welding

[California]

Starving student? BTDT. Now I can afford better but I still like to try out a new hobby by buying good quality used stuff to fool around for a year or two. My expectation is the experience will help me make better choices when I choose expensive new gear. If I break the old stuff due to inexperience, so what - the education didn't cost much. (see my old thread on destroying an alternator by pressure washing the mud-caked regulator. )

The more I learn to use my $50, 225AC stick welder the better I like it. I tried a cheap HF wire welder and immediately realized buying cheap was a mistake so I returned it. I'm learning that I can weld what I need welded, so why have more money tied up in an infrequently-used toy. Some day if I want to make show-quality welds I would spend the money for a modern rig, but that's not likely.

In the case of my 40 year old welder and 26 year old tractor, a couple of years experience has shown them good enough for my applications so that frees up cash for overseas travel etc that I consider a better use of funds.

Save those discount coupons for home improvement, and buy quality there since you will look at it every day.


Here's what I see near you:

Craigslist, Rhode Island, welder <$450

 

[gclark94560]

Hi!

My question is - what do you want to make with this welder? It's a tool and proper choice is always made by the use intended.

If you want to do sheet metal, thin walled tube and other light gauge projects, go with a low cost MIG.

If you want to do trailer hitches and tractor projects, go with the stick welder.

I am not saying that MIG welders can't do heavy stuff - they sure can! I am saying that low cost, low amp MIG welders can NOT.

I have both a Clarke 110EN (low cost low power MIG) and a Lincoln AC225. I LOVE the Lincoln! I make all kinds of stuff with it. I also use the Clark a lot too.

If I had to have only one I would REALLY look at what I was going to be building. The choice then makes itself!

Greg

 

[Ifixcars]

How 'bout a used ACDC stick? You could probably get a nice deal on one if you looked around a bit. 100 amp migs are good for sheet metal, not for building heavy implements.

 

[teach]

Thanks to everyone for their ideas. As far as used machines, they are VERY hard to come by in my area. Unless I luck into a decent quality used machine on the cheap, I think based on the overwhelming support for the stick welder, this is probably what I'll end up buying new. The "CEO" of my personal corporation is only allowing the allocation of funds for the welder because most of it is paid for with the gift cards to one particular store that I have saved up. Thanks again all!
Teach

 

[AlanB]

From your project list, and budget, I still think your best bet is a Home Depot or Lowes Lincoln 225 AC. If you find you enjoy welding and do it a lot and want to improve your equipment, you can recoup 75% of your money easy by selling it.

Anyway, I would go that, pick up a small pack of 1/8" 6011, 1/8" 6013 to go out and learn with. You want to try a little light gauge or sheet metal welding, after you can comfortably run those two rods (5 lbs of each) then go pick up some small diameter 7014 and play at the sheet metal. I would go with the HF auto darkening hood for $50 or if you have plenty of gift certificates, I think HD or Lowes has that hood for about $100

You may find that your dryer plug, or your circuit breaker box grows a mysterious twin Looks kind of like this one.

And what the other poster mentioned about a patch cord, is actually what I should have said (meant),,,, It may look something like below, it's siamese twin is still sitting on top of the toolbox so that the big Mig and the Plasma can be pluged in at the same time.

One day I may have a nice shop,,, but at least I have nice stuff in mine

 

[MikeD74T]

Thanks to everyone for their ideas. As far as used machines, they are VERY hard to come by in my area. Unless I luck into a decent quality used machine on the cheap, I think based on the overwhelming support for the stick welder, this is probably what I'll end up buying new. The "CEO" of my personal corporation is only allowing the allocation of funds for the welder because most of it is paid for with the gift cards to one particular store that I have saved up. Thanks again all!
Teach

I know you have gift cards, but here's a used welder that will outlast you & do anything you could want to do. eBay: miller welder (item 300080082090 end time Feb-17-07 09:27:29 PST) and it's close. It's not pretty in that picture but look at the Miller website for specifications & you'll be impressed. And it comes with a water cooler & tig torch. MikeD74T

 

[California]

here's a used welder..

if you have 440 volt service, as I read it.

What about the $75 Lincoln 225AC on craigslist?

Realistically, establish a perpetual automated ebay search (they email you) as well set up a click-once craigslist search, and something good will turn up.

That's historically a manufacturing region, there have to be welders out there.

 

[MikeD74T]

if you have 440 volt service, as I read it.

What about the $75 Lincoln 225AC on craigslist?

Realistically, establish a perpetual automated ebay search (they email you) as well set up a click-once craigslist search, and something good will turn up.

That's historically a manufacturing region, there have to be welders out there.

I have the same welder, it can be run on 220 single phase also. The owner's manual is downloadable from the Miller site. It shows the input configurations. MikeD74T

 

[California]

Mike, thanks for the clarification. I didn't know you could do that.

That welder should serve for his projects!

 

[Lynkage]

I know you have gift cards, but here's a used welder that will outlast you & do anything you could want to do. eBay: miller welder (item 300080082090 end time Feb-17-07 09:27:29 PST) and it's close. It's not pretty in that picture but look at the Miller website for specifications & you'll be impressed. And it comes with a water cooler & tig torch. MikeD74T

The only problem with that great welder is...... It's HEAVY!! but none the less it is a good welder. The other problem is if you do go with the ac225 you really should put a 50a outlet. It is fairly easy to trip a dryer outlet if you want to weld 1/4" plate. other than that they do quite a bit.