Been looking at the Lincoln 220 AC/DC Arc mainly for price. Are there any good free resources such as books or articles on how to weld? I can weld, but there is a large margin for improvement.

Also, what is a good rod to use on 1/4 steel? I searched and found that most are using a 1613. I have been using 1610, can you recomend anything better.

Will be welding mostly suspension components.

Thanks.

this is probably not what you want to hear ... but if you can afford it buy a MIG, you'll be much happier down the road. I started out with a 235A stick machine and now have a hobart 175 mig ($575) and am much happier with the capabilites of the MIG machine.

as far as questions about welding and learning ... try this
bbs ... lots of helpful welding professionals:

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/

- jack

I can't believe I'm saying this...
Look, don't tell anybody, alright?:D

On the fabricators forum in JU, there's actually some links to some decent welding info.

I'm freakin' serious, get up off the floor.

I'm dead now...

Yup go for the mig, i have the same hobart handler 175. Pull the trigger and go... was like $550 ish no tax/free shipping from cyberweld.com plus a few bucks for a tank.... good to go.... I still have the 220 Arc for some stuff, but it doesnt see much use...

-yag

My stick machine sees alot of work. Anything that requires strength gets sticked. Takes alot of practice and experience to lay your stick down smooth. Mig is much easier for the novice and even the intermidiate welder on more akward spots. Try a 7018 rod, it is the stick welders choice. If you still wanna buy a stick machine, check out the Miller "Thunder Bolt" It's an ac/dc 225 amp machine. And practice makes perfect. So get off ur lazy ass and get burnin :flipoff2:

Mig welders are alright but I have seen perfect looking welds with NO penetration on one side... OTOH stick never lies.

here are some references

https://www.advancement.cnet.navy.mil/products/catalogpages/14250.htm

https://www.advancement.cnet.navy.mil/products/catalogpages/14251.htm

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/tc/9-237/toc.htm

maybe the best training is your local vo-tech. me graduate very happy! :flipoff2: :D

I'll second the 7018 if you're using a stick welder. For dirty material try the 6011. Burns hot and isn't nearly as pretty as 7018, and not nearly as easy to use. Also weld DC, I find DC much easier than AC. I had the Miller thunderbolt as my first welder. I loved it and wish I still had it for some jobs.

I use a Miller 185 wire welder now. If I were to buy a new one I'd step up to the 250 to get the infinite voltage adjustment, higher duty cycle and more stable arc.

I recommend a welding class at your local Junior College. Otherwise, Lincoln has a full set of books that cover more welding info than you'll ever need. They aren't cheap.

Finally, practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.

I still lay practice beads before I'm going to weld something critical. Especially tube welds.

If you use 7018, use a rod like Lincoln Code-Arc 7018 MR. 7018 is a low hydrogen rod, and therefore atracks moisture. This will affect the quality of your welds, 7018 rods are desined to be used straight from a rod oven/heater. The 7018 MR are better if you do not heat them, but still maybe not perfect in this regard. I had a teacher who had actually been called in on insurance cases, where the problem was a low hydrogen rod that was moisture contaminated, and the weld failed because of it.
Also try the Lincoln 5P+ in 6010, a little less splatter, and better weld results.
A good 220 mig is probably the most versatile welder you will buy, but if you could afford it, I would want an AC/DC stick machine also. You can also add an air cooled scratch start tig setup to the stick machine later, if you had the desire.
Also download and save to disc the manuals that Lizard has provided, lot of good info there, and handy to keep.
Take a welding class at your local community college/trade school. You won't regret it. If the money is there look at lincolns web sight. They have a course that is gearted toward racers and gearheads, http://www.lincolnelectric.com/focus/motorsports/school/school.asp
HTH, Andy

I've got the lincoln 220 AC/DC. Very happy with it. Been using 1610 and 1613 welding 1/4" plate and 1/4" tube.

Go with a Miller mig welder much better . I have a lincoln its ok . But a friend a miller and it nice . Plus the iron workers on job sites use miller migs for some heavy welding . And a miller will take a lot of mistreatment and still work . I've seen them dropped out of truck beds , kicked , and still work .

JNJ

I assume you mean 6010 and 6013.


I don't see much of a difference between the Miller and Lincoln. Both are very good machines. I've been around a lot of industrial welders and both machines performed very well. I personally have Miller just because the price was right at the time. I've used a friends Lincoln and it welds just as good as my Miller 185.