I "need" a welder..?

Sully2 · Jun 14, 2006

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..

GabeTX · Jun 14, 2006

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

Do you have your heart set on an arc welding process? Have you ruled out gas?

I just bought a welder to make some gates and other assorted projects, and after quite a bit of research I went with an oxy-acetylene welding and cutting outfit (Victor's middle-of-the-road outfit plus a few additional tips) and leased full-size bottles ($40/year/bottle).

With what I have, I can weld from 15ga to 1/4"; I could go thinner by buying a smaller tip and thicker by buying a bigger tip and exchanging up to a bigger acetylene bottle. I can also cut up to a half inch (could go much thicker if I bought a bigger cutting tip).

All for about the same cost as a light-duty flux-core MIG setup.

Oxy-acetylene may not be used much commercially anymore except in some niche applications, but for someone who isn't going to be welding for a living and can tolerate the slower speed it can still be a great choice.

SkyPup · Jun 14, 2006

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

Probably would be better just to hire a professional welder to do those simple welding projects for you....

Sully2 · Jun 14, 2006

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

( Probably would be better just to hire a professional welder to do those simple welding projects for you.... )

Did that already...and had to wait a week to get 2 bucket hooks welded on..hence...the "need" for something here at home. Any "structural" job..Id of course "farm out"

RobJ · Jun 14, 2006

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

The cheap 115v mig will not do what you want. You will quickly want to get heavier and these things just don't get the penitration needed for "farm welds". I suggest a Lincoln stick and just learn how to use it. They are still pretty cheap and will weld light and heavy. If you are sticking there are things to help with that. Correct amps, rods, clean surface, etc. And a stick is almost bullet proof. No wire, gas (if used), clogged tip, etc.

Good Luck,
Rob.

_RaT_ · Jun 14, 2006

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

Ditto...

HomeBrew2 · Jun 14, 2006

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

My neighbor bought a Lincoln Weldpak 3200 at Home Despot a year ago and he swears by it. Hasn't used his stick welder since. I can't see the puddle or the joint with it so I'm still using my buzz box till I can fix that prob.

Cheers!

Inspector507 · Jun 14, 2006

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

Been there, done that and redid it correctly with something more than a 110V MIG

sandman2234 · Jun 14, 2006

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

My vote is for the Lincoln buzz box also. Get a pound of 6011 rods (1/8 and 1/16) and start playing with it. You won't hurt it, and if you have any sense, yourself either. Some instruction from a friend, or an evening class would be great also.
They aren't expensive, and if you want to splurge, get the AC/DC one with the + and - on it.
Finding one used is also an option.
Keep you rods in a dry location.
David from jax

wushaw · Jun 14, 2006

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

I concurr with the buzz box advice with practice and an autodarkening hood.
The AD hood will help you alot when striking an arc...you can see without flipping the hood/visor down and taking your eyes off your work.

Sully2 · Jun 14, 2006

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

Okie doke fellas...thats the sort of info I needed. Hobart's school is just up the road aways...and I coudl stay nearby and go to school. Like I said I dont intend or want to be some "pro"welder...just want to be able to do some small stuff..basically WHEN I NEED IT..

Mucho Thanks!

wushaw · Jun 14, 2006

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

( Okie doke fellas...thats the sort of info I needed. Hobart's school is just up the road aways...and I coudl stay nearby and go to school. Like I said I dont intend or want to be some "pro"welder...just want to be able to do some small stuff..basically WHEN I NEED IT..

Mucho Thanks! )

You say that now but when you learn what you can really do you will be building all kinds of stuff.

Soundguy · Jun 15, 2006

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

( contemplating is a low cost...115VAC...wire fed MIG outfit..??...MAX material thickness would be in the range of 1/4 inch thick...and Im told with the smaller MIG outfits )

I have a 115v stick welder. It is just barely adequate for the small fabrication and repair that I do. 3/16 is safe to weld.. 1/4 takes decent prep and time. 3/8 is just darn brutal, and takes way too much time toi v-cut, weld, make tie passes... etc.. to ensure good penetration.

Stick is generally more tolerant of marginal surface prep.. MIG isn't as tolerant. I'm afraid that a 115v mig will be a 'sheet metal' welder at best.

