welding

[Soundguy]

I agree with Alan B.. The big honkin AC stick welder will let you work bigger projects than the small flux welder.. and the dryer plug thing works great.

If you go that route, I'd like to plug my Hobart stickmate XL 235a It's a monster, as I'm sure the lincoln buzz box is. Tractor supply has them for 239$.. I chose the hobart over the lincoln partly because o fthe money 9 and i had a TSC gift card to help pay for it ).. and the amp capacity. i think the lincoln is 225a or something like that... not that that 10a will make much diff.

If you are wanting to make 3pt hitch equipment.. then I forsee you using metal in the 1/2 range an UP.

I bought my hobart specifically to fix my JD batwing mower... there was plenty of 1/2 metal in the wing hinge area that i had to weld up... I doubt I could have done it with a small mig or flux that I could get int he same 239$ price range..


Soundguy

Before I start, let me say that I am aware of the multiple other threads on welding, of which I have poured over many of them. Unfortunately, while I did pick up some ideas, I am still perplexed. I am posting this new thread because I am jealous of all of the awesome creations that I see some of you weld up and I want to try my hand at it too. I have a limited budget, very limited, but I want to give welding a try. I have done a little welding with a stick welder and a small mig welder (no gas), and I don't have time to take a welding course, though this is great advice, but I am currently a full time student and work a VERY full time job. So now on to my questions. I am considering buying either a Lincoln 100 HD mig welder (without gas, $369.00 locally) or a basic Lincoln buzz box stick welder ($269.00). The 100 HD is $100 more than the stick welder. I know the stick welder has more capapbility in regards to heavy guage metal, but I like the portability and outlet capability of the 100 HD mig welder. Will the 100 HD be enough to weld the type of projects I see you guys welding (3 point hitch projects with angle, bucket hooks, chain holders, etc.) or should I just go with the stick welder?
Teach

 

[Soundguy]

You must have a weak breaker or bad luck.. I've never tripped one while welding on 1/2" plate and my hobart 235AC. Utility or genny...

Soundguy

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.

 

[Lynkage]

You must have a weak breaker or bad luck.. I've never tripped one while welding on 1/2" plate and my hobart 235AC. Utility or genny...

Soundguy

No I just like 7018 rod for multiple reasons. This is what my friend/teacher has taught me with. I am also an electrician so I kind of feel it is necessary to do this. I should also realize that some people use what they need and if it works for them then GREAT!!

I hope I did not sound mean as I was not meaning to.

 

[davemhughes]

Just thought I would post this as its the "anything and everything" you ever wanted to know about welders and welding site. Good guys also.

WeldingWeb™ - Professional Welding Forum - Powered by vBulletin

As I am buying a new welder this week I did a lot of research and they were very helpful.

 

[mdbarb]

Budget is a problem?
110,220,2 phase, 3 phase,volts, amps etc.
One word:
Oxyacetelyne (however u spell it)

 

[Timber]

Everyone is right on the money hear, Buy yourself a Lincon AC welder and so 7011 & 7013 rod and you can do gust about anything with it. Don't go crazy with stuff. Your going to need about 30 to 50 feet of cable and the ends to plug the welder into. They usually come with a welding shield but if you were going to spend extra money I would buy a nice shield but the one that comes with the welder will be fine. Let your eyes adjust inside the shield to see your work and go nuts. Welding like anything just takes practice, the more you do the better you get. Have a ball man, once you have a welder you could never be without one

 

[MikePA]

Are you aware that your posts are in purple, underlined and italics? Just curious. People usually use italics and underline to emphasize something. Not to mention, all italics makes text hard to read.

 

[Ken S.in Ky.]

Teach
I have 2 welders 1wire feed mig and a AC225 just like you are talking about. When i start a project like you discribed in your 1st post I grab the 225 and go at it. If you keep it in the dry out of weather it will be there for your grand kids years from now. With the right rods and some practice you can weld stuff as thin as lawn mower frame and with the multiple passes you can weld as thick as your foot now try that with the wire feed. One of the main things is matching rod size to the materal being welded and amperage range for the rod. I personally would go with the stick welder.
Ken S.

 

[Timber]

Are you aware that your posts are in purple, underlined and italics? Just curious. People usually use italics and underline to emphasize something. Not to mention, all italics makes text hard to read.

yes I am

 

[fattyfat1]

Teach
With the right rods and some practice you can weld stuff as thin as lawn mower frame and with the multiple passes you can weld as thick as your foot now try that with the wire feed.
Ken S.

the pipe welders i work with run their wire feed machines on heavy wall chrome at 480 inches of wire per minute. this is hand welding mind you! if you struck an arc on 1/4 inch material with that much amperage, it would blow a hole right through it. try that with a stick welder! by the way, they also have sub arc machines that will put down a bead 2 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick in ONE pass. try that with a stick welder...... you are only limited by power and budget when it comes to wire welding, it is far superior to stick in ALL aspects. stick welding is 1920's technology. the ONLY time we use stick in our shop is on oddball alloys you can't get wire for, otherwise we tig everything else. 14 welders in our shop producing between 150 to 200 diameter inches a day. (1- 10" weld = 10 diameter inches) and i can count the times they burn rod in a year on 2 hands.