im looking into getting a welder.

what kind of welder should i start with
i know nothing about welding so i want to start with some scrap stuff but need a welder first

tia

well since its ur first time you should go with a mig, they are so simple a monkey can do it and as far as brand goes i have a hobart which is alright but there are some higher end brands like miller or lincoln... its kinda on how much money you want to spend

i bought my Lincoln Weldpak 100 about 10yrs ago for $300 + $150 for the gas conversion.

since then i've built:

bumpers (many), rails, tire carriers, triangulated 3 link suspensions (multiple), sandrail frames, re-perched numerous axles, custom steering, trussed axle housings, sleeved axle housings, welded body holes, forklift repairs, metal shelving repairs, etc etc etc.....

that little welder has paid for itself so many times over that i can't even think about calculating it. it is the single best investment i've ever made.

yup i know money comes into play.. but it always does.
i think i might see about a trade with someone who wants a broken vw for a welder plus cash

migs use electricity dont they?

yeah migs use a combination electricity and gas... or you can get flux cored wire which is a gasless mig...

yeah migs use a combination electricity and gas... or you can get flux cored wire which is a gasless mig...


is there a downside to this

thanks again for all the help

...i think i might see about a trade with someone who wants a broken vw for a welder plus cash...

specs on vw pls?

specs on vw pls?

89 16v gli w/160 on the motor, something is messed up in the trans (i believe pressure plate) the trans is from an 8v so this is why it could have broken. im located in maine :(

is there a downside to this

thanks again for all the help

umm the only down side i think its penatration is not very good but i was using a dinky machine when i welded with it, idk maybe someone else would know a little more about flux cored wire, i would just go with the regular mig welder

what about gas
whats best to use

I just bought a Hobart Handler 140 and the chart that came with it shows that it will weld thicker material with flux wire. 1/4" with flux vs. 3/16" with gas :confused:

what about gas
whats best to use

you would have to ask someone else about that one cause i know there are several kinds. i think you have milked me for all the information ur going to get haha. sorry

I just bought a Hobart Handler 140 and the chart that came with it shows that it will weld thicker material with flux wire. 1/4" with flux vs. 3/16" with gas :confused:

that could be possible, i was using a 110 machine i think it was and it had thin wire so idk i thought it was neat to weld with and its got to be really convienient for someone who is welding outside and you don't have to worry about the wind blowing ur gas away

this is a decent welder to learn on, and when you get ready to upgrade you sell it for close to what you paid for it

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_36264_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

I just bought a Hobart Handler 140 and the chart that came with it shows that it will weld thicker material with flux wire. 1/4" with flux vs. 3/16" with gas :confused:


Flux wire penetrates deeper at less amperage, if you had a larger welder you can weld 1/4 with gas

im looking into getting a welder.

what kind of welder should i start with
i know nothing about welding so i want to start with some scrap stuff but need a welder first

tia

If you're starting out on a life long hobby of working with metal, you might consider getting an oxy-acetylene welding and cutting setup first. With that, you can cut, heat and bend, braze, solder, as well as weld. A MIG welder completes the package.

If you're starting out on a life long hobby of working with metal, you might consider getting an oxy-acetylene welding and cutting setup first. With that, you can cut, heat and bend, braze, solder, as well as weld. A MIG welder completes the package.

X2 this is very useful when you dont have a plasma cutter or 1/2 hour to cut some thick shit with a sawzall on a vehicle

not really a life long hobby... but my uncle has a plasma cut and all that along with a mig. im going to learn what i can from him.
i just think it would be nice to know how to weld. so i can make bumpers, racks and so on

thanks everyone

Funny that no one brought it up, but if I could only have one welder, it would be a stick.
I know they aren't as glamorous as a wire feed, but they are extremely versatile, easier to learn on, and with practice, you can burn some very attractive beads.
I trust my stick welds with my life, (A lot of practice in the field) but have never quite developed the same trust in wire. With a stick, it is usually easy to see the weld pool, and penetration, but often with a wire feed, it seems to be a question of faith(that big fucking nozzle in the way).
I make all of my field welds with a stick, But the work I do at the shop I usually run a MIG.

