Beginner welder recs

[weesa20]

Hi All- i am interested in learning to weld- I have tried it a few times with my father who is a pretty good welder and have been around him for a lot of welding activities- unfortunately he is in another state and can't come by just to teach me to weld. I looked in to taking a class at the local tech school but they have a couple of math requisites that I could prob test out of (have a doctorate, masters, and bacherlor's degrees...) but really just want to learn the basics of welding- temp select, metal-welder compatabilites, and rod/wire selection, etc to do some basic welding around my house for my own personal projects. My dad recommended starting with Mig but I was thinking arc is actually easier- I had my garage wired for a welder so it ready to go- looking for thoughts on self teaching welding (not opposed to books, videos, etc) and recs for first welder- alot of my projects would require heavy steel (1/2" and less) which makes me think that arc would be the best for my purposes but not sure 225A is sufficient.

thanks for any thoughts

Weesy

 

[weesa20]

well I'm at it- thoughts on this Lincoln AC225 from NT? looks like a good deal for the $$$

Lincoln Electric AC-225 Arc Welder, Model# K1170 | Arc Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Shield Arc]

well I'm at it- thoughts on this Lincoln AC225 from NT? looks like a good deal for the $$$

Lincoln Electric AC-225 Arc Welder, Model# K1170 | Arc Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

Personally, I wouldn't drag that thing home if it was free!

 

[KYErik]

I have a 35 year old Lincoln AC welder just like the one pictured. It works fine for me- just doing basic fabrication and repairs with rusty scrap with 6011 rods- but I hear that there are some things that you can do much better with DC.

You should be able to find an old tombstone welder (an old version of the lincoln in the ad you posted) for less than $100 on craigslist. Although lots of them have probably been torn apart and scrapped for the copper inside...

I am self taught and for the first 20 years I though it was all about maintaining the right distance- and for those 20 years, my welds have mostly looked like bird poo. Recently I have realized that it is all about the molten puddle and so now my welds are starting to look much better.

 

[Chilly807]

well I'm at it- thoughts on this Lincoln AC225 from NT? looks like a good deal for the $$$

Lincoln Electric AC-225 Arc Welder, Model# K1170 | Arc Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

There's nothing wrong with the Lincoln AC-225, but as Erik pointed out, AC/DC is a better way to go. You have more choices for welding rods to use, and a smoother, better controlled arc. The price increase is indicative of how much better it is.

Incidentally, your Dad may be correct about starting with the MIG. I started with a Miller 135 MIG about 6 years ago, upgraded to a Miller 180 MIG (with spoolgun for aluminum), and picked up a well-used Century AC/DC stick machine 2 years ago. I think I've used the stick on the AC setting once, just to see what it was like.

I'd recommend getting either a 110v or 220v MIG to start with, and start looking for a good used stick machine for heavier materials.

Up to 1/2 inch material, the 230/140 amp AC/DC welder I have will do just fine. Duty cycle isn't so much of an issue for most of us that don't weld for a living. After all the projects I've built using my welders, none have ever exceeded the duty cycle and shut down. The 135 was 20%, the 180 is 30%, and the stick varies depending on the setting, but it's comparable to the other two.

You don't need 70% duty cycles and 300+ amps, contrary to popular TBN belief. It's easy to spend somebody else's money here.

My reasons for starting with the MIG are simple, being that they are EASY to weld with... a monkey can run a decent bead using a MIG, at least I can..

Once you have the hang of watching the puddle to control the weld, you can easily adapt that basic knowledge to using a stick, which adds the complication of maintaining arc length and moving the holder as the rod gets shorter.

A MIG will easily weld thin materials, like body metal and chainsaw mufflers. The stick will look after heavy stuff from about 1/8 inch and up. I use both in a typical fabrication job, quite often things get tacked with the MIG, then finished with the stick. Or if I get lazy the MIG does the whole job.

Repair work is the real forte of the stick, you can weld rusty, dirty metal with the right rods, and wind isn't an issue either. The MIG is better suited to shop work on new material, although flux core wire can be used for most applications if you want.

As the thread develops more, you'll see how opinionated people are about their welding preferences. It's like asking which is better, John Deere or Kubota..:laughing:

Sean

 

[flusher]

Get yourself an decent AC/DC stick welder, 220 VAC (mine is a Hobart Stickmate LX, about $400 at Tractor Supply). If you don't know much about welders, I'd stay away from used units unless you have someone who knows how to do a checkout.

I recommend the videos from Wall Mountain to learn welding

Instructional Welding Videos

Get yourself a decent autodarkening helmet (mine is a $60 from Northern Tool). I wear UV400 rated motorcycle goggles under the helmet to prevent stray ultraviolet light from getting to my corneas.

Start with an easy rod --1/8" 7014 drag rod-- and practice making horizontal welds until you can run a decent bead (depending on your proficiency you may have to burn a few hundred rods to get the knack of it). Weld with two hands and take your time while running the bead. The drag rod "automatically" sets the right arc gap when you angle it at 30 deg or so from vertical and drag the rod along the weld seam. Once you have enough practice with 7014, you can try the more difficult rods like 6011, 7018, etc.

Good luck

 

[k0ua]

As the thread develops more, you'll see how opinionated people are about their welding preferences. It's like asking which is better, John Deere or Kubota

Boy Sean got that right, everyone has an opinion about welders, but I will say this, I have that Lincoln 225 and it doesn't owe me a dime, I got a lot of good out of it, but a DC machine is the way to go if you want to learn stick. I would sell my AC225 for a lot less than that "sale price" I have the Everlast PA160 DC only inverter rig. I hate to see you spend your money on an new AC only rig when a good used AC/DC rig or a new DC only imported rig is about the same money, and will give better results. Guys that are good at welding can make good welds with AC machines, but a noob will have a harder learning curve vs. using DC. Also seriously consider getting an autodarkening helmet. It makes a big positive difference. Ok now you have heard my opinion. Good luck

James K0UA

 

[Dan Hunter]

I have a Hobart 135 Handler. It's a 110 volt MIG. I have no training and simply read the instructions and practiced a few welds before I started actually assembling stuff. I've built a stand for a meet grinder, a jack/stand for my ZTR, a wood rack, an over-engineered target holder, and some deer feeders.

Colt made men equal with the Peacemaker but the MIG makes the unskilled look competent. I have access to more capable gear but I really enjoy welding in my garage at home.

 

[Chilly807]

Get yourself a decent autodarkening helmet..

Great advice! It's hard to describe how much easier the auto-dark helmet makes welding in general, and stick welding in particular. The pro's do fine without them, but they weld all day, every day in some cases.

Start with an easy rod --1/8" 7014 drag rod--

Again, excellent advice.. I might recommend 3/32 rods for thinner material, but 1/8 is a great size for 1/4 to 1/2 inch material in my experience. 7014 is a very easy rod to weld with.

Chilly

 

[Little_Grizzly]

It's not likely but if there is a Tech Shop near you I HIGHLY recommend it. You can work with every type of welding that exists and find what works for you personally. I just wish there were more of them out there.

http://techshop.ws/locations.html