What welder will do this

[rickyb01]

I bought a 1/2 plate shop table and want to weld two 12" receivers to it. Now the receivers are about 3/16 sq tubbing and weld them to 1/2" steel plate. Anyway this can be done with a 110 volt? Don't have 50 amp 240 ran anywhere. I can run it to shop and will but that will take a few weeks. I see a few old Ac welders for sale on CL but also read they are hard to weld with. I have no experience but can learn. Would like to be able to weld up lawn mowers, boat trailers and small things around the house. Would never attempt a structural weld that would get someone hurt but would like to help out neighborhood friends with small weld jobs like mentioned. What do you guys think would be a good fit? Thanks ricky

 

[Shield Arc]

I would see what kind of a deal Mark with Everlast could make you for a PowerArc 200ST. Then buy a Tig rig, and flow meter for the thin metal welding.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bought a 1/2 plate shop table and want to weld two 12" receivers to it. Now the receivers are about 3/16 sq tubbing and weld them to 1/2" steel plate. Anyway this can be done with a 110 volt? Don't have 50 amp 240 ran anywhere. I can run it to shop and will but that will take a few weeks. I see a few old Ac welders for sale on CL but also read they are hard to weld with. I have no experience but can learn. Would like to be able to weld up lawn mowers, boat trailers and small things around the house. Would never attempt a structural weld that would get someone hurt but would like to help out neighborhood friends with small weld jobs like mentioned. What do you guys think would be a good fit? Thanks ricky

As long as the welder will burn the rod or wire and get good fusion on thin metal, it should weld the thicker stuff also. A good idea is to preheat thicker metal when using a light duty welder. A oxy/fuel torch or even a plumbers butane torch is sufficient to heat the metal prior to welding. 200F minimum preheat is what I would use and hotter would be better for a 110 volt machine.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Oh, and make multiple passes, don't try to put a 1/2" of fillet weld on in one pass.

 

[rickyb01]

While cleaning my garage I was looking right at my water heater so I have 220. I can wire a plug for that connection. Can get 220 to my shop in a couple of weeks. I have a friend that is going to loan me his 110 welder to practice with and weld up hitches so I can preheat metal to weld to. Now I have 220 I want to buy a welder I can stick or mig with.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . I see a few old Ac welders for sale on CL but also read they are hard to weld with. I have no experience but can learn. . .

Nothing really wrong with a straight A/C welder. I have one that my dad bought new in 1949. Used it yesterday. Just remember that if you're using an A/C only welder, you need to burn A/C rods. They still make them, and they work great.
And, remember, the way to learn to weld is practice, practice, practice. If you find a cheap A/C machine that still works, it leaves more money for rods that you can practice with.

 

[Big Barn]

Having access to 220v will make your options much better.

Not certain how your table is configured, but if possible, it may be better to weld your receiver tube(s) to the table frame or legs. This would eliminate any heat distortion to your table top.

Here's 24" lengths of receiver tube welded to my BASE. BukitCase could possibly provide details on "notching" the tops of your receivers to make insertion of your tools easier.



Terry

 

[Shield Arc]

I wouldn't weld hitches with a 120-volt welder! :thumbdown::thumbdown:

 

[yomax4]

Please don't weld a 1/2" table top with a 115V Mig. There are some cheap 130 amp 115V Sick units out there that will burn 1/8 rod but I wouldn't want my toes under that table.

 

[rickyb01]

No sir now that I got 220 to my garage I'm only going to practice with the 110 Make that weld with 220. I have been looking at the 3 in 1 welders and do think that's the way to go for me. I have never mig or tig welded but would like option to try. There are a lot of welders out there today and it can get confusing to choose one. Always a safe play to go with Miller or Lincoln but have seen Tweco211 mentioned a lot for price point. Some have mentioned everlast and esab so again a lot to choose from.