I guess with practice, I might change my mind, but I go with what I know.
I've welded mild steel, Cast Iron, and stainless with a stick, with some thicknesses as much as 1.25 inch H-Beams, and I'll take a stick any day.

Doug

Funny that no one brought it up, but if I could only have one welder, it would be a stick.
I know they aren't as glamorous as a wire feed, but they are extremely versatile, easier to learn on, and with practice, you can burn some very attractive beads.
I trust my stick welds with my life, (A lot of practice in the field) but have never quite developed the same trust in wire. With a stick, it is usually easy to see the weld pool, and penetration, but often with a wire feed, it seems to be a question of faith(that big fucking nozzle in the way).
I make all of my field welds with a stick, But the work I do at the shop I usually run a MIG.

I guess with practice, I might change my mind, but I go with what I know.
I've welded mild steel, Cast Iron, and stainless with a stick, with some thicknesses as much as 1.25 inch H-Beams, and I'll take a stick any day.

Doug

Spoken like a true old timer!!! There are somethings that I disagree with you on though. First and foremost a stick welder is not easier to learn with. For first time welders this prolly isn't the machine to learn with, but once learned you can weld with any machine. Getting the arc started is the hardest part when learning stick. Then you have to keep the rod a consistant gap away from the metal the whole time. The rod has to be at the same angle during the weld, otherwise you will under cut, or the bead won't lay in your joint correctly. For feild work the stick is better because you don't have gas to worry about blowing out. For most guys they are not gonna be welding anything over 1/2 of a inch on there rigs. Flux core wire is basically stick weld with wire. The wire it self has a similar coating as a stick welding rod. You have to "chip" the weld just like a stick weld. Flux core burns hotter than gas welding also. As far as gasses Stargon is the best blend to go with, if you need to be hotter got with Stargold. If I remember right it has more argon in it. I would say any name brand 220v MIG is a good choice. Whether it be a Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart. Hope this helps!!!!

Yeah, can't argue with that, Honkey84. Like I said, I suppose I could change my mind, with more practice on the MIG.

The thing I like about the stick is that, as soon as I strike an arc, I can tell if I have enough heat, and the feed rate is pretty much automatic. You only have to set your current, and then advance the rod at the appropriate speed. With a MIG, you have to set your voltage, your wire feed rate, and then advance the weld at the appropriate rate. It takes a lot of practice to get all that right. When I first started running a MIG, I was all stoked, and swore I would never go back to stick, but the realities of the situation have convinced me that I will usually choose a stick over a MIG. Just never get the results I want with a MIG.

I never have the same trust that I have it all right, as I do with a stick, especially on an off-angle weld.

Not knocking a MIG, and there are some real artists out there that have never touched a stick welder. But a stick is a viable option for the beginner, and like anything else, it takes practice.

Doug

If you have no or very little welding experience then the best thing you can do is take a basic welding class, most community colleges will have one, this will give you a chance to weld with a variety of equipment, with someone looking over your shoulder to guide you. The amount of consumables and scrap you use in practice would cost more than the cost of the class in most cases. I also agree with daholye, a stick welder, while maybe a little harder to learn is one of the best ways to start welding, oxy-actelene is also at the top of my list, it may be true that a monkey can mig weld, however those welds can look good but not hold good at all. If you teach the monkey to stick weld first then the chances of getting good mig welds are much much better.

Brewchief:D

Flux wire penetrates deeper at less amperage, if you had a larger welder you can weld 1/4 with gas

Then I guess I'll just stick with the flux even though I have a gas bottle and all. If its gonna be stronger.

