I "need" a welder..?

[CTyler]

Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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...???
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I think that would be true with any welder stick or mig. Although it may be that its easier to lay wire(no penetration) with a mig. Its been 20 years since touching a stick welder.

 

[Highbeam]

Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

An arc welder like a buzz box welds at about 25 volts so at the 200 amp setting (that's hot, you'll mostly use about 100 amps) the welder is pulling 5000 watts. Heck, say 6600 watts for grins and assuming some inefficiency. 6600 watts divided by 220 volts is only 30 amps of power through the circuit. Most welders come equipped with a standard 50 amp style plug.

I power my ac225 buzzbox with a coleman 6850 peak/5500 continuous coleman generator for remote welding of some seriously thick stuff.

 

[Sully2]

Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

http://store.cyberweld.com/mil175witecc.html

Here's a Millermatic 175 MIG...with the cart..etc..etc. Says it requires 20 AMPS at 230 Volts. Has a range or 30-175 amps....price ant too bad at right at $800 and that includes the shipping..??

Supposidly can do 3/16 stock in a single pass...so if I prep my stuff,,I can easily do 1/4 thick work.

Also..Im under the understanding that MIG gives one the ability to also to SST and Aluminum materials..??

 

[MadReferee]

Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

$800 delivered with cart is a good price from an internet vendor.

When I had my MM175 I regularly welded 1/4" in a single pass and 3/8" with 2 passes with no problems at all. Once I found the right setting on the dials I was golden. I used .030 wire with C25 shielding gas. All of my projects (landscape rake, forks, carry-alls, bucket hitches, etc.) were done with this setup.

 

[GabeTX]

$800 delivered with cart is a good price from an internet vendor.

That particular vendor is good, too.

I bought my oxy-acetylene outfit from them; shipped quickly and made good on a problem with the order (that wasn't really there fault--Victor changed product lines almost overnight).

 

[HammerFour]

I use a little Hobart 135 ( 110 v ) mig welder. All I have used is flux core wire in it, but it has worked great.

It will do 3/16 in one pass with no problems at all, I haven't needed to do anything bigger. If I were to start building a 3ph backhoe or a grapple, I would get a bigger unit I think.

But for the stuff I have needed to do around our place ( welding on a baler, a hay rake, a sickle mower, gates, fences, you name it ) it has worked perfectly.

I did get an auto darkening helmet, that helps a lot.

 

[Sully2]

I use a little Hobart 135 ( 110 v ) mig welder. All I have used is flux core wire in it, but it has worked great.

It will do 3/16 in one pass with no problems at all, I haven't needed to do anything bigger. If I were to start building a 3ph backhoe or a grapple, I would get a bigger unit I think.

But for the stuff I have needed to do around our place ( welding on a baler, a hay rake, a sickle mower, gates, fences, you name it ) it has worked perfectly.

I did get an auto darkening helmet, that helps a lot.

One of my problems is that I dont have any sort of "feel" for how many amps Id need to do a good job on ..say 1/4 thick stock. While I wouldnt want a maximum output of the unit to be "strained"...hence Im eyeballing 175-180 amp units knowing that Id "probably" be using in the 110-130 amp range....I THINK.??

 

[MadReferee]

One of my problems is that I dont have any sort of "feel" for how many amps Id need to do a good job on ..say 1/4 thick stock. While I wouldnt want a maximum output of the unit to be "strained"...hence Im eyeballing 175-180 amp units knowing that Id "probably" be using in the 110-130 amp range....I THINK.??

Figure out what is the average thickness you will be welding and buy a welder that is rated for that thickness. Go to the Miller, Hobart or Lincoln web sites and forums and educate yourself on the various size welders and what they are capable of doing, thickness wise. Then choose the one you want based on its capabilities. Remember that most manufacturers slightly under-rate their machines.

You have already been given good advice on welders. If you are still confused you need to do some homework or go to a real welding forum and ask there. In fact yur question has been asked and answered several times in the past few months. People who weld for a living will give good advice.

Based on your requirements, the minimum I would choose is a mig in the 175 amp and above range and if you can afford it something in the 200 amp range like the MM210. It will give you the best opportunity to weld thin and thick metal and not give you second thoughts about not getting something big enough.

 

[neverenough]

Re: I \"need\" a welder..?

Here's what I know about electric welders... They use electricity... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Ive tried stick welders and can stick a rod with the best of them...and thats it...lol. What Im contemplating is a low cost...115VAC...wire fed MIG outfit..??

Jobs would be as complex... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...as welding on items such as my bucket hooks...welding up my .50 caliber ammo box "tool box" setup..and if I should..??..punch a hole thru my FEL...to weld up any minor damage.

MAX material thickness would be in the range of 1/4 inch thick...and Im told with the smaller MIG outfits..that if I grind the correct weld prep on that thick of material...and using multiple passes..it shouldnt be any problem..?? ( True or not?)

Also...most probably...would be using flux cored wire...instead of ALWAYS using the gas..but definately want the gas "addition".

I want the weld jobs to "look good"..of course..but they need to do their job. Dont need or want some $3000 welder...dont want or need something to do 1/2 "boiler plate" either.

Is it all a pipe dream..or will one of these welders do what I need...which isnt much at all really..

Welders are like trucks and tractors, don't buy too big, and NEVER buy too small. Being a farmer, I have a need for powerful welders. I need to be able to go from thin shield repair, to welding broken drawbars back on 200 hp tractors. I have an old stick welder that is about 300 amp range, and a 290 amp (I think) Miller wire feed (mig) welder. I use the wire feed (mig) for most everything, pulling out the stick welder only for the heaviest of jobs.

IMO, if I was in your place, I would look at the 125-175 amp range wire feed (mig) welders. I have a pro quality auto darkening helmet, and I wouldn't trade it for nothing. It really is worth the investment. Much easier to work in low light conditions.

 

[Ductape]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

I'll start by saying that, though i started welding over twenty years ago, i've not done enough of it to consider myself anything but a novice.

I've used an old Lincoln stick welder with some success. Great for heavy stuff. Back in high school i went to work for an autobody shop and learned to weld with a mig. A former business associate had a full sized Snap On 110 mig i spent many hours with.... i think it was a 140 amp. It welded anything i found myself needing to weld. When i realized it was time to own a welder, i started looking at new, full sized machines like the Miller 210 (or equivalent) .... but couldn't really justify spending nearly two thousand (after bottle, wire, shield, etc.) for the amount i need to weld. Then i came across i used Miller 175 ( Thanks MadReferee !! ). It was in mint condition, and i saved a bit over buying new. Though you may want to stick with buying new... i would agree with the other guys here who have advised you to make a step up to a 175 - 180 amp 220v mig. It should do more than a weekend welder like you and I will need. More than a sheetmetal welder..... less than a big stick welder.