Drop a hundred bucks more than you would spend on the 115v mig, and get a lincoln or hobart big 180+ amp stick welder.. preferably a 225a job.

It takes a little patience.. but you can pretty much weld anything with a stick that a mig will do.. once you get good... practice.. practice.. practice.

For 'farm' welding, and not general fabrication.. big honking tombstone welder deffinately comes to mind...

Soundguy

CTyler · Jun 15, 2006

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

I have a cheap Craftsman 110v welder and it will weld 3/16 and did a very small amount of 1/4 but it took prep and the weld kept shutting off. About 2yrs ago I bought a Miller 251 that will do 1/2...sweeeet!

Now my BIL has a 110v welder, Lincoln I think, and uses flux core(no gas) on his welding jobs for his scale service. We were talking about the limitations of 110v welding and said he had a good one so we tried it out on some 1/4 plate.

We went over to the shop and butt welded some 1/4 plate with no prep on the metal, but it was clean. Now we did weld both sides of a 20" plate but only about 8" of it. Then we put it in the vice and beat it with the sledge. We bent the metal and the weld never broke.

scott_vt · Jun 15, 2006

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

Mornin Wushaw,
I have been following all these welding threads with interest. My welding experience is about zero other than the spotwelder we use in our modelshop. I noticed the beautiful job you did on your disk frame, was that done with a Lincoln Buzz Box ? Thanks.

arkydog · Jun 15, 2006

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

I could mig weld great and passed several mig tests but couldnt stick weld for anything, kept sticking rod. A friend of mine finally showed me that when you strike an arc like a match, hold the stinger handle really loose in your hand, almost like it just like touching the bottom of your grip, fingers only not palm, helps from sticking. Good luck.

arkydog

Soundguy · Jun 15, 2006

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

( We went over to the shop and butt welded some 1/4 plate with no prep on the metal, but it was clean. Now we did weld both sides of a 20" plate but only about 8" of it. Then we put it in the vice and beat it with the sledge. We bent the metal and the weld never broke. )

I'm not sure what you are trying to prove? You say you welded both sides... That's not a single pass weld... In all reality.. you have 100% penetration.. even with a 110v flux core by making a pass on each side of the 1/4... You only need 1/8 of penetration.. which is what most 110v welders claim.. 1/8 to 3/16 .. etc.

That is what I was saying.. etc.

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jun 15, 2006

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

( could mig weld great and passed several mig tests but couldnt stick weld for anything, kept sticking rod )

I learned to stick weld first.. then went to mig. Took me about 1 minute to learn mig.... though I'm sure the years of stick helped.

I like to think of striking the arc as kinda like 'scratching' it...

For those that have problem with sticking rods.. 2 things.. check your ground.. and if you need practice.. buy some rod called surestrike... I'm pretty sure you could strike an arc on a wet piece of cardboard with one of those ( mild steel ) rods..

Soundguy

CTyler · Jun 15, 2006

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

What am I trying to prove??? Gimme a break.

Edit....Now that I'm not so put off...

My response was for Sully's benefit on my experiance on what a 110v welder can do. Basicaly if you going to go with a 110v get a good one otherwise it will shut off every 10 seconds. Don't expect to do more than 1/4" unless you can get to both sides of the weld as in a butt or T weld.

Myself I would and did get a 220v welder. However this may not be practicle for some folks due to cost or access to 220.

anojones · Jun 15, 2006

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

I'm in the same situation- I've been reading these threads with interest and have been to the Hobart forums as well (very helpful). I don't expect to do a lot, but would like to be able to repair stuff that breaks, build tool boxes for the tractor etc. I don't want to spend a lot of money, as it will be or occasional use and I want to do it myself (just because). At first I was set on an ac/dc buzz box but after doing more reading I felt it would be easier to learn on a 110V mig, and it could do what I needed and would be portable given the household current. I'm willing to spend the extra time with extra passes and duty cycles for heavier stuff- but now I'm wondering if even with the extra time and effort if the heavier projects can get done. At this point I'm tempted to go with the MIG and if it doesn't do all I need it to do, add a used stick later on.