HEY BRO, I've been a welder for 20 years, I own a mig, tig, and an old lincoln buzz box I learned on back when i was a kid. I think brewchief gave you the best advice. I teach a chassis fab class at the local community college, and have found that most new people develop faster on the mig. As far as Flux cored wire goes...I hate the stuff, not to say it doesent have its place.
For my opinion i would have you open your Northern tool catalog and save up for the handler 180 mig pakg. I set one up for a buddy and think it would be a great first machine. But welders are like pole barns....Get as big as you can afford off the bat, you'll wind up using it eventully! Happy spark tossin"

I agree get the biggest welder you can afford, I got a used 185 MM for 700 bucks with a spool gun too. I love it and Im glad I went for a 230 volt welder vs a 120. The extra amps are nice when welding thicker metals. This is my first welder and Ive burned through 2 large tanks already and it welds very nicely. I didnt take a class but just pratice on a scrap until I get the current/speed set right. If I didnt have two friends that weld, I would have needed the class. Gordo

I think sticks a lot easiler then you guys say it is. I just started welding and have never welded with a mig. After work I would just weld for a couple hours, My beads aren't that pretty sometimes but they have good penatration. Everyone told me if I could arc weld I could mig no problem and thats way I started on the arc.

My take on things like this is #1 you get what you pay for. So don't skimp. #2 Use the winch philosophy. 1 half times more than what you need. If you buy just what you need it for say a 110 mig for learning and next year your building a rollcage or welding something heavy gauge then, well you'll be spending more money on the bigger machine. My first welder is a Lincoln SP175. It's a 220 volt with variable rate knobs. I learned on this machine and would recommend it to everyone.

Funny that no one brought it up, but if I could only have one welder, it would be a stick.
I know they aren't as glamorous as a wire feed, but they are extremely versatile, easier to learn on, and with practice, you can burn some very attractive beads.
I trust my stick welds with my life, (A lot of practice in the field) but have never quite developed the same trust in wire. With a stick, it is usually easy to see the weld pool, and penetration, but often with a wire feed, it seems to be a question of faith(that big fucking nozzle in the way).
I make all of my field welds with a stick, But the work I do at the shop I usually run a MIG.

I guess with practice, I might change my mind, but I go with what I know.
I've welded mild steel, Cast Iron, and stainless with a stick, with some thicknesses as much as 1.25 inch H-Beams, and I'll take a stick any day.

Doug
I agree with you on this one. I learned on a stick, and other than moving the broken ones around in the school shop, I've never touched a mig machine. Maybe I'd fall in love with the mig after one bead, I don't know, I don't really care, as there isn't one in my shop. Stick holds the advantage of size over MIG IMO, because I've welded many joints where the MIG gun wouldn't have fit. In between shock tabs on an axle, on the top of shock hoops etc... The only thing I'd probably ever use a MIG for would be sheet metal, and I don't do enough to justify a new machine.

I have a Lincoln mig welder. It is the largest one sold at Home Depot. All the local welding shops told me to go buy one there because they can not touch the price they have on smaller machines. I would suggest buying a 220 V if you can afford one. It is a little more veritle.(sorry, I guess I can't spell). It allows you to weld a little thick material for a little long time. The gas is only good in a wind protected area. If you will only be welding outside, the gas probably wont help you. I find the if you are welding thicker material, using flux core wire with gas will help have deeper welds and leave less slag behind. It boils down to how much money you have to spend. Hope this helps.

You need to learn to walk before you run.
Take a welding class, their you will learn to smaw, gmaw, oxy and tig.
While at class you can make up your mind wich type of welder you want to buy.
IMO mig is like using a caulking gun.
Mig gas you can use argon, co2 or arogn co2 mix usually 80/20 mix.
Any enert gas can be used with a mig setup even helium.

For welding on your rig I personally would use co2. Co2 welds rust better than orgon/co2.

Flux core co2 mix is for big and heavy welding. I would pass on the flux core.

Stick welding is a very good option. A DC welder is sweet but cost more.
Stick welding offers many types of rod to choose from.

Ac stick I would use 6011, 7014, 6010, or ac 7018
Dc stick I would use 7018, 6011, 7014.

After you make up you mind on the type of welder than you need to make up you mind on the brand of welder.

BUY A NAME BRAND WELDER Lincoln, Miller, Hobart.


Go to a welding supplier to buy your welder. Service, I dont think tractor supply is going to fix your broken wire feed motor or regulator.
Welding supplier may have the parts in stock.

Just my .02$

If we're going to recommend rods, I say start with a hotter burning rod like 7018 if you can. I had a much easier time when I came home and worked with 7018 on DC power than I was having at school with 6011 on AC.