what it cost to get started welding

schmism · May 1, 2008

Today i upgraded from a friends borrowed welder to one of my own.

A Lincoln Promig 175. Bought used (almost new conditon) from a private seller. $500 (Home depot price $620)

Stop at CK welding supply pickup a #2 40 cu argon/co2 mix bottle (own outright) $140, fill $41 misc other stuff walkaway price $237

Stop at HD pickup 10# spool of wire and 1 lb spool of flux core, plus misc plugs to wire up so i have someplace to plug it in. (220v) $102

I suppose you could walk away with a brand new in box 110v HF mig with an included 1lb spool of flux core and go home and hot glue some stuff together for like $400. (300 welder 100 hood)

but if you want any 220v welder and are starting from scratch your looking at $1000 before you burn your first weld.

AlanB · May 1, 2008

schmism said:
Today i upgraded from a friends borrowed welder to one of my own.

A Lincoln Promig 175. Bought used (almost new conditon) from a private seller. $500 (Home depot price $620)

Stop at CK welding supply pickup a #2 40 cu argon/co2 mix bottle (own outright) $140, fill $41 misc other stuff walkaway price $237

Stop at HD pickup 10# spool of wire and 1 lb spool of flux core, plus misc plugs to wire up so i have someplace to plug it in. (220v) $102

I suppose you could walk away with a brand new in box 110v HF mig with an included 1lb spool of flux core and go home and hot glue some stuff together for like $400. (300 welder 100 hood)

but if you want any 220v welder and are starting from scratch your looking at $1000 before you burn your first weld.

And the ability to do it yourself, at your convienience, at your home...............

Priceless

blacksmith · May 1, 2008

Now that is MIG welding you can still buy a AC/DC welder and then get a Tig unit and you can weld almost anything.

rcrcomputing · May 1, 2008

I've a 110 mig.. It's ok.. Still go back to my ac/dc though.. Unless it's light material.. Price of both, hobarts? With stuff? About 1000.00 I guess.. Sooo, either way, it's about 1000.00..

But,, I can carry my 110 mig around.. Does that give me points? hehe

lovemytoys · May 1, 2008

picking up a miller syncrowave 200 tomorrow

rdbrumfield · May 1, 2008

I went with the miller. the mig I have is going on 25yrs old and still putting beads down. Also have the ac dc tig unit and a plasma cutter. Haven't played with them much yet. I am building a trike and it is nice for the lighter metal.

bobodu · May 1, 2008

$85 for old copper core Lincoln 225 and $11 for a 5lb box of 1/8 6013.
$4 left for lunch.

john_bud · May 2, 2008

Gloves? Helmet? Apron? 4 1/2" angle grinder (AKA - weld eraser)? Discs? Chop saw for cutting metal? Supply of metal? Wire brushes for the grinder to clean rust and paint from metal? Sand blaster to clean metal? Assortment of deep throat vice grips, c-clamps, corner clamps, magnets, etc? Chipping hammer for the flux core? Needle scaler for those odd cleaning jobs? Big fan to blow out the fumes?

You didn't mention the extra wire to handle the 30 amps of 240v single phase nor the breaker. You musta had them? You will need an outlet in the garage by the doors and one on the other side too. Maybe in the basement for winter work? (I have 3 welder outlets in my shop...)

The welder is usually about the same cost as the accessories!

Oh, I use CO2 for most welding. It is MUCH less $$ than the mix and lasts 5-10x longer. It's a liquid and not a compressed gas so there is more volume of gas after it volatilizes.

jb

oops - forgot Fire extinguisher. I have used mine on non-ferrous material that wanted to join the party!

rcrcomputing · May 2, 2008

Your depressing me.. I don't have the sand blaster!

DavidVT · May 2, 2008

I will let you know in about 2 weeks.

I just ordered a Hobart Stickmate AC/DC from Northern Tool via Amazon for $419.00.

I have to buy some rod.

I have a hood ,gloves and hammer that I bought for the cheapo pretty useless stick welder that I brought from a large box store.

I will have to buy and wire the outlet for the welder and add a breaker to my panel. I hope to do all that before it arrives (not sure of the plug configuration).

I will make a cart as the first project. I have the materials...

So I will report back when I start welding so I can tell you exactly how much more it cost me to get started...

Eventually I will add a scratch start tig for DC tig welding. That is all I've done for welding experience in the past, TIG on SS at a food plant with a scratch start invertec. This new welder is for tractor implements.... gona have a grapple soon!!!!!!

Berniep · May 2, 2008

I bought a Hobart 180 then the grinders, sanders, die grinders, band saw, auto darkening helmet, etc.
Oh and don't forget clamps, lots of clamps. Then I bought a HTP 201 tig welder. Then I had to buy tungstens and filler rods of all types, stanless steel brushes, and acetone for cleaning/degreasing, It never ends.
Pretty soon I am gonna weld something.

wushaw · May 3, 2008

Berniep said:
It never ends.

That is a fact and hope it doesn't any time soon.

john_bud · May 3, 2008

OOPS!

