I have a question about welders...

[sd455dan]

It would be for general welding , repairing something that's broken. Just looking for a basic welder that I can learn on at an affordable price.

General welding is pretty general

Affordable price I get that for sure.


I would check out the local craigslist and try and find a good AC/DC stick welder with leads for around $200.

With the right rod you can weld most any material from steel to cast iron, stainless, to aluminum -although stick welding aluminum is probably the last method I would chose.

Since you wired your garage for 200 amp service, you could look for what is posted above and go up a level and try and find an older American made stick/tig welder

you have to have space- because they are generally a larger footprint welder you gain several capabilities such as AC tig welding in addition to DC tig.
Now you can Tig weld steel Plus Aluminum and other metals that require AC Tig.

It also buys you more welding power for big or thick metal jobs and welding any thicker Aluminum requires power.

If you were in my area I would give this a look (i have an earlier model of this)

Lincoln arc welder Tig 3/3 ac/dc welder - tools - by owner - sale

Not all shiny- but comes with everything and even a pro cooler. for $650 obo but it isn't portable

If you will just be doing smaller jobs with steel like exhaust welding, mower decks, building say a welding cart and repair of 1/4 or less...

a new 150-200 amp DC mig will cover a lot of bases- even aluminum with the right wire gas/ and or spool gun Many can be operated on 120VAC or 240 VAC also which is great if you need portability.

The portable stick /tig that kOua posted is also hard to beat.

Lots of ways to go

 

[atsah]

I don't weld cast or aluminum but I weld everything else with a Lincoln stick welder that cost me $350. I tried a wirefeed and counld't get the hang of it. The little welding do, I get great penetration and results from the stick..

 

[LouNY]

For quick repairs on dirty rusted equipment that you can't get into to clean and grind properly, may even have some soaked in residual grease it's hard to beat an old AC buzz box with 6011.

The other equipment list and praised can and will do a nice job, but the night that you drag a welder out in the field, crawl up under an old piece of equipment that you had to jack with a couple of bottle jacks and pull with a come along to weld up and get it home it's hard to beat 6011.

Plus it's the cheapest.

 

[newbury]

It would be for general welding , repairing something that's broken. Just looking for a basic welder that I can learn on at an affordable price.

I was in that situation in 2014. Needed to fix the deck of my rotary cutter. Knew I wanted a welder I could use outside in the wind and didn't want to invest in an oxy-acet rig. Bought an Everlast Powerarc 300 back in 2014 simply because it turned up at the right time for about $270. Spent about 10 hours teaching myself to weld, fixed the cutter, didn't do much since.

IF the PA 300 hadn't turned up for $270 I would have bought a much smaller, less capable welder. And probably flux core or mig.

Figure out what you need to fix before you buy a lot more power than you need. For example my PA 300 is great on 1/4" or 1/2" steel, overkill for 10 gauge decking.
I've been told that mig is a lot easier to learn but also can hide poor penetration, so you get pretty welds but they are weak.

Also if you are interested in anything in the Everlast line pm Mark.

 

[raybender]

I would recommend a MIG. I learned stick welding when I was younger and working as a machinist. My stick welds were 殿cceptable? but as my eye sight has gotten worse, it was hard to manage the puddle. I recently got a Hobart Handler 210 MIG for $820. It is a 120/240V transformer model. For another $140 got a 60cf tank of MIG gas. I found it easy manage the puddle and my welds have never been better.

 

[BMan2005]

Like you I needed a welder to start repairing my own stuff. I didn't plan to weld much other than normal steel, no aluminum or sheet metal. Never stuck an arc in my life and wanted quality and price in one unit for a stick welder. Not a easy thing, but after some recommendations on here I bought a Everlast PowerArc 200 ST. Starting learning to weld, repairing my broken stuff, then some projects along the way. It's not a Miller I'm sure, but it's done everything I ask of it and makes a complete newbie like me look like I half way can weld. Mig will be more versatile and I plan to add one into the arsenal one day after my shop is built, but I do like the simplicity of grabbing a stick and running a bead.

Here is a few pictures of a few things I've done with it so far, it's more than paid for itself. Welding is probably the best thing I've ever learned to do around here & good luck in your choice. These guys here can definitely help you.

 

[MoArk Willy]

It would be for general welding , repairing something that's broken. Just looking for a basic welder that I can learn on at an affordable price.

You can get an inexpensive MIG for $400 - $500.
You can get an inexpensive inverter welder for $150 $350.
For your use you really don't need to spend more. A $2000 welder does not make you 10 times better than a $200 welder.
Just practice and experience does. And you probably need one or the other.
As your need grows (IF) you can always upgrade. But if it's going to sit in the shop until you break something keep that in mind when you consider cost.
Welding is fun and if you get the urge you can spend more. It's your money whether you use it every day or it sits for months at a time.

 

[k0ua]

Like you I needed a welder to start repairing my own stuff. I didn't plan to weld much other than normal steel, no aluminum or sheet metal. Never stuck an arc in my life and wanted quality and price in one unit for a stick welder. Not a easy thing, but after some recommendations on here I bought a Everlast PowerArc 200 ST. Starting learning to weld, repairing my broken stuff, then some projects along the way. It's not a Miller I'm sure, but it's done everything I ask of it and makes a complete newbie like me look like I half way can weld. Mig will be more versatile and I plan to add one into the arsenal one day after my shop is built, but I do like the simplicity of grabbing a stick and running a bead.

Here is a few pictures of a few things I've done with it so far, it's more than paid for itself. Welding is probably the best thing I've ever learned to do around here & good luck in your choice. These guys here can definitely help you.

You have done some nice work.

 

[k0ua]

You can get an inexpensive MIG for $400 - $500.
You can get an inexpensive inverter welder for $150 $350.
For your use you really don't need to spend more. A $2000 welder does not make you 10 times better than a $200 welder.
Just practice and experience does. And you probably need one or the other.
As your need grows (IF) you can always upgrade. But if it's going to sit in the shop until you break something keep that in mind when you consider cost.
Welding is fun and if you get the urge you can spend more. It's your money whether you use it every day or it sits for months at a time.

Some very good advice.

 

[Turbys_1700]

JMHO...
If you want new go with the Everlast in the mig or stick unit that you want...
If you want to go used look at Craigslist for a Lincoln AC/DC buzz box stick and a mig/flux core 220 unit...
I was taught to weld back as a kid in the 60's on an old 1940's vintage Smith AC welder...
Years ago I bought a used AC only buzz box stick welder and later added an inexpensive 180 mig Chicago Electric unit that was practically new...
I have $250 total in those two units and they do everything that I need here on the farm...
Everlast is a sponsor or here and offers a tremendous value in welders...