What welder would be best??

[Gary Fowler]

I would say that if you can orient all your welds to be flat or horizontal, a MIG welder as ShieldArc suggests would be good especially for a beginner. A blind monkey can run them when properly set and running right. One that isn't set right or is welding erratically can be a nightmare to figure out the problem for a beginner welder though. A badly welding MIG machine can put out more weld in 5 minutes than you can grind off in an hour.
One of the CONS for MIG is the cost of consumables i.e. wire liners, contact tips and shield gas nozzles, anti-spat to keep weld spatter from sticking to the nozzle and tips and most of all shielding gas (75/25 Argon/CO2 mixed gas for carbon steel). The other things are wind, moisture and unclean metal either of which can wreak havoc on a MIG weld.

As long as you take the time to clean the metal good to remove all oil, rust, scale etc. and properly shield the weld from wind AND keep the MIG gun properly maintained, they make beautiful welds. Make sure you get one with plenty of capacity (current and amps) otherwise running one too cold will likely cause you to cold lap the weld at the edges making it look good but not be properly fused together which is another bad thing with MIG especially with beginners.

 

[dragoneggs]

A blind monkey can run them when properly set and running right.

Hey... I resemble that remark!

 

[ferrari99]

Some of you are saying keep the ARC and get a MIG, and others say get an inverter. I would like to be able to weld better than I can with an ARC for less than $500 if possible. I also have about 6-7lbs of rods for the ARC and I am presuming that they will work on an inverter, but obviously not on a MIG.
Thanks, for your input.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Some of you are saying keep the ARC and get a MIG, and others say get an inverter. I would like to be able to weld better than I can with an ARC for less than $500 if possible. I also have about 6-7lbs of rods for the ARC and I am presuming that they will work on an inverter, but obviously not on a MIG.
Thanks, for your input.

I think I see, you don't currently get very good results stick welding and would like to switch to mig?
Did I understand that correctly?

The thicknesses you list, 3-4mm, would be good for mig.
Your price range of $500 is pretty low, but with used equip should be ok.

How much do you usually weld at a time? All day? 20 minutes? It will matter for duty cycle.

 

[ferrari99]

I would normally work on a project all day but of course you have to cut steel and all that. Do any of you have any experience with Ross welders, I can get a Ross 150A MIG for $350.00. What brand would you suggest? cigweld? lincoln? everlast?

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

For what you are describing, intermittent hobby/home use, a 150 amp class mig machine should do fine.

You will be running near the top, or at the top of the output so you'll have to be mindfull of the duty cycle - should not be a problem unless you are super impatient like me and can't wait for machines to cool when there is work to be done :laughing:

I only have experience with US welders though, miller, hobart, lincoln, etc so I'm not much help there.

I'd keep the stick machine though for heavy work. I've got a 210 amp mig and I still use my stick welders too.

 

[Arc weld]

I think you're confusing some of the terms used in welding. Anything that uses electric current to make an arc is arc welding, whether it's stick, MIG, TIG, sub-arc, etc. Inverters are a more efficient way to produce power for welding and usually result in a very smooth arc. Conventional transformer/rectifiers can have a smooth arc too but Inverters are a lot more compact and use less input power. I'm not familiar with Ross welders but maybe you can wait to see how the new Everlast inverter based MIG works. Mark is supposed to be trying one out real soon to let us know how it works. Most people have been really happy with their Everlast welders.

 

[Sodo]

I know it has probably been talked about before but I asking again. I have a standard stick welder(big, not portable), if I were to replace it what would you suggest? Inverter? Mig? or what? I mainly use it for RHS up to about 3-4mm thick (don't know the conversion).

You didn't say how much experience "you" have at fabrication thus far. If you post a couple example projects you have done it will be easier to guess what your level of experience is. And your project scale.

Here's a pic of 1/8" RHS welded to 3/16" plate (3mm RHS welded to 5mm plate) using 120v. With 220v, "you" should be able to weld double that thickness.



These are a little thicker, 3/16" & 1/4" thickness (5mm to 7mm) and welded with 120v too. Maybe you can make assumptions regarding 220v capability based on these simple 120v examples.



Sorry I can't guess what a $500 welder will do for you. I've never tried one. I have a Miller MIG that's rated for up to 10mm (on 220v) but some folks say I could have bought a better machine for a lot less $$$ than Miller. I'm curious but I just weld with what I have, which just might last me longer than I will be welding.

I see "duty cycle" mentioned often, but I have been welding for 40 years and have never had a welder shut off mid-weld. I don't weld all day. My day consists of cut, grind, fit, sit, weld a bit, and repeat. The welders I have used in the past 20 years have duty cycles of "20%" or perhaps less. The only observation I can offer is that "duty-cycle" has never come to mind beyond reading warning posts on the internet. And certainly not "in-use". If I have a longer weld to do that a pro wants to do in 8 minutes; it probably takes me 16 minutes anyway, which stands to reason my machine gets time to rest.

Be sure that the "consumables" for that brand are available for the next 20 years.

what would you suggest for making right angle cuts in RHS? What about this (I have a 9" grinder) 531406 - Buy Angle Grinder Stand 9" | Gasweld

That looks like a good way to tie up a ferocious 9" angle grinder. Do you have a 2nd grinder (maybe 4 1/2") too? I'd say thats an OK $59 spent if you already have 2 grinders.

What do you think of this? NEW Rossi CT312 DC Inverter Welder TIG ARC Plasma Cutter Portable Stick Welding | eBay

Only point I can make is that it's not a MIG! Although TIG and plasma cutting are interesting. I would say that if you're buying tools and already have a stick welder, do yourself a favor and add a MIG.

 

[aczlan]

These are a little thicker, 3/16" & 1/4" thickness (5mm to 7mm) and welded with 120v too. Maybe you can make assumptions regarding 220v capability based on these simple 120v examples.

Just a note, the OP is in Australia and they have 50hz 240VAC power (like in Europe), 120VAC is not available there.

Aaron Z

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

220V on a single line too.