Inexpensive Welding Solution?????

[thingy]

GEMINI,now you're getting it,,them migs are perfect for sheet metal,and no need to multipass! But you did know they had amp controls on them stick welders,its just when you turn it down you might have to go to a smaller rod to get it to burn right. Rods have all got a range where your average person can operate them,,you can burn hotter than that range or colder to a point if you know how,but if you wanta go much hotter [say to lay down more metal] or much colder,[say on something thin] ,than you need to go with a bigger or smaller rod. It ain't really rocket science,but,,,,,,,thingy

 

[bialecki]

Go to the following site for some professional advice on Arc, MIG, Tig: Miller - Stick Welding Tips

I bought a used Millermatic 130 wire feed unit a pawn shop for $160, easy to use and a much better looking weld than a arc welder, even when operating in the DC mode, based on my amateur welding abilities. The MIG has a very easy learning curve.

 

[thingy]

You mean you got a mig that has an ac mode? or do you mean a stick welder operated in the dc mode?,,,,thingy

 

[AlanB]

Gem, is this where I tell you that you cannot turn down the Amps on a Mig? You vary the amount of amperage by the amount of stickout that you are running.

Just poking fun

 

[HomeBrew2]

Gem, is this where I tell you that you cannot turn down the Amps on a Mig? You vary the amount of amperage by the amount of stickout that you are running. ...

... and vary the amount of destructive heat by how fast you are (?)

 

[thingy]

Alan yeah,thats pretty quick,,it is confusing though,,constant voltage verses constant current thing always did make me stop and think some,and than generally some more,,,thingy

 

[patrick_g]

Pat,alright,,now don't take this wrong,,but,,if you was using a 3/16th rod it woulda been hard to start at 150 amps,,see,it depends on rod size how much amps you use,,3/32 rod uses 90-100 amps or so,,thats what you needed,,the lower the amps the harder it is to weld with generally speaking,,than on the other hand to much and you burn a hole,,thin stuff you need a small rod so's you can run less amps,,,also they make and sell welder generaters,I got one,,the littler ones just put out ac,,and start at maybe 1,000 dollars,and may have 3-4,000 watts ac output,,,more expensive ones may put out 250-300 amps dc,10,000 watts ac output and cost 4-5,000 dollars,[or more],,and they got several inbetween,,you can buy a good welder generator for no more than a good generator and a good buzz box,[maybe less],,thingy

The rental welder would make maybe 170 or less tops. IT seemed to have only DC output. Only two terminals and they were labeled + and - so I tried both polarities. There is a "stiffness" factor in welding power supplies. A stiffer supply will start a rod easier as the voltage doesn't sag so easily and you can get the arc started easier.

Part of the job was not only structural but cosmetic, filling huge ugly gaps (they "saved" time by not cutting saddles.) They only had one box of rod, 1/8 inch 6011. Some of the pipe was nearly rusted through and nearly impossible to patch with 1/8 (I couldn't do it in a couple instances.)

I found that my Lincoln tombstone would weld at lower current than the rental. At lower current (below a setting of 120 amps but who knows what current was delivered) it was nearly impossible to start an arc on the rental. With a little delicacy I used 90 ams setting with DC - on the tombstone and built up the edges of the gaps till I could close them.

My experience (limited) is that combo welder generators in the smaller sizes are optimized for welding and are so so as generators, surely good to run a grinder and lights but not first choice for back up power. I already owned the Lincoln tombstone AC/DC buzz box and didn't need another welder of similar capability. I got the 8000 Watt continuous/13500 Watt surge genny for $400. This is an indisputable GOOD DEAL.

Still, if I were having to pay retail for the generator, I think I would have opted for a generator not a combo unit. I was shopping for a larger generator (I have Coleman 5000 continuous pull start) and was looking at some import 1800 RPM diesel units but a gasser with electric start for $400 turned my head.

Oh, did you upset me? Heavens no! We are darned close to being in perfect agreement and I don't get upset even if someone disagrees with me, especially if they have a valid point. I like to discuss, debate, and analyze with folks who can give valid reasons for their positions and aren't asking me to just accept their point of view without analysis.

There are lots of right ways to do some things. It depends on lots of circumstances and background info which is often not revealed. In the instance I related I think I did the right thing. That in no way implies that I think a combo generator welder is never the right choice.

Pat

 

[rickster]

My first welder which was a used welder was a miller 225 ac buzz box
for $150 with a few extras. Did many projects with it. I bought a victor
torch set. The torch set has been the best tool for getting me out of jams.
A couple years ago a friend had a 120 volt miller cricket mig welder that he sold
me for $50. I'm no pro welder but out of all the classes in high school that I
took the metals class has been the most useful

 

[patrick_g]

Rick, I was never better than mediocre with a torch but after getting a decent plasma cutter I am doing pretty good. I especially like the part where you make light contact with the work piece and don't have to maintain a spacing. I like to make templates and such and just drag the torch around and shazam a decent cutting job. The down side is that yo have to have sufficient compressed air, not just electricity. Now that I have a 8000 Watt continuous/13500 Watt surge genny I can go portable with the plasma and it buddy the compressor.

Pat

 

[thingy]

Pat,good than. They make them welder/gens in all shapes and sizes. The one I got now I chose for its size and power,,its small enough for me to put it back of truck by using a ramp and backing up next to a hill,wheeling it on its wheel kit,,,and unload the same,[it weighs a little over 300 lbs],,but big enough to run a 1/8 rod all day if you want,and its got 5,500 continues ac aux power,enough for me to use to power items in my house if electric goes off,,will not power whole house,but will power furnace and water pump for well tv and a few lights. Its a miller bluestar 185,,battery start,dc,,its got about a 75 percent duty cycle at 120 amps,,tank holds 5 gal gas,,its got 4 120 volt plug ins and one 240 volt plug in. Cost about 2,300.
You can buy a bigger one of course,for not much more money,but they are to heavy to easily load and unload and move about,,gotta about leave them on a truck or trailer,or setting someplace.
You can buy littler ones but most of them are ac only,,didn't get it for price,got it cause it would serve my needs as described.
So, they was making fence out of pipe with out mooning out the ends,,well I woulda let them weld it than,,thats not cosmetic either,,if you are building something and you don't cut it to fit,you can't just weld what does fit and not the rest and say we be done,good job.
Yeah hard to burn a 1/8 rod down around 90 amps,,but if joints woulda fit better you coulda turned machine up a little,maybe.
The old saying is good fitters make good welders,,you can't weld air. thingy