Stick or MIG

[tradosaurus]

Never welded in my life. I was going to buy a MIG/Flux welder but guy at work whose welded quite a bit convinced me to get a stick welder.

Probably going with Commander Stick Industrial Welder 225A AC / 15A DC, 23 Volt Input

All my welding will be outside and I don't want to have worry about filling gas bottles or having to buy one. Flux welding doesn't sound like the welds would be as good.

Cheapest way of welding sounds like stick.

I'm ready to have my mind changed. :laughing:

 

[RNeumann]

If u go stick grab a Lincoln buzz box- Craigslist has them near continuously. This is your best budget option for stick.

With AC only (no DC) you are limited with rod selection.

The mig nicer when you get down to sheet metal.

 

[tradosaurus]

The welder I linked to is 30A-150A DC

 

[jaxs]

I'm no professional and when i found myself in your situation,I did a lot of research and settled on a used name brand(Lincoln) AC stick for $100 on Craigslist. Bought 5 Lbs each 6011,7018, 7014 and 200 Lbs scrap steel and started making things. After a few months,I got a good deal on a used Miller ac/dc and sold the Lincoln for $100. I've since added a used 180 amp Lincoln mig/flux. I found both 7014 and flux easy to run and equally strong. I presently have feelers out for a used Hobart Ironman or equal. If I don't find used,I will buy new because I plan keeping it. When I find this machine,I'm confident I can sell my present machines for what I paid for them. I've cut,bent,beat and hammered both type welds and don't find one stronger than the other. Stick can weld thicker on single pass but multipass with flux is just as strong. Point of all this is that I was able to try various processes and consumiables without taking hits on depreciation on multiple new machines.

 

[jaxs]

The welder I linked to is 30A-150A DC

It is also 40-225A (AC)

 

[tradosaurus]

What does that mean? I'm now confused.

 

[jaxs]

What does that mean? I'm now confused.

Stick welding can be done using 3 different type current,AC,DC negative and DC positive. Each has advantage in specific situations but either can be used exclusively by compermising quality of weld. The ever famous Lincoln "buzz box" is AC only but more amatures own it than all others combined. That was what I was weaving myself through in post 4.

 

[yomax4]

One nice thing about getting a little bit nicer welder ( If you are sold on stick ) Is you can get a unit with Hot Start and Arc Force to make your world a little better. Hot Start for easy starting and re-strike & Arc Force so your rods Never stick to your work. It would pay for you to look into. No matter what you get, You'll soon be welding and fixing your own stuff. Join the crowd and good luck !!

 

[metalbender]

Never sell the stick. When push comes to shove, the stick will shine.

 

[WranglerX]

Gave up 180 Amp Lincoln Tombstone years ago, went to MIG, would not ever go back to stick.... Nothing wrong with Fluxcore other than slag and you are going too have that with stick.... IF you use solid wire and shield gas (GMAW) you will absolutely fall in love with MIG process...

Don't know who has been informing you that fluxcore (FCAW) welding is not good, but Ill bet they have little experience with it....

With any welding process, setup and preping area for weld and knowing properties of materials and "filler" materials is everything... You don't just wave stick or wire around "joint" and have good welds....

Check out the processes here and listen to what Jody has to say....

Welding Tips and Tricks - TIG, MIG, Stick and a pantload of other info

Dale

 

[Teachu2]

Mig is easy, almost like using a caulking gun. (NOBODY ever makes a mess with one of THOSE, right?) Stick is cheaper to buy, extremely versatile, and works in harsh conditions. Both have their places, as do Tig and oxy-acetylene welding. I have a Lincoln AC/DC tombstone (my first), a Miller 210 Mig, a Miller Bobcat 250 engine-driven, and a couple of extra machines. All get used on occasion - and have paid for themselves.

 

[metalbender]

If one has a big enough mig, thick material can be done. I’d venture to say that a lot of guys have the 110v mig units. Trying to weld heavy metal gives a decent look, kinda like a bead of silicone. I draw the line at 3/8 inch with my Lincoln 210 mp in mig. Heavier material I’ll switch to the stick function, have better control of the heat. You can hold a long arc to get things cooking then go on with the weld. Had a Miller 225 buzz box for years, paid my dues with AC spatter long enough. As a side note, the stick can also be used with a carbon arc torch for heating and brazing. M

 

[Big Barn]

I mig most everything because it is the quickest and easiest for tacking.

