thinking of buying a welder

[Facime]

Ok, I read some of the past topics on this subject, and they did give me some good starting places. But I still want to get some opinions on getting a welder to suit my needs.

Basically, I need a simple, easy to use setup, that will allow me to weld mild steel mostly and maybe some stainless, but if I can get alluminum capability that would be great. I expect to weld stuff like exhaust pipes, brackets and maybe some body panels. Im thinking of using both flux core for simple quick things, and gas for more complicated or visible welds. Its needs to be pretty portable (so Im thinking a small gas tank would be good) and Im leaning towards 110-120v because Im not going to be able to have a dedicated location wired for 220. Ive looked at Sears craftsman, sears also carries Lincoln, and I went and looked at Miller's website, and for comparison Ive looked at Harbor Frieghtas well. Keep in mind that I will probably weld 30-40 things a year so I dont need anything that fancy, but I do want good enough quality that I will never have to buy another one in my life.

Im also going to teach myself how to weld (or might take a basic course at my local Comm. Coll.) I'm something of a perfectionist so I also want to avoid some cheap crap that will give me poor results. My budget for this is no more than $800 and that needs to give me everything I need to lay down my first bead (welder, gas tank, gas, wire, mask... and if possible a table or at least enough steel to make a table)

Let me know what you guys like and think will fit my needs. Please include a link to a place I can buy one if you suggest a particular brand or model. Thanks

 

[hottscennessey]

I'm with you, i actually read up and took notes off wikipedia last night. I've decided to take a class at my community college next semester as well. I'm looking into getting a TIG welder because I'm interested in welding some aluminum. Its a shame I don't know anything about it yet so I cant offer any information. Anyways, it sounds like we have similar goals with it.

 

[cadman]

From the sound of it, you need a 110 wire feed welder. I've used them in shop class, and they do quite nicely.

Take a welding class, please. You can teach yourself, but for the money, it's much cheaper to learn the basics, than waste a lot of metal and wire.

Here's a link and some prices to look at for welders. You can pick one up for about $350 that will get you by. Gasless might be the best for you if you want it portable.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=110+wire+feed+welder&hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=froogle&ct=title

But most important, do the research. Go to a shop that sells the welders, and ask them. Explain that you want to start welding your own stuff, and you're just starting out. A good welding shop should have some good information for you. And there's nothing like personal Q&A, and getting to actually look at, feel and talk about what you're buying.

 

[suprageezer]

Go Miller and save a bundle in the long run and far as liners, cones goes. I used them all and to this day Miller is the highest quality Welder you can get. Try looking in craigslist.org for a used Miller you might find one reasonable or even ebay. Don't waste your money on an unrepairable harbour freight model. Dont get me wrong I love that place too but not for welders. go Miller, or Lincoln.
Rick

 

[tissimo]

I have a hobart 140.. works awesome 500 at tractor supply comes with regulator and everything, just need to buy a tank.. fwiw hobart is owned my miller

 

[Facime]

Sears sells Hobart as well. I wasnt thinking of buying of a welder from Harbor freight, we dont even have one close by, I was just using them for comparison sake. There is a Sears over in Albany. We dont have any welding supply places in Corvallis that I know of, but I'll look a little further, maybe one in Albany.

I think I will definately get one that has gas capability, because even though portability is important, I want something that I can grow into as well.

As for the class, I took a welding course a long time ago, so Im not totally new to the concepts, just totally rusty. I bet I can teach myself in a week to do a decent enough weld that will hold up on anything other than a safety item like frames, suspension members. I can work into that kind of welding. Mostly I plan to do cosmetic welding and stuff like exhaust as well as some art welding (sculpture etc). Im also thinking I might pay my current fabricator a few bucks to brush me up on the basics.

I was thinking about this one, its at the high side of my budget, (doesnt leave alot of room for supplies, mask etc) but its 120v, comes with a gas cylinder, and is psudo-portable.

Lincoln Electric SP13ST One Pak Package with Welding Cart
That sound like it would do the trick?

 

[Steve_N]

I have been thinking about giving Alumalloy a try. Its a alloy rod that can be used to weld mild steel- Alluminum using a propane torch. Not sure about the overall strength but I would only use it for IC piping, Exhaust etc. Here is a link to the product. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/?OVRAW=alumaloy&OVKEY=alumaloy&OVMTC=standard

Anyone else hear of it &/or tried it?

