I "need" a welder..?

   / I "need" a welder..?
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

Awe...GEEZE!!! Now ya got me to thinking again.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #22  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

At least consider the 120/240V MIG. You get disappointed very quickly with a small current MIG welding heavier material, even with multiple passes. The weld just sits on top. On the otherhand, welding 1/8" steel and smaller is a real snap with these small MIGs. As was mentioned, using Flux Core (with your miniMIG) can really help the penetration, but the weld is not pretty and there is some time involved switching between the two processes. You will need bare bones a 120/20amp circuit for your MIG. I have a 120V/30amp for my Millermatic MiniMIG and trip that breaker.
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #23  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

I've been watching these welding posts too, I even created my own thread a while back and got a lot of good advice. Of course I still haven't gotten an electric welder yet, but I have been playing with my O/A setup and having fun.

I've been watching Craigs List for welders for quite a while and I've seen a large range of welders come up in my area for pretty good prices. I'd bet you could get whatever your looking for off of CL for under $300.
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #24  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but now I'm wondering if even with the extra time and effort if the heavier projects can get done )</font>

IMHO.. fabrication involving 3/8 and a 110v welder will turn into a long turn painfull relationship.

The very limited 3/8 welding I've done with my 110v welder took 3x to 4x the weld time, rod and prep work.. vs just using a 220v welder ( mig or stick ).

Soundguy

Soundguy
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #25  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

Speaking of Craigslist, in April I sold my Millermatic 175 MIG with Miller cart and 1/2 full 80cfm C25 gas bottle and some expendibles for $700 on CL. The buyer got a really great deal. If you watch CL long enough the deals will be there.
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #26  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

Talking about welders is probably a subject that should be avoided like politics and religion. But . . .

Last summer we moved about five miles. Suddenly, I had no neighbors with welders -- at least none who would admit to owning one.

I hadn't owned a welder in over 30 years. I looked long and hard at what to get. Oxy-acetylene? Lincoln 225 stick? MIG/Flux Core?

I wanted something I could easily move without a forklift or a hernia. Something I could take to the work, not vice versa. I looked around at most of what had been welded and fabricated in the past couple of years. 99% was 1/4-inch or less. On some heavier pieces, things were brazed or just tack welded anyway.

It came down to MIG or Oxy.

I settled on a little 115 VAC Lincoln 135. It includes the gas option, but so far I've just used the flux core.

Great machine, and I've fixed and fabricated everything I've needed so far. First day I had it, I had to fabricate a new eyebolt for a 3-point hitch sway chain that I destroyed. Besides the custom eye bolt I fabricated (a 3/4-inch nut welded to the head of a 3/4-inch bolt), I had to reweld the piece of 3/8-inch chain that went through the eye of the fabricated bolt. I sold that tractor last week, but I sure did a lot of work with it since that repair and a number of other modifications/repairs.

Just last night, I used a rusty and cruddy old lawnmower blade and a couple of 2-inch pieces of rusty 1/2-inch rebar to make a drawbar lock. Except for the cuts with my chop saw, nothing else was cleaned or prepped on any of the pieces. I used a grinder to round some of the welded edges, and the penetration was good. No prep, and maybe two minutes of welding ?? The flux core is real forgiving of rust and paint. It just leaves a little spatter - but no worse than a stick.

The little welder even runs well off my portable generator.

If I can't do it with this little welder, then I probably should have somebody else do it who really knows how to weld.
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #27  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If I can't do it with this little welder, then I probably should have somebody else do it who really knows how to weld. )</font>

This is a good point for someone like me- my goal is to be able to do things I just can't do (for instance I just modified a metal gate with wood and bolts, a welder would have made this easier). But for structural stuff I wouldn't trust my skills- at least not yet.
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #28  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

Hi All,

Just my .02, I have a 110 V mig (Solar, 150A), It will weld 1/4" steel all day with no problem. 3/8" is more of a chore but doable. It is however a quality unit, it was around $1200.00 7 or 8 years ago. My point is a quaity unit will serve better than a lesser quality. My advise .... buy the best name brand that you can afford / justify, and really do yourself a favor and give the business to a reputable welding supplier, who will be there for advise, may cost a bit more, but the relationship can be very beneficial.

Matt
 
   / I "need" a welder..?
  • Thread Starter
#29  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( At least consider the 120/240V MIG. You get disappointed very quickly with a small current MIG welding heavier material, even with multiple passes. The weld just sits on top. On the otherhand, welding 1/8" steel and smaller is a real snap with these small MIGs. As was mentioned, using Flux Core (with your miniMIG) can really help the penetration, but the weld is not pretty and there is some time involved switching between the two processes. You will need bare bones a 120/20amp circuit for your MIG. I have a 120V/30amp for my Millermatic MiniMIG and trip that breaker. )</font>

Oh..well going to 220 volts is no problem.. Its just that MANY of the 220 volt MIG welders I see..are JUMBO boogers that exceed my needs by about 100000% I can stick..say a 50 amp-220 breaker in the box downstairs..and run the wiring thru the basement and out to the garage to the receptical...plug in there and do my "work"...lol...in the driveway. So going to 220 V is no biggie.

1) I want something thats easy to learn to use ( and makes good LOOKING along with "good" welds)
2) I DONT WANT something thats gonna costs me $1000-1500
3) 1/4 inch thickness is plenty...if I do a "T" welded item..I'll just prep both sides. Even with a plain butt weld Id prep it.
4) Im told.?..that if I cant learn to use a wire fed MIG setup ( and also using flux core wire with no gas)...then I dont have the ability to even GLUE 2 items together...???
5) Not sure how much "juice" a smaller 220 rig pulls ( amperage-wise)..but I just did pull a 220-30 amp breaker out of the box downstairs...I converted that circuit back to 120 V
 
   / I "need" a welder..? #30  
Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

My Millermatic 251 runs off a 50amp breaker and will do 1/2 no problem.

For under $800 you can get a Hobart 180 that is 220v and will do 5/16 in a single pass. Thats just one example. Not positive but am assuming it would require a 30 amp/220 breaker.
 

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