What to buy for basic welding?

bebster · Mar 18, 2006

My 21 year old daughter has taken up welding in an art class in college, and I thought I'd encourage that by buying her a welding kit. I'm of course hoping that she'll let me use it (after teaching me how to), and that maybe she'll do some small welding projects around the farm.

Any suggestions on what to buy?

5030 · Mar 18, 2006

A good Lincoln Tombstone 220 single phase stick welder. They come in ac only and for a little more money, ac/dc.

It's a great basic welder that's bullet proof. In addition, get some good leather welding gloves, a few pounds of 6013 general purpose electrodes in various diameters, a chipping hammer, a leather cape (or wear a long sleeved shirt) to protect your skin from the UV rays and a good welding helmet. You can get a fixed shade helmet pretty cheap (I think one comes with the Lincoln Tombstone, but I'd probably opt for a self darkening hood like a Hobart or a Jackson.

I started with a Tombstone. Gave it to my brother-in-law years ago. Now I have a Lincoln MIG, a Lincoln gas driven ac/dc high frequency unit as well as a Hobart TIG Mate and a plasma cutter. I prefer the TIG for aluminum over a
push-pull MIG or a spool gun, but that's another story.

Start with a basic unit that you can play around with too. I believe the box stores sell the Lincoln.

Highbeam · Mar 18, 2006

An important question is the thickness of metal she will be working with. If thinner than 1/8" I would steer away from a stick welder. Actually, any artsy stuff where appearance is a concern would call for a real MIG welder which is wirefeed with gas. Very easy to use and the welds look nice. Not as versatile as stick but very easy and pretty.

If she wants to work with thick stuff get a tombstone from home depot. I love mine. Cheap to buy and operate, very capable on thick material, and the good solid welds that a a stick welder is famous for. No gas either.

Next will be the oxy-acetylene setup so she can bend and cut metal artsily. Maybe she can learn to braze.

Welding for art and welding for tractors isn't the same thing.

RonR · Mar 18, 2006

Welder & supplies is round one. Round 2: Autodarkenig helmit will make it SO MUCH easier ($60), Cut off saw ($150), harbor Frt metal bender and scroller ($100), Small pedestal grinder ($40), 4" angle grinder ($15-$80), Oxy-acetylene setup if she's doing thicker stuff (or you need it for your tractoring!).

Access to surplus iron and a means to haul it (pickup), plus a place to store it inside to avoid rust.

POR15 or your favorite converter to convert rust to stable something. Krylon to suit.

Lifetime of enjoyment. Daughter came home for spring brk and wanted to make a candleholder. I already had most of the above stuff, so she spent a day bending/unbending and shaping her candleholder. We had a blast together. I welded most of it, but she did some of it.

It ain't gonna win any prizes, but she likes it, and we've got maybe $20 in materials in it, not counting the tools or time.

ron

EdKing · Mar 18, 2006

I would recommend the Hobart Stickmate (available at TSC) over the Lincoln (tombstone) for the following reasons.

1. Has a 100 amp 100% duty cycle vs the Lincolns 90 amp 100%
2. Has infinite adjustment over its current range vs the Lincolns 10 amp adjustment steps.

Highbeam · Mar 18, 2006

The lincoln's steps are way bigger than 10. Like 30 or so, that's a little bit annoying but the duty cycle of 90 vs 100 is meaningless in anything but a production shop. I've never had a problem blasting away for as long as I want. I have had the step issue though with too hot and I undercut, too cold I don't get the weld to lay down.

The kind of work in the picture of candles would be way more suited to a wirefeed. It's like a hot glue gun of metal.

EddieWalker · Mar 19, 2006

WELDING ART??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Not sure what that is or how to do it, but if it's something you want to encourage, I'd suggest you find out what she's learnign on. Mig is the easy to use and gives good results. The disadavantage is for the same power, mig wont' do what an ark will. Arc welders are fairly chaep but a litte tougher to get good at.

I have one welder. It's a Century AC/DC arc welder. Don't know about art, but it will put two pieces of steel together.

What ever you decide, it's a win-win choice since you will always need a welder, no matter the type.

Eddie

radair · Mar 20, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( WELDING ART??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Not sure what that is or how to do it ...
)</font>

Here's some welded art, Mike the Headless Chicken in Fruita, CO