Welder question...

[Richard]

I just have to shake my head....

Looking at three different welders.

So far, I'm three out of three where there is this "local" welder, yet all phone numbers are some other area code, not one out of them is local.

I know that's not conclusive as my OWN work phone number is a Nashville number, not a Knoxville number....

First one I emailed wanted my email to give me details.... had a phone number (that I had already called) and got a girl in St. Cloud MN

Kind of makes you want to just puke and go to store to buy new.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

With most welders you can dial down the heat and do very light work, but if welder does not produce enough heat (amperage) being to small you can turn it up to the max and it still may not be enough so you may need a bigger welder (more amperage capable)......

Understand voltage and amperage in any welding is a matter of just producing enough heat (at arc/puddle) to create fusion bond...

SMAW is a term Stick Metal Arc Welding it's just a technique using a stick electrode usually flux coated to add filler material into fusion bond created by arc.

GMAW in MIG welding is Gas Metal Arc Welding, wire machine feeds a solid wire "electrode" from reel in machine and control flow of shield gas to around arc/puddle to protect it from oxygen till it solidifies...

FCAW in MIG welding is Flux Core Arc Welding, wire machine feeds a tubular wire "electrode" ( the encloses a flux core) from reel i machine and and "flux" creates a shield of gas around arc/puddle to protect it from oxygen till it solidifies...

TIG is Tungsten Inert Gas welding and is sort of above what you need to know at beginners level, but its using a tungsten rod and a shield gas (usually argon) to create a arc/puddle at the joining of two pieces of material to be bonded and unlike SMAW or MIG the welder has to manually feed filler rod into fusion bond.... Very similar concept to oxy/acet welding but using a electrical arc instead of a fuel (gas) and oxygen...

Might want to invest in something like this to help you understand what it's all about, mugh get it online or drop buy local public library to see if the have some books on welding...

Dale

SMAW is shielded metal arc welding.

Ron

 

[TimberHole]

Yikes... you are touting a $3000+ system to a newbie welder. My suggestion is that someone diving in for the first time should be looking at something like a 110v/220v MIG... or a cheaper stick if he is brave and patient. OP needs to learn not only to weld but also whether at some point, decide if he wants to dive in deep. Most of us hacks can get away easily with a stick or MIG machine with far less capability/complexity than yours. Very cool welder and you are a lucky man to have! If you are in the trade and you need to travel to use for various weld projects, I get it.

It seems that at that price, multiple machines as you increase your skills might be a much better avenue and you don't have to jump in deep. I am contemplating a TIG myself. Do I need it... NO. But sure would be nice and I could spring for it and after paying for that, plus my Miller 211 MIG, I am still quite a bit less out of pocket than a multi process machine such as the 255.

Did you read my entire post? I also pointed out a guy can buy an entry level buzz box for $150.00. I知 not promoting any particular welder just giving a new guy a range of costs and capabilities. Generally speaking you are not going to weld less than 1/8 thick with a stick welder. What you buy really depends on what you want to weld.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Most of these acronyms don't mean anything to me... (just disclosing how little I know about this)

Anyway.... Any welding would be done outdoors, nothing inside. My garage needs some wiring done (some extra outlets and more lights) I ALREADY have some (if I recall correctly) 8g 3 wire (??) that was used to carry power to a second panel box.

So, I can make a dedicated 220V (and or) 110V outlet for any purpose.... I have a clean drawing board and already have the wires, just need breakers and outlets.

May I presume that if I can weld something using 220 volts, I can ALSO dial it down and do something that (was described above) as sheet metal, where the 110V unit would work.

Let me re-word that....

I can weld with 110V and do so much....can't do "heavy" welding that might require 220V.

HOWEVER, if you use a 220V system, you can do the heavy stuff AND you can also dial it down for the 110V stuff?


I am one that prefers to buy something nice verses go the least cost route. No disrespect intended, but I try to avoid Harbor Freight if at all possible.... My primary wrenches/sockets are Snapon with backups of the Craftsman, MAC and Cornwell (?) type.... Had too many cheap tools snap when needed decades ago so just pay the piper and avoid them.


Never thought about used.... going to poke around Craigslist...

My :2cents: again,

I would suggest you go to your local welding gas companies and look at the desired welder with their help, and maybe they might have a good used one that someone traded in...

Good luck, KC

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Did you read my entire post? I also pointed out a guy can buy an entry level buzz box for $150.00. I知 not promoting any particular welder just giving a new guy a range of costs and capabilities. Generally speaking you are not going to weld less than 1/8 thick with a stick welder. What you buy really depends on what you want to weld.

I have done certified level work up to 1/2" with an AC buzz box. Do not under sell them. Even a lot of the lower end ones in the 200 Amp/240 Volt size do decent work from a decent level welder. Lower the amperage the harder to do heavier thickness work.

Ron

 

[California]

I have done certified level work up to 1/2" with an AC buzz box. Do not under sell them.

I've read that's what they used in WWII shipyards to build the 400+ ft Liberty ships.

 

[WranglerX]

SMAW is shielded metal arc welding.

Ron

Oops my bad..Brain F&#T...

Thank you!

Dale

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I've read that's what they used in WWII shipyards to build the 400+ ft Liberty ships.

All of the WW II surplus welding machines I in my younger days were GE and Westinghouse 400A MG sets. The surplus market had them for real cheap. Lot of them out there still running strong.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Did you read my entire post? I also pointed out a guy can buy an entry level buzz box for $150.00. I知 not promoting any particular welder just giving a new guy a range of costs and capabilities. Generally speaking you are not going to weld less than 1/8 thick with a stick welder. What you buy really depends on what you want to weld.

Yes I did... no offense. I think though for a starting out homeowner the sweet spot if he (or she) can afford it is a name brand 110/220v MIG. This is in the $1000 range. I think this allows you to get up to speed faster making it more enjoyable and a 220v machine is plenty capable for most anything a homeowner would/should tackle and can be dialed back to do some delicate work until you get the itch for TIG (where I am at :licking. If you find you don't enjoy welding or just don't have that many projects or excuses to use your welder, you aren't out too much and you will recoup most of your investment as many are looking for clean used machines at a discount off of new.

 

[aczlan]

We have a Everlast PowerArc 200STi and have been very happy with it. It works on both 120V/240V and you can adjust the output amps from 1 amp up to 200 amps.
They also make a line of MIG welders that are reputed to be good.
Our neighbor has a Miller Multimatic 200 MIG welder and that is nice, you set the thickness of your metal on the dial and it automatically sets everything else.
I really like the ability to work on both 120V and 240V power, mainly because it's a lot more portable that way.

Aaron Z