Just joined the grey market Yanmar club

[Andy1969]

Finally got the brush hog finished today. Spent a couple hours trying it and the tractor out. Both worked very well. Have a lot of mowing to do hopefully next weekend if the weather cooperates.

 

[rayw72]

View attachment 606555View attachment 606556View attachment 606557Finally got the brush hog finished today. Spent a couple hours trying it and the tractor out. Both worked very well. Have a lot of mowing to do hopefully next weekend if the weather cooperates.

Great job on the repairs to the brush hog. Man, I wish I could weld.

 

[Andy1969]

Great job on the repairs to the brush hog. Man, I wish I could weld.

I say buy a basic stick welder and have at it! I was lucky that my grandpa taught me as a boy the basics of oxy-acetylene cutting and welding and arc welding. I took it from there. But today with YouTube and some scrap metal you’d be set. It’s really nice to be able to take on projects like this. Saves money and gives a good sense of accomplishment.

 

[clemsonfor]

I second that. I bought a cheap wire welder from HF to weld small stuff and to basically fix rips in the bushhog. It's cheap and I thought I couldn't weld cause half the time the welds look terrible and all the splatter from flux core wire looks awful. But I was at one of my loggers shop and he told me to weld something for him, since he herd me talking about welding before. It was a good snap on gas wire welder. I welded whatever it was. I think we were making a pin. But anyway it looked professional, the quality of the machine does make a difference. That said for fixing rips in my bush hog or where the skids rip off or the deck splits the cheap HF welder is more than adequate and saved me hundreds I. Repairs. I also have saved a few stamped mower decks for riders by welding them back up when blades go through them or when there worn through by just putting some plate over the worn or torn spot.

 

[rayw72]

Any advantages/disadvantages to wire fed vs stick for repairs on things like brush hogs?

 

[clemsonfor]

I see an advantage of wire as not having to be replaced as often as the stick.

Some say stick is easier? I have never stick welded so I don't know.

I am not an expert and I don't know the advantages or disadvantages.

The welder I got from HF was like $89 or $99 on sale like 10 years ago. I have gotten my money out of it. I cut bent stocked back togeather and repaired a $75 bush hog back to serviceable condition. It still crabs cause the A frame is bent. But I know my limits. That part is too heavy for me to weld on it with my welder and honestly it does not effect it's working ability it's just tweaked to the side a bit. Looks like The previous owner caught the corner on a tree as they went by.

 

[Andy1969]

Any advantages/disadvantages to wire fed vs stick for repairs on things like brush hogs?

There are advantages to both processes. Mig welding is great for new projects where you are welding new clean steel. But for farm type projects where the materials are typically rusted, greasy, or otherwise less than ideal plain old arc welding with some 6011 is probably your best bet. That process and that electrode takes some practice and skill to master especially on thin and or out of position use. But it can burn through rust paint and grease if needed and provide decent results. Just my :2cents:

 

[kenmac]

There are advantages to both processes. Mig welding is great for new projects where you are welding new clean steel. But for farm type projects where the materials are typically rusted, greasy, or otherwise less than ideal plain old arc welding with some 6011 is probably your best bet. That process and that electrode takes some practice and skill to master especially on thin and or out of position use. But it can burn through rust paint and grease if needed and provide decent results. Just my :2cents:

As having been a welder in my previous life. I would say this is a very accurate statement .
Clean steel, no wind to blow your gas away, you can't beat a mig.
Rusty, painted material, wind rain, etc, and you just can't beat an old tombstone welder and a 6011

 

[rayw72]

Ah, excellent insight guys. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[California]

Like Clemsonfor, I started with the HF $90 AC flux core wire welder. Everything I repaired with that has stayed welded but the welds look crude and lots of splatter to grind off. Then I found a yard sale $50 AC-230 amp ancient unit. Those are indestructible, there's nothing inside but a big transformer with massive windings. That size has the power to burn down through rust on heavy material using 6011 rods. Its the classic old-school farmer's welder, for fabrication and especially for where the need was to get critical equipment repaired and back in service right now with minimal prep. A modern welder will make prettier welds.

I now mostly use a HF-180 'mig' wire welder that the first owner extensively modified to make it almost as good as name-brand. I run flux-core only, just for the simplicity.

Watch welders on Craigslist and buy an old unit from a reputable company. You will find it easier to use compared to a new cheap unit. Avoid old blue HF welders.

If you decide to buy a welder, here are some photos for an idea what to expect at the beginner/amateur level and with inexpensive welding gear. (Over $1,000 is a whole different world!)

Photo: weld made with HF 90 amp AC, flux core. That is a component of this lifter I built for my spike harrow.

Two pieces of rusty scrap spliced to make the drawbar that pulls the spike harrow's chains. Used the AC-230 and 6011 deep-penetration rod for this.

Another rusty-scrap project with the AC-230, rear forks for the QHitch. I ground the weld areas as clean as possible. 10+ years use now and nothing has broken.

The welders I used back then.

The modified HF-180, also a tig-capable welder I bought off Craigslist a couple of years ago. About $100 for both after replacing missing spool, plugs, cables.

Recent flux-core project with the HF-180. Put a hitch on the YM186D bucket.

Get a welder! You will wonder how you ever got along without it!