Yet another welding question

bobodu · Jun 18, 2005

( welding with a wire feed, bought one a year ago, and haven't used it yet....trying to get my shop built so I can get everything set up in it.... )

Oh m'Gawd...your patience astounds me....I was welding in the snow!!!
Moving all the stuff into my new barn....that's a centennial project fer ya.........

Laminarman · Jun 18, 2005

Has anyone found this experience with welding?

I speak for myself: I buy a small MIG unit. Thinking "I will rarely weld...ever...but it's handy to have". Now I look for stuff to weld, enough that I need a stick unit for heavier stuff. "Break **** shovel, break...so I can weld you. Bust darn boom pole, bust. Oh Geeeeeez, whatashame...seems like that tail pipe might someday in a decade wear out, so I better saw off the end and fresh weld a new one on". I can see how some can get addicted to it. But I try very hard to keep it a practical thing. Have not turned to welding bird houses, sculptures and lawn ornaments.

Soundguy · Jun 19, 2005

I've found that I push metal objects a bit harder than I did before I had a welder. i figure if it breaks.. I'll just weld it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Soundguy

willfick · Jun 19, 2005

My experience is sort of a corallary to that. After I had the engine overhauled on my TLB, Old Stoney, I had to buy a welder. Now things break before the engine stalls.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Wm

davesisk · Jun 29, 2005

( Has anyone found this experience with welding?

Have not turned to welding bird houses, sculptures and lawn ornaments.

)

Uh oh...I've have on occasion welded-up some wrought iron furniture and home decorations, so I guess I'm a little worse off than you are (but sounds like you'll catch up!). Here's some pics:

Dave's metal-working projects...well, some of 'em....

There's definitely something to be said for a hobby that makes you AND your wife happy!

Dave

casetractors · Jun 30, 2005

Around my place I have found that a gas welder is the best. you can take it to the implements and make a repair, I have had them break down well back in the woods and could not get them out with our fixing them. I have been welding for 35 years and either ac, or dc will do a fine job, I prefer a dc my self. a 3/32 rod will do any thing you want to do. since it seems that you do not want to clean your material that good you need to use a 6010 your first pass, after that a 7018 will probly hold any thing you want to weld.

Mike_C · Jul 5, 2005

I have not seen a direct response to the AC/DC question so here's a little info. With DC, since the current flows in one direction, it makes (for example) welding over your head simpler because the upward flow of the current helps to carry the metal towards the thing you are welding. If you are welding on the ground, I don't think DC makes much difference, except maybe a little smoother weld like someone mentioned earlier. I have a Lincoln AC 225 that I bought in 1982 that is still going strong, and does everything I need it to do, so I have no desire to buy a DC welder. Also, the guts of an AC welder are simpler, because it is nothing but a transformer and some switches. With a DC you have to have rectifier diodes to convert the AC to DC, so you have more parts to wear out. I'll stick with AC.

Mike

youfoundtheking · Jul 6, 2005

amp requirements are lower with dc, also some rods are designed for dc and dont work well with ac, the most popual of which are 6010, and 7018.

thingy · Dec 1, 2006

Mike,,ac means alternating,[it goes on and off],,dc meanns direct [it doesn't],,thats why its smoother,,,over head,,you may have a point,,BUT,,not really,,,there are different kinds of ac too,,some almost as good as dc,,,but,,dc is the best for steel,,period,,most,[if not all rods],will burn better on dc,,most rods are made to run on dc,,,
ain't responded,,cause I was barred,,,thingy