Beginner welder recs

Shield Arc · Nov 12, 2011

gwdixon said:
For any of the Everlast products, call or email Oleg at Everlast. He is willing to accept a discount offer on Everlast products.

As the website indicates "make an offer".

You're better off to deal with Mark! Mark doesn't drop the ball.

k0ua · Nov 12, 2011

here you go:

Mark Lugo
Everlast Welders
Welders, Plasma Cutters, Welder, Arc Tig Mig Welding Equipment, Welding Accessories, Consumables, Diesel Generators

Need a welder? Give me a call at (877) 755-9353 ext 204

jake98 · Nov 13, 2011

Weesy, weldingtipsandtricks.com has great info and videos on welding technique, processes, products, etc.
(plus, the guy makes me laugh at least once per video)

Haywire · Nov 13, 2011

bunchgrass said:
The Powerarc 200 looks interesting and very reasonable. Any negatives?

Only negative that I can think of is that it doesn't weld by itself. One positive is that you can buy a tig torch and regulator and use it for a tig machine if you have the need. I'm thinking that any DC stick welder has that capability though.

Ian

dwilliams35 · Nov 13, 2011

weesa20 said:
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

Listen to your father already... MIG is the way to go for a newbie, it's a LOT easier than stick. As far as self-teaching, the best teacher is a pile of little pieces of scrap metal.

gwdixon · Nov 13, 2011

Shield Arc said:
You're better off to deal with Mark! Mark doesn't drop the ball.

Mark is a nice guy and efficient. However, dealing with the company president, Oleg (Alex) allows a bit more flexibility in price. That was my experience when buying two Everlast products.

Mark does need to add on his commission and rightfully so.

Mark @ Everlast · Nov 13, 2011

gwdixon said:
For any of the Everlast products, call or email Oleg at Everlast. He is willing to accept a discount offer on Everlast products.

As the website indicates "make an offer".

Contact Sales Support for Everlast

Excuse me GW but I gotta disagree..,
I too give discounts, especially for tbn members...
But we work off the same price sheet. I've had people get mad because when people thought they were going over my head to the "top" got the same price or a slightly higher price. In fact I make the price sheets with the discounts up. Dealing with the company "president" means you are less likely to get hold of him, and less likely to get a personal response, and less likely to get the unit matched up to your needs. I am a welder by trade. He is not. You think you are getting a better deal by dealing directly with the "head" ...That's natural for people to want to try and make themselves think that...But I know what he is selling product for. And we are selling them in the same neighborhood. Yes, I do work off commission, but its far from a significant amount.

I will say this..IF you get a significantly better price from the "top" there is a reason for it...you can read into that what you want.

IslandTractor · Nov 13, 2011

dwilliams35 said:
Listen to your father already... MIG is the way to go for a newbie, it's a LOT easier than stick. As far as self-teaching, the best teacher is a pile of little pieces of scrap metal.

It is easier using a MIG glue gun to put a bead down but I thought it was much harder to learn what a weld puddle is and how to control it with MIG. You can make a pretty but crappy weld very easily with a MIG, especially if self taught or taught by a friend in a fifteen minute lesson. Much better to initially struggle with oxyfuel or stick to get it right. MIG is a trivial challenge once you understand the basics but can be deceiving to a newbie who doesn't have a proper reference point for what a good weld is.