I "need" a welder..?

[knute_m]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

One last thought!

A Lincoln 115 V / 140 amp MIG/Flux core welder costs about $400.

A Lincoln 220 V / 180 amp MIG costs about $600.

A Lincoln 225 Stick costs only about $250.

The 115 V /140 amp MIG/Flux core is very portable, it can plug in anywhere, and it will do lots of work.

The Lincoln 225 Stick is not very portable, needs a dedicated 220 V circuit, but can weld most anything on a farm.

Together, the two would only cost just a little more than a 220 V / 180 amp MIG/flux core and, you’d have the best of both worlds.

Geeze! I gotta find a new job. I need to be much busier!

Knute

 

[Bill_C]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

One last thought!

A Lincoln 115 V / 140 amp MIG/Flux core welder costs about $400.

A Lincoln 220 V / 180 amp MIG costs about $600.

A Lincoln 225 Stick costs only about $250.

The 115 V /140 amp MIG/Flux core is very portable, it can plug in anywhere, and it will do lots of work.

The Lincoln 225 Stick is not very portable, needs a dedicated 220 V circuit, but can weld most anything on a farm.

Together, the two would only cost just a little more than a 220 V / 180 amp MIG/flux core and, you’d have the best of both worlds.

Geeze! I gotta find a new job. I need to be much busier!

Knute

this is exactly the route I went!! About 10 or 12 years ago I bought the Lincoln Weldpak 100, stuck the adaptor on it for a 10 lb reel of flux-core wire, and have been very pleased. It works great on thinner stuff, and you can't beat the portability and ease of use. Wanna weld the mailbox? Just run a heavy extension cord out and fix 'er right up!! For stuff like mower decks, and small brackets, it's fantastic!

But I occassionally wanted to weld stuff like 1/4 and 3/8 inch plate, and it takes a billion passes with the small welder, and I'd be reluctant to weld something really critical (like a trailer hitch)with it. So I recently bought the Lincoln 225/125 AC/DC stick welder--$389 from Home Depot online (plus tax, though shipping was FREE). It even comes with the receptacle (saves about $15 right there). With my new auto-darkening helmet from Harbor Freight, I'm like a kid on Christmas Day.....at least until the Visa bill comes....but now I can weld thin stuff with ease with the wire-feed, and thick stuff with the stick welder, for much less than $1000 total.

 

[Sully2]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

this is exactly the route I went!! About 10 or 12 years ago I bought the Lincoln Weldpak 100, stuck the adaptor on it for a 10 lb reel of flux-core wire, and have been very pleased. It works great on thinner stuff, and you can't beat the portability and ease of use. Wanna weld the mailbox? Just run a heavy extension cord out and fix 'er right up!! For stuff like mower decks, and small brackets, it's fantastic!

But I occassionally wanted to weld stuff like 1/4 and 3/8 inch plate, and it takes a billion passes with the small welder, and I'd be reluctant to weld something really critical (like a trailer hitch)with it. So I recently bought the Lincoln 225/125 AC/DC stick welder--$389 from Home Depot online (plus tax, though shipping was FREE). It even comes with the receptacle (saves about $15 right there). With my new auto-darkening helmet from Harbor Freight, I'm like a kid on Christmas Day.....at least until the Visa bill comes....but now I can weld thin stuff with ease with the wire-feed, and thick stuff with the stick welder, for much less than $1000 total.

Thats the direction Im leaning! Had the opportunity to spend about 4 1/2 hrs with a friend...known him about 50 years..know he's welded about 40 years now...he clued me in on LOTS of info I had no idea about.

Example.. thought that "amps were amps"..? Didnt have the foggiest that it wouldnt require as much DC amps as it would AC amps ( who'd have thought that??) Anyhow...thanks all for constructive input...I appreciate it

 

[JoeJ]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

Sully,

I'd bet that friend could get you doing just fine with stick. And he could do it in just 1 afternoon.

I know I'm way late on this thread, but my advice is pretty much along with the fellas that recommend taking a short course at a local tech school.
Also, I would send you to a WELDING SUPPLY store first. Even if you decide to buy at a big box store.
At the welding store they will/should let you hands on try different machines. This should give you a better idea of just what you want.

 

[Sully2]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

Sully,

I'd bet that friend could get you doing just fine with stick. And he could do it in just 1 afternoon.

I know I'm way late on this thread, but my advice is pretty much along with the fellas that recommend taking a short course at a local tech school.
Also, I would send you to a WELDING SUPPLY store first. Even if you decide to buy at a big box store.
At the welding store they will/should let you hands on try different machines. This should give you a better idea of just what you want.

Oh Im sure he could be a great asset...no doubt about it...but Im still leaning toward the wire fed flux cored setup...for 120Volts. Everything I read about those setups on the internet...and even bought a paperback book on welding and processes...tells me I can easily do all that "I WANT" to do with it. PLUS...with some small additions I could even weld aluminum! ( though I doubt I ever would need or want to??)

Ive exchanged several PM's with different people and had to laugh at several...when they suggested that FOR MY WORK..I didnt need the "MillerTronic 3000"...thats used to weld bulldozers upside down under the steel bridges that go over the schools for handicapped children....

Example is the bracketing I want to make for my .50 caliber ammo box tool box....I'll use the BIG..1/8 inch thick stock...