one was hard to resist posting,,,,was 'almost' good clean fun. . Understood this forum needs to be watched over.

 

[Shield Arc]

I sure saw a lot of those when I was looking for a welder.

In the 1970s, and 1980s those machines were the Cadillac of Tig welders. Oh man do they have a beautiful arc for 7018 too!
I sold that one for $400.00, and it took several weeks to do it.:confused3:
Here is a 7018 weld I made with that machine. I built my bridge crane with it too.

 

[Underdog57]

If you want to buy one welder that will do anything a tractor maintenance welder would need, it is a Tig welder. Tig will weld really thin material, and most Tig machines can SMAW as well. Only thing Mig brings to the table is speed! How many of us tractor maintenance welders care about speed?
You can find these Tig welders on Craigs list between $400.00 and $1,000.00 It will weld pop cans together, or structural steel.

Now that is some great advice Shield!!!! :thumbsup:
Beautiful work on the 7018

You two settle down, I value EVERYONES comments and would hate to see anyone leave! LOL..LOL.. :laughing::laughing:

Just a joke, couldn't resist. :stirthepot:

 

[Shield Arc]

Beautiful work on the 7018.

Thank you! I should have held onto that welder, just for what it would do with 7018. But I needed the room in my shop.
Here is another 7018 weld I made with that machine. A guy on another site couldn't get anybody to build a stinger for him like this, so I built it and shipped it to him.