Thinking about getting myself a welder, but...

[undercut]

Actually it is very easy to recoup 100% of your welding investment if you start out modestly. A used AC buzzbox (e.g. Lincoln tombstone, Miller Thunderbolt, Hobart Stickmate, even craftsmen, etc) can be picked up used for $100 to $125 or so. Better yet an AC/DC version of each will be $200 or so used and well worth the extra money.

Any of these units will last for decades and will likely pay for itself on the first repair that you make. If you get really serious about welding and later want a better machine because you use it a lot then you can easily sell it and recoup 100% of you investment because they never depreciate in value due to their unmatched durability.

Add $15 for a cheapo 4.5" electric grinder (use for grinding and cutting steel with cut-off wheels) and you have all you need to get started in welding except a welding helmet and gloves. Electric sawz-all is nice too if you already have one and useful for carpentry projects too so easily justifiable for homeowner hobbyist. Skip the expensive things like chop saws or band saws unless you plan to build large complex projects from scratch. Chop saws and band saws are mostly useless in the repair world of welding.

Going up in price from here with welding equipment does add some convenience and usually better equipment in some cases but you will pay for it somehow through higher initial purchase price, your purchase will depreciate in value, as the complexity goes up the durability likely decreases, if you go mig there are hidden expenses like bottle leases/purchase, gas refills, gun liners, tips etc. All of these factors make it financially harder for the occasional hobbyist to get fiscal payback on expensive equipment even if it is better. Serious users find it easier to get that payback, or some people simply do not care about costs and think they must always have the best of everything regardless if it makes fiscal sense or not (Lots of foreclosed houses due to logic like this). On the other hand businesses can easily justify the better equipment because it usually is faster and time is money in the business world.

Excellent points. I think you've really opened my eyes to my options. Many thanks!

 

[Jesse masterson]

I would stay away from the ac buzz boxes they can kill ya get a ac dc machine and weld on dc much safer

 

[rcowan]

I picked up a HH175 in a gun trade the other day and can justify the expense. Me, the horses or the wife are always breaking stuff around the place.

RC

 

[Soundguy]

falling in your bathtub can kill you.

flu kills thousands a year.

ac buzzbox is a tool. used correctly.. it's no more dangerous that oh.. a chainsaw maybee?

 

[Jesse masterson]

Ac welder kill many people every year from electrocution ac holds onto you dc will knock you away my father and bro were pipefitters for local160 for a combined 60 years that was also there opinion among many other professionals

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Yup, its the amps that kill, not volts. Now lets see, how many amps does this buzz box put out ......? "Used correctly" can be a bit tricky when it comes to lectricity.

 

[rankrank1]

I would stay away from the ac buzz boxes they can kill ya get a ac dc machine and weld on dc much safer

The DC side can kill you too and thinking you are so much safer with DC is quite a false sense of security. Both need to be respected and careful precautions taken where appropiate.

 

[rankrank1]

Ac welder kill many people every year from electrocution ac holds onto you dc will knock you away my father and bro were pipefitters for local160 for a combined 60 years that was also there opinion among many other professionals

Well 60 years ago, I might concede you have a marginal argument at best since many welders made 60 plus years ago could have potentially dangerously high Open Circuit Voltages (OCV) to your average healthy adult. Industrial firebreathing engine drive generator welders like found on an industrial jobsite can also have high dangerously OCV, but those do not fall in the buzzbox category of welder mentioned in my earlier post.

That all said, any buzzbox made say since about 1960 ( or within the last 50 years) is limited to 80 volts maximum OCV by Underwriter Labratory (UL) whether it be AC or DC output to better help with operator safety. Basically equally safe or equally dangerous depending on your perspective.

My experience: I have been tingled a few times on both AC and DC. In all cases for me, I was either soaked with sweat to the point of being dripping wet or welding in very damp grass - either improves the ground path. Now when either of these happens, I am done welding until conditions are safer for me again.

 

[Sublifer]

Yup, its the amps that kill, not volts. Now lets see, how many amps does this buzz box put out ......? "Used correctly" can be a bit tricky when it comes to lectricity.

Stupidity and carelessness is what kills.

 

[Jesse masterson]

That so true stupidity cam play a role but if you get 25 truly pro welders together 20 will tell you to stay away from ac that just the facts I've been around professionals all my life and I know there opinion it's not just mine