 

[hottscennessey]

I have been thinking about giving Alumalloy a try. Its a alloy rod that can be used to weld mild steel- Alluminum using a propane torch. Not sure about the overall strength but I would only use it for IC piping, Exhaust etc. Here is a link to the product. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/?OVRAW=alumaloy&OVKEY=alumaloy&OVMTC=standard

Anyone else hear of it &/or tried it?

Don't laugh but I think I'm gonna try it.. its worth the gamble if it works like the video. lol. It looks like it would work fine for "welding" BOV flanges.. but difficult for fabricating pipes. The video makes it look amazing.

 

[Steve_N]

Looks legitimate to me. For $50 in rods & $12 for propane torch its defiantly worth a try.

 

[hottscennessey]

we'll see.. flamesuite on

 

[MK3Brent]

You could probably search my thread(s).
I bought a Craftsman welder, and I love it.

Made all sorts of stuff with it too.

 

[Facime]

You could probably search my thread(s).
I bought a Craftsman welder, and I love it.

Made all sorts of stuff with it too.

actualy I did read your thread, and thats one of the reasons I looked at Sears. Also one of the reasons why I know I can get my goal in under my budget...Im just looking for the best for the money...so far I havent heard anything good or bad about the one I posted a link to.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Stop right there MR!

Go TIG and never look back. I realize your budget is only $800, but trust me, go TIG.

Even if you have to buy a used TIG welder and setup, go for it.

You'll do nothing but burn yourself and hate your project if you get a cheap wirefeed.

...Not to mention you need special equipment to run aluminum on a wirefeed.

Wirefeeds are very very messy.... and noisy, and painfull.

I suggest that you go lincoln simply because of the foot pedals. They are 100% digital and are the most accurate & touchy pedals I have ever ran.

Also, if you show proof that you are a racing company or team, Lincoln will cut you a deal.

I have an older 1970's Miller Tig welder that does wonders, but its prolly far too large for what you want.

Always here to help.

p.s.

Paging Ron Ramirez. He knows of a cheap, light, awesome TIG welder....

 

[hottscennessey]

Good info MDC (as always).

 

[MDCmotorsports]

I only try...

 

[Clip]

kill me now, but can someone explain why you'd need a gas cylinder on an electric welder? i thought that you could either use an oxy/acetylyne setup to cut (weld on the side) or you could go electric and plug it in. wouldn't electric eliminate the need for gas, or am i missing something big?

 

[thesandymancan]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Stop right there MR!

Go TIG and never look back. I realize your budget is only $800, but trust me, go TIG.

Even if you have to buy a used TIG welder and setup, go for it.

You'll do nothing but burn yourself and hate your project if you get a cheap wirefeed.

...Not to mention you need special equipment to run aluminum on a wirefeed.

Wirefeeds are very very messy.... and noisy, and painfull.

I suggest that you go lincoln simply because of the foot pedals. They are 100% digital and are the most accurate & touchy pedals I have ever ran.

Also, if you show proof that you are a racing company or team, Lincoln will cut you a deal.

I have an older 1970's Miller Tig welder that does wonders, but its prolly far too large for what you want.

Always here to help.

p.s.

Paging Ron Ramirez. He knows of a cheap, light, awesome TIG welder....

bingo, we have a winner! go tig and take a corse. it's dificult, but the weld quality is fantastic. AND you can do aluminum (your neighbors will hate you if you do :evil2: ) i love tig. i cant wait to go back to school monday because i'm only taking welding.

 

[thesandymancan]

kill me now, but can someone explain why you'd need a gas cylinder on an electric welder? i thought that you could either use an oxy/acetylyne setup to cut (weld on the side) or you could go electric and plug it in. wouldn't electric eliminate the need for gas, or am i missing something big?

the gas is to shield the weld puddle from the surounding air. much like flux.

 

[Clip]

thanks for the info, it makes a bit more sense now.

 

[cjsupra90]

Yeah, like MDC said, GO TIG!!!!!!!

Thats the best thing that I ever invested in. About the only time that I ever use my MIG is for quick tacks and that is it.

The only real advantage that a MIG has is speed and even then its not that much faster of a deposition rate.

TIG torch = Smaller, lighter, and easier to minipulate
MIG torch = Bigger, heavier, and harder to minipulate