Welder Recommendations

[bobodu]

Neighbor GAVE me this Lincoln.Said he needed the room!!
Just took some plugs and a coat of Rustoleum.So now we have a reciprocating agreement...I can use his BIG mig when I need to make a good looking weld or something on the thin side and he gets to use the welding truck when he needs something fixed out in the fields.They say "good fences make good neighbors."...I think corn and beans makes good neighbors!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[3RRL]

Hey bobodu,
Looks like that welder would have fit without having to take the bed off your truck? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bobodu]

I was more concerned about the welder walking off...or having to move it myself!!!
Gonna have to build a trailer soon to include the torch and air compressor.Found the little compressor out in the trash yesterday...hole in the tank.My gas supplier also does fire extinguishers and they have lots of neat resturant fire putter outters in the scrap pile!! Just gotta get the guys to point out which ones I need.
That truck is gonna be a dump as soon as I get the water windows in the floor sealed up... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll go against the grain a bit and say don't waste the time and money on a welding class )</font>
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Average Joe farm welding can be done with a little reading and LOTS of practice. Basic welding is not that hard at all. Welding exotic metals knoledge usually isn't needed around the farm. Just basic iron on iron )</font>

Ditto.

I started with a cheap 90$ 70a stick welder ( still have it.. my only welder right now.. ).. And learned fairly decently. I tried a bigger stick.. then moved to mig. Took about 30 seconds to get average to 'decent' with mig, after having stick experience.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Skeaking of welding/ and cutting.. Anyone using stick welders to do cutting ( chamfer rods )?

If so.. just how ugly a cut is it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[RonR]

Never used special rods, but its UGLY.............. Growing up farming, we didn't own a torch, so we used the buzz box to cut. Really UGLY.

ron

 

[rvaitor]

Anyone familiar with Lincoln AC225S model? I have one of those left over from a shop. Is this adequate for farm duty? Also, what about the learning curve? No experience whatsoever.

Thanks

 

[RobJ]

It is pretty ugly but it does work.

Speaking of welding I did some last night, thought I would share a nice example (not of my pretty welding). I'm making sort of a utility bar where I can slide in some cultivators, busters, trailer hitch and who knows what else I'll come up with. I needed to make a plow arm by butt welding some 1" to a piece of 3/4" steel. Ground and beveled (very important) I welded it with the mig on high range. It's a 220v HF. Seemed to penatrate ok. Well some clay with iron ore in it told me it didn't penatrate that well. So I brought it home, ground it and let it have it with the stick. Nice thing about the stick is I can force some heavy penatration. Also just seems easier to build up a bit. The weld isn't that pretty but it's deep. I also added a 1/2" bar for extra protection. Good thing is where I'm actually going to use the plow it's a lot softer.

pics...

 

[RobJ]

more of the project..

 

[RobJ]

And what I consider a good small working setup...

oxy/acte - B acet tank and a 80 oxy, Uniweld regulars, I bought the set originally back in 1989 at a pawn shop. I've had the regulators rebuild once. I have the cutting tip, brazing, and a rose bud (heater upper thing).

Lincoln 220v stick, AC only, the cheap one at HD, $225

Harbor Freight 220v gasless mig (can add gas). $179. I've run 5 pounds of wire through it so far, no problems. It is cheap but it works. the tip hasn't clogged up any more than an expensive mig. Just pull the sheild, unscrew the tip, clean and replace. I've love an $800 gas mig but not in the budget.

Rob

Oh the frame on top of the Lincoln was for the HF 110v mig welder, I keep it at the weekend place now. The lincoln is on wheels so it was easy to roll around.