Stick welder vs. Oxy/Acetylene???

[me0418840987]

OK, so I have been reading thru this discussion, and have seen very good info posted, but I have one question. Most seem to think you can't mig outside. I am no professional by any means, but I usually just turn up the gas pressure when it is a little breezy, and have no problems producing a clean bead. Please don't yell, it is an honest question, what is wrong with that, other than it uses up gas faster?

 

[yomax4]

Mig outside all you want. If I can block the wind, I prefer to weld outside.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Heavy Construction has been using FCAW/MIG welding for years OUTDOORS. Just have to build a windbreak. Much cheaper and better than turning up the gas which doesnt always work either. We also use windbreaks for stick rod. As a QC Manager, I always tell the welders that if you can feel the wind blowing, its time for a windbreak. Of course this is on pressure piping where even a small bit of porosity is bad and might cause a weld repair. I would say that one could use that info at home welding also. A little plastic barrier for wind or rain protection will make for much better welding.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

after welding aluminum outside I now have a gear shed to weld in and love not having to mess with windbreaks all the time as it is always blowing but I do leave doors open at both ends to clear the smoke in the gearshed.

 

[Kendrick]

I can answer this question easily. I asked the same about a year ago. DONT go OA. I was on a limited budget which i chose poorly. OA has pluses but I would go 3-1 unit any day.

I tried to put a project together with a thicker piece of metal and oa just didnt get it done. spent 3 weekends on it making little headway. a good ammount due to my own inexperiance. I plan to finish that project in a day with a stick welder I just got DC 140A for 230$. I spent 200 for a oa set and 300+ on tips and tanks. for jsut a couple hundred more I could have got a 3 in 1 that would do tig stick and plasma cutting. I am about to answer how hard it is to stick weld patch pannels on a car also for cutting get a good angle grinder with a cut wheel works quite well I have yet to have a reason to use a torch to cut. I even plan to cut the old jack stand off my mower with the grinder wheel.

the oxy set just eats up your time and you can only use about 10% of the tank at a time before it has to rest and generate more gass to use. if you dont appairently the acatone? used to stableise the acetalyne will get sent through the regs and destroy the seals.

Take a look here Multi Purpose Welders, Multi Purpose Units, Multi Purpose Welder I like them enough that I am considereing becoming a deler for them.

 

[trouble007]

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the oxy set just eats up your time and you can only use about 10% of the tank at a time before it has to rest and generate more gass to use. if you dont appairently the acatone? used to stableise the acetalyne will get sent through the regs and destroy the seals.

Take a look here Multi Purpose Welders, Multi Purpose Units, Multi Purpose Welder I like them enough that I am considereing becoming a deler for them.

Just thought i would point out a little error, with regards to your 10% @ a time figure. you can withdrawn 1/tenth the volume of the tank per hour. the information on withdraw rate with based on tip size.

Ex. if i have a 300 Cu Ft Acetylene tank you can withdraw 30 cu ft per hour any higher and it will start to leach acetone into your lines and slowly degrade them.

Not trying to be an ***** just don't like it when people have bad info

Ryan

Ps. have fun stick welding sheet metal

 

[k0ua]

Just thought i would point out a little error, with regards to your 10% @ a time figure. you can withdrawn 1/tenth the volume of the tank per hour. the information on withdraw rate with based on tip size.

Ex. if i have a 300 Cu Ft Acetylene tank you can withdraw 30 cu ft per hour any higher and it will start to leach acetone into your lines and slowly degrade them.

Not trying to be an ***** just don't like it when people have bad info

Ryan

Ps. have fun stick welding sheet metal

I always thought it was 1/7 of tank volume per hour. Has it been changed to 1/10?

James K0UA

 

[flusher]

I'm on HughesNet Slow&Cr@ppySattelite internet... No VIDEOS for me!

But seriously I plan to take a community college welding class or two before I get too serious.

David

Those videos are available on CD. I have a few of them and they're very helpful.

 

[deereman75]

I always thought it was 1/7 of tank volume per hour. Has it been changed to 1/10?

James K0UA

it is 1/7 as far as I know

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Those videos are available on CD. I have a few of them and they're very helpful.

Hey! I wonder if I can get them at the library???

Did you buy yours? Point me in the right direction sir!

David