I forgot to mention the high speed die grinder, dozen or so carbide bits and dozen or so grit bits. You just can't have too many grinding toys ----er--- tools.

jb

chvet73 · May 4, 2008

You guys make me feel better about how much stuff I've got. I have a house and cabin so that means two or more of many items. But since I don't weld much at the cabin yet and no 220 there yet Im a little shy in the metal work stuff at the cabin.
But with that said this going cause me to see what amount of stuff I've got. 220v Hobart mig with tank and stand. 120v 135amp Lincoln Mig tanks for it but no stand yet. Need to build a kinda big 4wd type cart for mountain use. Torch setup at both houses. Band saw at home. 6 cheap grinders and one good one. Setup for sevreral options. Only one medium priced auto dark hood. Old jeap one two. 1 7" grinder polisher. Paint guns. Measuring tools. Some metal stock. A Logan lathe. 2 Drill presses. Lincoln buzz box for arc work.
Well I just don't know how I got it all. Stuff just starts appearing in my shop.
Except fot the Hobart which we got new with tank and stand for under $700. All the rest was used. Lincoln mig $250 , Drill presses are asian but made by 2 different ompanies for about $65 each look like the were made at the same place, both heavy bench mount. Work well. Cheap grinders new for $10-15. 4x6 bandsaw $50
You can do reall well used all comes from Craigs list, Ebay and local Recycler paper which Craigs has just about killed.
I still don't know how I get it all. Better not let the wife read this post.

rcrcomputing · May 5, 2008

DavidVT said:
I will make a cart as the first project. I have the materials...

A cart sounds like thin material. I'd blow holes in it with an ac/dc.

Berniep · May 5, 2008

rcrcomputing said:
A cart sounds like thin material. I'd blow holes in it with an ac/dc.

Not necessarily.
You can weld some relatively thin materials with some practice. I have used coat hanger as a filler to weld thin stuff with an AC stick welder before, it sort of sucks some of the heat out.

schmism · May 5, 2008

john_bud said:
You didn't mention the extra wire to handle the 30 amps of 240v single phase nor the breaker. You musta had them? You will need an outlet in the garage by the doors and one on the other side too. Maybe in the basement for winter work? (I have 3 welder outlets in my shop...)

Yes my left over wire pile is extensive. I have some 10/3 i reused from an old project. The $100 at HD was mostly plugs and receptical crap. but if you dont its like $1.25/foot

generally if your considering a welder you already have a 4.5" grinder, a hack saw, (you can get a cup brush for the same grinder) gloves etc.

DavidVT · May 8, 2008

ok, new welder arrived today...

Last weekend I did some shopping for the power requirements.
I think I have all I need to power up the welder after installing everything this weekend. I love home wiring so should be fun..

I had a new subpanel from a project that never came to be. I decided to include that in this project so I can have a breaker for lights and a grinder.
New 50 amp breaker for the main and another for the subpanel. I have small breakers in the original subpanel so I will not add that cost here.
New 40' of #6 SCR (main to sub, sub to outlet. it has an extra conductor for the neutral of the 120 circuits.)
New 50' #10 extension cord from HD.
New 50amp plug and socket to adapt the extension cord.
New 10 clamps to mount the #6 SCR to the basement ceiling.
New 4 3/4" bulkhead clamps for the #6 SCR to both panels and the wall socket.

As this subpanel will be in a sometimes moist area (large below grade basement entryway) I will mount it and the 50amp socket in a recycled weathertight fiberglass panel that is large enough to hold the #10 extension cord.

The #6 SCR was very reasonable at about $1 per foot. I could have bought #6 SEU at $.75/foot but wanted that neutral for 120 circuits. An electrician at work talked me out of running #10 from the main to the subpanel, despite the duty cycle argument. That #6 SCR is aluminum and was cheaper than the #10 extension cord from HD. The #10 extension cord will be used from the exterior subpanel to the work area which this summer will be primarily outside in the gravel driveway.

Welder $419 Hobart AC/DC stickmate
Wiring $170 2x50A CB,40' #6SCR,50' #10extcord,plugs/sockets,etc

I think I have everything else I need to safely strike an arc by sunday night....

Oh and I will likely not do a welding cart but rather will modify an existing handtruck for this summer's welding..... I damaged one of my homemade tractor bucket forks so replacing it has now become the target first project...

time will tell....

john_bud · May 10, 2008

schmism said:
generally if your considering a welder you already have a 4.5" grinder, a hack saw, (you can get a cup brush for the same grinder) gloves etc.

I didn't when I got my first welder. (110 v HF mig made in Italy).

All I had was a file and 2 pieces of 80 grit sand paper!

jb

sandman2234 · May 10, 2008

Some people need a portable welder, instead of adding two sets of everything to their pile of stuff...(Chevet??) I am not one to be setting the example, as I just traded for another welder, to store at a friends house because he only has a portable, and it is LOUD in the neighborhood where he lives.(Anybody need a portable welder?)
That sounds like a sales pitch to Chevet, but he already has everything twice, so he won't be needing it, and I am not trying to really sell it for my buddy. He can do that on Craiglist.
If you guys think feeding a welder project is expensive, go buy yourselves a Bridgeport Milling machine and a small lathe and see how fast the money disapears!!!!
David from jax