But I ENJOY stick welding the most. I find it so relaxing I totally zone out.

 

[aczlan]

Never welded in my life. I was going to buy a MIG/Flux welder but guy at work whose welded quite a bit convinced me to get a stick welder.

Probably going with Commander Stick Industrial Welder 225A AC / 15A DC, 23 Volt Input

All my welding will be outside and I don't want to have worry about filling gas bottles or having to buy one. Flux welding doesn't sound like the welds would be as good.

Cheapest way of welding sounds like stick.

I'm ready to have my mind changed. :laughing:

I went with a Everlast PowerArc 200STi, very similar power output numbers (200A vs 225A), but it it rated at a 35% duty cycle at 200A vs a 20% duty cycle at 225A: POWERARC 2STi - Stick Welders | Everlast Generators

Aaron Z

 

[NoPaint]

Just know that stick welding is flux welding. You will have slag with both flux core mig and stick. That said, I think stick is my favorite process. When learning you could try to get good at a common stick like 7018. DC stick is much smoother and a really nice way to learn. Only issue with stick is the massive smoke. If you’re outside it’s ok but otherwise you’ll want to get something that uses gas shielding.

 

[jaxs]

Mig/flux core win's with me because (A) 90% of what I weld is 1/4tr and under (B) on rare occasions where material is thicker,beveling material and multi pass make's good welds. (C) When material is 14ga and less,stick isn't going to work.

 

[rangerfredbob]

DC stick with 7018 rod is very rewarding once you get the hang of it, heck even 6011 on DC isn't bad, 6011 on AC is messy but definitely gets the job done!

If you just want to screw around and see if it's for you, get one of the 125A flux core welders from HFT, they go on sale for $100 or less all the time, they're tiny, handy and will let you see some things and make stuff. I've had the old 90A version (apparently the same thing, other than the lack of cooling fan and the gun is always live on the 90A) and I have built all sorts of things with it that are fairly sturdy. Only buy .035 wire for it if you do get one, you can't put it on high with .030... Many will complain that it isn't good and isn't DC like it should be and all sorts of things, which are all true but that doesn't change the fact that it gets the job done and $100 is more disposable than it used to be...

That said, definitely peruse the used market, if you can find an AC/DC Lincoln tombstone for $100-150 go that route! My favorite welder is an old Montgomery Wards AC/DC stick welder made by Century that I found at Goodwill for $20 with leads... but as said flux core is easier for smaller stuff and tacking things together but if you get 1/16" rods a stick welder will do anything a flux core welder will do but be more frustrating.

 

[Motorboatin]

Been welding for 27 years. If I had only one machine choice I’d buy a stick welder

 

[LouNY]

Been welding for 27 years. If I had only one machine choice I’d buy a stick welder

Couldn't agree more.
If you are only going to work with lighter material, easy to clean material, indoors with no wind.
The mig and tig are nice they will do a good job and are easier to use.
If you are going to have to do a quick repair or patch job on heavier material that has some rust and or paint or other material that can't be or it isn't practical to get cleaned well, throw in a 6011 stick, throw a tarp or a piece of cardboard on the ground (mud) maybe something to shield your work from the rain and burn it together, maybe 3 or 4 passes throw on a reinforcement piece and get back to work.

I have and use a mig in addition to my stick machines and have considered getting a tig, I enjoy using a tig unit it's so much similar to gas welding which was my favorite method back a few years (in the 60's) ago.

Stick welding can do anything needed on steel of an 1/8" and up easily, under an 1/8 it a bit more difficult but doable.

 

[Citydude]

I learned how to weld with stick years ago and haven't welded in 30 years and recently I decided to build a couple of implements instead of buy them. I needed a welding machine, so I bought a stick machine going with what I know plus the upfront cost of a decent stick machine fits my needs and it will not be used much. Too much else on the property development project list....

MIG's by far are easier for me to use because of my dwindled stick skills but buying/renting a gas cylinder on top of paying for a decent MIG machine just took them out of the picture for me.