welding machines and torches

[ejb]

OK, I still don't have my cement floor in my workshop yet (and thanks to all of those very helpful suggestions), but I am not going to let that stop me from thinking about filling it up with new toys (make that tools).

The 2 things I think I want to get once I have my workshop organized is a acetlyne torch and a welding machine of some sort.

The primary use of both of these pieces of equipment will be for restoring/repairing a few antique tractors (and no, I won't be doing any structural welding any time soon, I'll leave that to the experts until I have plenty of experience).

The questions is, I don't know where to start in terms of brands, features or types for either of these pieces of equipment. I am trying to educate myslef about the various features and brands before I even start to think about buying one.

Any opinions anyone? Recommendations? Cost estimates?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bird]

ejb, I think your best bet is to go to your local welding supply dealer and let them demonstrate their equipment. It's almost like asking, "What kind of car should I buy?" There's just too many brands, types, etc. I have a small oxygen/acetylene rig that I use mostly just for cutting, and a cheap 115 volt arc welder that I use quite a bit for small jobs. But I prefer the 230 volt Lincoln welder for larger stuff, and when I lived in town with an attached garage, I used an oxygen/MAPP gas rig (a little safer than acetylene). I've still not used the wire feed or mig welders although from what I've read in the manuals and been told, they are easier for a novice to learn to use. But then you have to decide whether you want one that uses gas or not.

Of course, you can also find a lot of welding equipment at Tractor Supply Co., Northern Tool, Sam's Club, etc., but they are not as likely to have experienced welders that can answer your questions and demonstrate the equipment.

There are a lot of little tricks to doing a good job, and it sure took me awhile to learn to use welding equipment, and I still lay no claims to being a welder, but I do well enough at it that I've never had to hire a professional.

I have a farmer/neighbor who's surprisingly good at welding with a gas rig, using oxygen/propane instead of acetylene.

Good luck with your shopping.

Bird

 

[Cowboy]

The Lincoln Ranger 8 is a good all round portable welder, aprox. $2400.00 with leads. a Hobart wire feed welder makes a nice addition $499.00 and up. and Victor torches and gauges are long lasting and dependable $199.00 and up. Don't foreget to add a Makita Chop Saw to your list $229.00 Have fun with your purchase and enjoy that molten metal smell. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[ejb]

Well $2400 is definetly out of the price range I was looking, but thanks for the other tips.

 

[ejb]

Good suggestions; I'll need to find a local welding supply company, so far the only things I have seen have been at home depot...which is probably OK if you know what you are looking for, but not if you are a complete novice like I am and you have lots of questions.

A neighbor of mine welds professionally (out of his workshop at home). He is just two houses down, but I have only met him once, maybe I can use this as an excuse to stop by.

OT: It is odd these days how you can live two doors down from someone, and not even know them; even in a small town like mine (approx 800 people), people tend to keep themselves, myself included.

 

[Von]

ejb,
I hope I can give you a little guidence on your questions. I at one time owned an auto restoration shop and have done my fair share of welding. Torches are nice for heating things up and cutting and the occasional brazing. For most of the welding that you are describing, any of the quality mig or wire feed welders will do the task. I have not used the flux core wire ever, but they say it is good if you are in windy conditions. I use a 220V mig with a shielding gas and can weld some pretty heavy stuff with it. (welded all my beams that support cement floor in my shop) A wire feed welder is much easier to learn and master than a stick welder. One thing that you will find is once all your friend find out that you can weld, they seem to stop by with broken things in the back of the car that just need a little bead to it. Good luck with all your projects.

Von

 

[Thomas]

Lets not forget about a good sawzails also vice grips. (smile)

Thomas..NH

 

[W5FL]

Looks like you have a lot of good advice on welding materials. I bought the oxy/acc gauge set from Home Depot. It was a Victor and seems to work ok. You also need a big Rosebud tip to really heat anything and another 50 ft of leads of have the bottles more portable than mine are. I found a guy here selling bottles cheap and own the bottles. They are refillable, but watch the expiration date.

I bought a cheap 220V Buzz Box, but that is a foolish mistake. Buy the Lincoln AC/DC box and you will be a lot happier (It looks almost like the AC Version but is about $100 more and worth every penny). DC just flat welds better. I also have an inexpensive 110V wire welder (uses flux wire or CO2) and it works much better on the thinwall stuff. It was less than $200 from Harbor Freight.

I also have an old gasoline driven Lincoln welder that is handy to do odd jobs away from the shop.

 

[JonE]

No doubt, the MIG is the way to go especially for inexperienced welders. I have a little Snap-On 115vac mig and love it. From trailer repair, car seat repair to 3 point lift link repair and on and on.......
I can even get a good bead on 1/2" steel but it works best with 1/4" or less.

 

[rba1b2c3d]

The mig will be the easiest to learn. You can weld almost any thickness, you just have to build up to the thickness you need. You kind of make a pyramid. You lay 1 bead down, the lay one at the outer edge of that one, then one on top. You can keep doing that, just keep each pass about 3/8 - 1/2 inch wide.