Have to buy a welder now

[BTDT]

Good job. Any plans on a paint job, oh wait, I forgot, your not much on painting anything. Or does that just go for the tractor?

 

[California]

Good job. Any plans on a paint job, oh wait, I forgot, your not much on painting anything. Or does that just go for the tractor?

Man you guys are a rough audience!

I don't need everything shiny new. This cast iron garden furniture would look like the plastic K-mart imitation if I put glossy new Imron on it.

Nearly everything at the ranch is authentic 1920's rustic. No sheetrock anywhere, the electric wiring was obviously added long after the house was built, and in the attached photo that's a real chicken coop (long used as a toolroom) behind the site where my wife is trying to establish a patio. I think those 1x16 redwood planks look better without paint and they have been there unpainted 80-90 years without much weathering. That wall looks the same as when I first saw it, about 1950.

On the other hand, by coincidence I have a painter starting a $2100 project today on the watertower and cabin - I keep up the maintenance where needed! This follows $2900 re-roofing earlier this year. I'm not a complete cheapskate! I just don't see a need to force everything up to 2007 standards when it works fine already. Then this place would look like it belongs in subdivision.

But you're right, I should have put paint on the repaired portion before reassembling that table.

 

[travis potter]

I'm new to this. hope you can understand what i mean. In my work all I weld light ,18 and 16 ga metal I only use Lincoln rods, 6013 at Lows and Home depot, small box, cost more but thew don't go bad. I use HF 120 v welder and it works great on the light metal but will not weld the heavy stuff. The rods are the most importat part of a good weld. I have a mig but won't use it because the welds aren't as strong as the stick. I have been welding this light metal for 30 years so I am set in my ways as to what I will use.

 

[Soundguy]

Good job.

Ditto.. I'm sure there will be welds I make where DC capability will be better.. and if it is en emergency.. I can always set out 3 car batteries and jumper cable weld (grin).

soundguy

Chris (Soundguy) I'm always surprised how my perspective seems to run parallel to yours. I bought an old Wards AC 235 welder, and found that the manual for your modern hobart 235ac is a near-perfect match for explaining its design and how to use it properly. This rig seems to do anything I want.

My latest project was to repair the leg tabs for a cast-iron garden chair and matching table that my wife inherited. A shop told me $90/hour and probably two hours, for the project. He suggested I try some expensive nickel rod ($35/lb). With no cast iron experience at all, I did a fine job on it with my old AC welder , much better than I expected.

I remembered thingy's posts saying grind the welds until no lines remain. I welded, peened, then ground, several times to be sure I had continuous metal. I also was careful to avoid excess heat.

This picture shows the two repaired tabs plus one unbroken leg. The break on each tab was where the nut stressed it. I think the repaired legs are now as strong as the undamaged one.

There must be some application I will need a fancier welder for, but I haven't hit the limits of this one yet.

 

[heymack]

FWIW, I had a conversation with my neighbor a couple days ago who's been a professional welder for over 30 years. I asked him what the best option is for me, living on 100 acres with three or four tractors and all sorts of other equipment. His response was this:

FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Kohler Welder/Generator Champ — 230 Amp DC, 10,000 Watts, Model# 500434 | Welder/Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment

It makes perfect sense when one thinks about it.....the generator for emergencies, the high amp AC/DC welder for both large and small jobs, but mostly the portability as one doesn't alway have access to a 240 plug....now if he'd just give me $2500.....

 

[Sully2]

I'm new to this. hope you can understand what i mean. In my work all I weld light ,18 and 16 ga metal I only use Lincoln rods, 6013 at Lows and Home depot, small box, cost more but thew don't go bad. I use HF 120 v welder and it works great on the light metal but will not weld the heavy stuff. The rods are the most importat part of a good weld. I have a mig but won't use it because the welds aren't as strong as the stick. I have been welding this light metal for 30 years so I am set in my ways as to what I will use.

That should read the MIG welds YOU MAKE arent as strong as the STICK WELDS YOU make. Could be YOUR mig welder isnt "adjusted" correctly ( most probably) or that it just isnt worth a darn to start with...but dont ever beleve that on material as thin as 1/8's or less than a PROPER MIG weld is inferior in some manner to a stick weld....aint so partner!

 

[Sully2]

FWIW, I had a conversation with my neighbor a couple days ago who's been a professional welder for over 30 years. I asked him what the best option is for me, living on 100 acres with three or four tractors and all sorts of other equipment. His response was this:

FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Kohler Welder/Generator Champ — 230 Amp DC, 10,000 Watts, Model# 500434 | Welder/Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment

It makes perfect sense when one thinks about it.....the generator for emergencies, the high amp AC/DC welder for both large and small jobs, but mostly the portability as one doesn't alway have access to a 240 plug....now if he'd just give me $2500.....

You can buy a stand alone genset and a Hobart AC/DC (235 AC/ 160 DC) stick welder a lot cheaper than $2500...Unless you NEED a 10KW genset of course

 

[Soundguy]

He could buy a 13kw pto gen and the ac/dc welder for about 1600$ I'd guess.. then put one of those 4 tractors to use when he needs remote power or remote welding..

I have a 13kw pto gen.. and a hobart 235AC stickmate XL.. love it.. AC only.. but it and a couple pounds of 1/8 6011 sure glues rusty metal together real good when it has to..

Soundguy

 

[heymack]

You can buy a stand alone genset and a Hobart AC/DC (235 AC/ 160 DC) stick welder a lot cheaper than $2500...Unless you NEED a 10KW genset of course

After reading this, I think 10,000 watts is a bare minimum to run a 235 amp machine (at full capacity of course).

Ask The Experts: Generators | Lincoln Electric

I like Soundguy's idea, but after looking around the net, most 10,000 watt pto generators with cart and shipping can cost as much or more than the combo unit....plus you have to figure out how to move the generator and welder to a remote location together if needed.

 

[Soundguy]

Northern has 13kw gennies for? 1100$ Then bolt it to a 100$ carryall from TSC. 55$ for a pto shaft. Forget the cart.. they are trash.. carryall is WAY easier.. and if you do it right you can mount the welder on the same cart.. and just drive it to anywhere on your property to weld.. or trailer it as normal to weld or 'power' remotely. If ya own a tractor.. you really should be able to move it...

Soundguy