Whats a good welder for a beginner? Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

DiscoWeb Bulletin Board » Tools and Techniques » Whats a good welder for a beginner? « Previous Next »

Author Message
 

Chris Nuzum (Cnuzum)
Member
Username: Cnuzum

Post Number: 46
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 08:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Just checking out and concidering buying a welder. I have been concidering and used a Craftsman 140 mig welder. What types of welders are you guys using? Any thoughts or words of advice as to things to look for? Thanks.
 

David Woo (Davidwoo)
New Member
Username: Davidwoo

Post Number: 35
Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Chris: used to work in a metal fab shop back in college.
You need to think about a few things:
1. welding indoors or outside?
2. type of power available: 110v or 220v?
3. type of metal being welded: mild steel, aluminum, stainless, brass....?
4. thickness of material?

The shop had numerous types of machines, simple stick welders for on-site work, spot welders for sheet metal fab, TIG (tungsten inert gas) for sst, brass with handheld welding rod and gas shielding, MIG (metallic inert gas) with continuously consumed electrode and gas shielding for mild steel.

I also had my own shop after that and had a 220v millermatic self contained wire feed argon gas rig, very simple to use, did a great job.

See the buyer's guide on the miller site: lots of helpful info.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/
Don't know the craftsman rig you referenced: make sure the duty cycle is sufficient for the type of welding that you anticipate.
Hope this helps.
DW
 

marc olivares (Pugs)
Member
Username: Pugs

Post Number: 145
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 12:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

chris,
remember that welders are like any other tool, you get what you pay for. stick with Lincon and Miller, and you'll have a welder that will last your life time. i still have and use my fathers Lincoln stick unit from the 70's.
what type of metal will determine what of type of welder.
the thickness of the metal will determine the max. heat range.
220/240 volts are much more stable but require more amp draw and a 220/240 outlet. i have both the 120 and 220 type welders. the 120 is a great portable, but the 220 gets most of my time.
a good welder will help you improve as a welder, and you will enjoy the experience far more with less frustration.
marc
 

henk van dongen (Franseslag)
New Member
Username: Franseslag

Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 03:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Chris,
I guess it's true about you getting what you pay for. On the other hand, if you use it rather seldom a cheap tool might be nice as well. I have bought a welder on 220 volts, max. 140 Amp welding, just for some 50€ (= +/- 50$) for 10 years ago. Using it around the house regular, but not daily, it still works fine.
Henk
 

Brad Ashe (Vodkaman)
New Member
Username: Vodkaman

Post Number: 32
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 04:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I picked this one up earlier this week http://www.chpower.com/catalog/catalog_detail.asp Is this a good beginner welder? I got a discount on it 157.99
 

Brad Ashe (Vodkaman)
New Member
Username: Vodkaman

Post Number: 33
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 04:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Well the link does not work try this http://www.chpower.com/product_showcase/product_overviews/welders.asp where the arrow saysshop welders catalog arrow down to stick welders I have the WS2800
 

Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
Senior Member
Username: Deanbrown3d

Post Number: 1034
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 04:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

For convenience and to avoid gases, you could pick up a Lincoln 135 mig/flux core wire feed. Its 110V @ 20 amps (if you want to weld 1/4" you need all 20 amps, not regular 15). It does up to and including 1/4" steel in a single pass. Its just a really nicely made machine, and its about $400 in Lowes.

Dean
 

michael burt (Mikeyb)
Senior Member
Username: Mikeyb

Post Number: 607
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 01:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

i just bought a lincoln 135, but i use gas with it. for my needs, it fit perfectly. low cost, simple to learn with, and has worked great so far. just remember to buy a lot of scrap of the same size you will be using for your real project. that way you can do test welds to get your amps and feed rate dialed in on stuff you can discard. i guess i was doing some reasonable beads after a day of practice...
 

Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
Senior Member
Username: Deanbrown3d

Post Number: 1041
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 08:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Michael - how thick are you welding with the gases on that machine?
 

michael burt (Mikeyb)
Senior Member
Username: Mikeyb

Post Number: 608
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Saturday, November 29, 2003 - 11:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

i bought it to build my own roof rack, so my goals were pretty lightweight metals to begin with, but i have had success with 3/16"...i was planning to buy some 1/4" scrap to practice on...weld 'em and then cut 'em to see how much penetration the weld made. so, really, i am not taxing the machine too much yet...are you using a 135 too?

mike
 

Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
Senior Member
Username: Deanbrown3d

Post Number: 1048
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 09:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Yeah I got the 135. But I only use flux core wire, and it handles 1/4" easily in a single pass. As I said it uses all 20 amps though.

With that wire the penetration is good and the welds that I tested were stronger than the surrounding metals. Makes a lot of splatter though!
 

michael burt (Mikeyb)
Senior Member
Username: Mikeyb

Post Number: 609
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 12:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

yeah, but splatter, while it is flying, impresses the chicks!

i have only had mine for a week or so and have worked only one project (the 3/16"), but i am pretty happy...price, performance...pretty happy.
 

Keith Mitchell (Keith_indy)
New Member
Username: Keith_indy

Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have the Lincon 125 as well. Buy some scrap and practice first.

I've welded bumpers, frame brackets, and a few other small things with it.
 

Jaime Crusellas (Jaime)
Member
Username: Jaime

Post Number: 182
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 09:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I saw a Lincoln 100HD at home depot for $325. uses flux core wire, comes with a 4 inch spool of wire, 12% duty cycle, and says it will weld 1/4 inch steel.

Anybody have any experience with this welder?

 

Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
Senior Member
Username: Deanbrown3d

Post Number: 1242
Registered: 02-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 12:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Jaime - if you have a 20 amp outlet handy, get the Lincoln 135, it can easily do 1/4" in a single pass, and its worth the extra $75. And pick up a 10lb spool, they are around $40 I think, plus a pack of spare nozzels. And get the large area auto-dimming helmet from harbor freight, its better than anything in HD or Lowes.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration