Welding questions

cchoate · Jan 8, 2003

Now that a tracor has been in my shed for a while, I've found the need for welder more than a few times. I've done a little arc welding with a neighbors welder but no real experience. Since I like doing things myself here are a few questions:

1What's the difference between arc, wire fed and mig welding, and is one better than the others for general welding steel up to 3/16".

2 Who makes a decent wire feed/ mig welder for around $400 - $500. (Hobart, Craftsman, ect...?)

hazmat · Jan 8, 2003

Not to be a prick, but the question has been asked & answered a bunch on TBN. Try doing a search.

Arc will give uglier welds but easier penetration
MIG is wire fed, but also gas shielded,
By wire fed I assume you mean the flux cored wire fed.

It's been my experience that the pros use MIG vs the flux core. Both operate on similar principals.

Hobart, Miller & Lincoln all make decent products. Shop at a welding supply store vs. Home Depot and you'll get your questions answered.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jan 8, 2003

I have a little Hobart 175 MIG welder which is wire feed and should do up to 1/4" on a single pass. It's 220V but can operate on a 30A line with 10/2. Tractor Supply has that Hobart now in a package with a little cart, gloves, helmet and probably some other goodies near the $500 mark. Mine was retailed at $599.99 with just the cart. I've seen the new package deal at under $500 at one TSC in the area.

There are some recent threads on this in 'Related Topics' you might want to read. A lot of people like Lincoln and Miller brands as well. I'd most heartily suggest you consider a welding class at a local community college or techinical college before you make your purchase. An ARC class would be a good 'first step' followed by MIG if that's the way you want to go. It seems to be the most popular now.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

cchoate · Jan 8, 2003

I'm already signed up for a class at my local BOCES starting in Feb. I would like to get outside opinons before it starts, not just a couple from locals.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jan 9, 2003

I took ARC last semester and start a MIG class in February. I'm looking forward to it. Are you taking the ARC class first? It was a prerequisite to any other classes here and I'm glad I took it first now. It covered a lot of the basics that will apply to any other welding I'll ever do.

cchoate · Jan 9, 2003

The class is "Basic Welding" so I would think it would be ARC. Twelve sessions @ three hours each. After that I will probably go to a more advanced class.

JATO_RaT · Jan 9, 2003

For infrequent general purpose welding, go with an ARC aka "stick" welder. Less costly to buy and operate with superior penetration to MIG. A 250 DC amp ARC will weld most things your likely to encounter except the thin stuff. This is where a MIG really shines, especially the small very affordable ones. Remember, when you buy a small MIG unit at Home Depot, your probably getting a wire fed less gas unit which means no MIG. That means you'll be doing Flux Core or Innershield which is analogous to ARC welding. MIG is pretty much an indoor welding practice as even a small breeze will blow away the shielding gas and cause porosity. Of the 3, MIG is my favorite and the one I use most often, its very clean, very easy and can produce some attractive welds. ARC can be used on dirty, rusty steel with concrete, paint etc. providing you use the right rod. As mentioned, there is a bunch of info elsewhere in this forum you could check out. There are lots "O" folks that weld here. Rat....

Rockyroad · Jan 10, 2003

I go in to my local BOC supplier (I sometimes call them Airco since they sell that brand), and if the guy on the counter is not busy, he will spend the time with me explaining the different models, torches, helmets, accessories, etc. I buy all of my stuff there now and I stick to the brand names since I got hung on my first welder - a mongrel brand MIG at a big box store. That company is now out of business and I cannot get parts for it. Stick with the brand names. Also, BOC usually has one or two sales a year where you can get deals on really cool welding stuff. I don't know if the other suppliers do this, but it can't hurt to ask. The guys here on TBN are real good about advice, and I have searched the threads about welding and printed them all and put them in a file for future reference, particularly with regard to rods, and which ones to use for different purposes. Lots of good stuff in those previous threads.

Bob85355 · Jan 10, 2003

DW graciously gave me a Lincoln WeldPak (wire feed) a few years ago. I've never been any good with a stick, I like gas but don't want to mess with it anymore. The wire feed is easy to use and handles up to 1/4 inch. Just a handy dandy little welder for around $300

Bob