swnoel
Silver Member
I'm just finishing up a barn and have brought in a 200 amp service. If I was to buy one kind of welder what should I buy and which manufacturer?
thanks
thanks
I have a question about welders...
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Ritothebull
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Whats your budget and what are you going to be welding, and do you have any experience?
prof fate
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Things to consider...
What are you planning to weld, or more important, how MUCH do you plan to weld? How serious will you be at this?
The easiest to use is a mig welder (gas wire feed). They, like any tool, come in a broad range of prices. Generally the most versatile type of unit as well.
I got a 'buzz box' - aka, stick welder, arc welder, etc. They come in AC and DC (ac wall outlet, the ac/dc is how they output their power). Which you want depends on what you're welding. Mine is a cheapie AC unit, great for thicker (1/8" and up metals).
I got a cheapie wire feed 'flux core' welder from harbor freight - 110v so versatile in that regard, pretty easy to use, got it for tacking up at the farm where I don't have (yet) 220v outlet..not that I want to weld in a barn full of hay and horses and sawdust...so I do my welding at home where the tools and such is. I used it recently to weld automotive sheet metal. Spatters a lot more than MIG.
TIG is the higher end, often for specialty use AFAIK.
Good name brand welders can run $700 and up. If you weld a LOT then yes, spend the bucks. More features as well.
If you only do it now and then and don't mind a bit more fiddling with things, then the harbor freight stuff is fine. You can oftne get their 110v flux core for $85-95.
Then there is the different settings (amps) on welders, and different rods/wire (material, thickness, flux, etc) depending on what you're welding, the angle you're welding (upside down vs on a table say).
Still learning myself.
What are you planning to weld, or more important, how MUCH do you plan to weld? How serious will you be at this?
The easiest to use is a mig welder (gas wire feed). They, like any tool, come in a broad range of prices. Generally the most versatile type of unit as well.
I got a 'buzz box' - aka, stick welder, arc welder, etc. They come in AC and DC (ac wall outlet, the ac/dc is how they output their power). Which you want depends on what you're welding. Mine is a cheapie AC unit, great for thicker (1/8" and up metals).
I got a cheapie wire feed 'flux core' welder from harbor freight - 110v so versatile in that regard, pretty easy to use, got it for tacking up at the farm where I don't have (yet) 220v outlet..not that I want to weld in a barn full of hay and horses and sawdust...so I do my welding at home where the tools and such is. I used it recently to weld automotive sheet metal. Spatters a lot more than MIG.
TIG is the higher end, often for specialty use AFAIK.
Good name brand welders can run $700 and up. If you weld a LOT then yes, spend the bucks. More features as well.
If you only do it now and then and don't mind a bit more fiddling with things, then the harbor freight stuff is fine. You can oftne get their 110v flux core for $85-95.
Then there is the different settings (amps) on welders, and different rods/wire (material, thickness, flux, etc) depending on what you're welding, the angle you're welding (upside down vs on a table say).
Still learning myself.
sd455dan
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Well with single phase 240 VAC 200 amp service you can chose a wider variety of Older transformer welders since some models can draw over 100 amps @ 240VAC.
when you purchase a newer small inverter welder they generally are less demanding on the supply power source because they are more efficient at converting input to output power.
Do some research of the various types of welding and get an idea of what you want to learn or need to weld 1st.
Many books and some instructors suggest learning stick welding 1st or second after Oxy/Acetylene.
then moving on to other styles. others suggest starting with mig , because it is (easier) to pick up.
Watching and controlling the puddle is a good start no matter what type of process is being used- I am still learning and trying to improve also.
There are several skilled welders on TBN that hopefully will jump in with suggestions.
posting What you want to weld and any previous experience will help Us help you.
yomax4
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I agree that Budget and Experience is key. Under 3K and you have a million options. 4K and up narrows the field and i could offer some of the better options.
RNeumann
Elite Member
Power MIG 21 MP
ESAB and Miller also make multiprocess machines. This one seems to be the most popular of the 3 though. All 3 will do MIG, Stick and TIG welding. Plus they will run on 120 or 240v for the USA model.
ESAB and Miller also make multiprocess machines. This one seems to be the most popular of the 3 though. All 3 will do MIG, Stick and TIG welding. Plus they will run on 120 or 240v for the USA model.
Ritothebull
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The guys over at Welding Web love this machine and it's on sale right now for an amazing price, there are cheaper imported machines for a lot less but I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy. I have an ESAB plasma thats almost 30 years old and has been used hard and I never had a problem with it, I don't really need an other welder but for this price I may order one myself.
ESAB Rebel EM 215ic MIG Welder 0558102436
Einthewoods
Gold Member
Millermatic 211 #9 7614 FREE helmet FREE gloves FREE | Welders Supply Company Beloit-Big Bend-Burlington Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois
Great machine with a lot of versatility
Great machine with a lot of versatility
rScotty
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I second that. I've got an older millermatic and it is great. There are others nearly as good, but Millermatics are the standard. Love that machine.
For Swnoel I've gotta talk about learning welding. What you need is a short couple of hours of welding instruction. I've never met a welder who was reluctant to teach someone how to weld. And you will be amazed at how quick it is to pick up the basics. A couple of hours is plenty to go from knowing nothing to being able to do good looking, strong, and completely satisfactory electric welding in 1/8" to 1/4" in mild steel of any shape. And just knowing how to weld that size of mild steel will cover about 90% of the welding you will ever do.
You'll get better, but for baic welding in mild steel you'll find that one evening of instruction will make you good enough to get on with things.
If you have a choice, I recommend that you do that one evening instruction welding with an inert gas MIG setup like the Millermatic.
The other 10% of welding is mostly thinner/thicker steel and the various special alloys. Things like thin body sheet, or stainless, aluminum, titanium, hardfacing, tempering vs cracking in high carbon alloy steel, thick sections of structural plate, the use of the torch for brazing and heat treat... Unlike basic welding, every single one of each of these can take days - or longer - to get close enough to being right to be usable....and a lifetime to master.
But that first evening of learning will teach you enough to get going on it.
rScotty
