Give me your welding experiences

[stevenf]

JD3130,
Does a Lincoln 225AC cracker box type have the same uses as a mig. I haven't really investigated them much but I thought the wire feed type welding machines were for mainly light duty applications. My welding needs currently are maybe some pipe fence if I got a portable one and welding things that I'll inevitably break on the tractor since its 90hp I figure sooner or later I'll latch on to something immovable and the implement will shear something that needs more than baling wire and scotch tape to fix. Most of the implements parts that I figure would break are made from 1/2" material with the exception of the shredder.
Steve

 

[Mith]

does anyone have any answers for the questions i posted a little bit ago
it looks like many people are gaining alot from this thread - especially me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
thanks

 

[snorider]

Mig welders are for mainly lighter stuff. At school we have a 170 amp lincon that will weld 14 gage metal but won't go much higher. A mig welder would expensive if you need one to weld 1/2 material. A buzz box would be a better for what you need. To weld heavyer stuff you need round the edges make a pass clean it up then make another pass to fill the gap.

Joe

 

[slydog]

Steve,
You are correct about the Migs, especially the small 110v versions like mine. They say for up to 1/4", but that takes several passes and is probably stretching the limits. From what I have read, for afordability and overall usefullness, if you are not welding sheet metal, thin stainless or aluminum, I'd go with a ac/dc stick welder.

 

[snorider]

To increase the pentration either bump the heat up a little or slow down a little bit.

Joe

 

[Mith]

i got some 3.2 rods and went up to 110 amps and it appears to be going through
thanks

 

[stevenf]

Anybody have any thoughts on the best type (brand) of AC/DC cracker box type stick welder I should be looking at. I hopefully am not going to try and earn a living welding but I do cherish good equipment this said price is still a concern I'd rather not spend more than $400 but if there is a big difference in usefullness between a $400. one and a $500. one I could certainly afford it if I have to, bearing in mind that I'll probably be welding on 1/2" plate and also some 1/2" T-1 on my grapple from time to time.
Thanks again mith for not screaming at me I have to imagine that anything I ask can't hurt your experience portfolio because after I get this machine I'm going to go back and reread this entire thread again as lots of great tips and tricks have been mentioned besides lots of don't do this it hurts information that if you hadn't started this thread I'd have found out the hard way while dancing around the ranch with an ember in my shorts.
Please keep this thread active as there have to be plenty of interested TBN'rs out there just dying to learn how to weld and you pros are shareing valuable lessons that you learned over years of doing this for a living even the fellow with the pipe and the gorilla helper that he used as a circuit extension, What a hoot!
Steve

 

[Bird]

Steve, I was in Home Depot yesterday for something else and happened to notice the Lincoln "tombstone" welders; both the AC and the AC/DC and I think the AC/DC had a price tag of $387 on it.

 

[MMM]

TSC did have the Hobart AC/DC for $389, $369 or $3sumpin. I would go AC/DC (in welder terms only /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) as it is superior for out o' position, and greater variety of rods.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Are you anywhere near Winnsboro? )</font>
About 60mi WSW. I might be headed your way when I get back to States to look at couple JD hoes I saw in the Market Bulletin.

 

[stevenf]

MMM according to mapquest I'm 400 miles or so from Winnsboro. I hope this isn't going to start a round of laughter but since I know nothing about welding I have to ask what is out o' position. Now if I'm guessing I'd say it sounds like it gives you more room for error in voltage settings without causing a problem with the weld. But your probably heheheing now so tell me so I'll sleep tonight without reading thru hours of google searches.
Do you think Hobart is comparable to Lincoln and miller and all the other names I've seen mentioned?
Steve