Topic: Choosing a Welder

[socalenduro]

I want to learn how to weld.
Sadly the classes in my area conflict with my Masters cources so I'llhave to learn it the old school way in my garage.

So what kind of welder should I get?
I have 0 idea what im doing (and know i shouldnt learn on a motorcycle)
I dont even know enought to give you all the proper information in helping me make a decision.

From what i see my basic choices are
240 V Stick welder
http://www.lowes.com/pd_98103-1703-K1170_0__?productId=1115275&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

120 MIG
http://www.lowes.com/pd_366784-1703-K2185-1_0__?productId=3499662&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

120 Flux Core
http://www.lowes.com/pd_368934-1703-K2278-1_0__?productId=3499872&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

Thoughts, questions, tips?

[lucky]

Do not buy a welding machine!!
WAIT. That is the first mistake, A beginner buys the wrong welding machine.

First take a beginning course. That way you get to learn safety procedures when welding and a lot of valuable and important information.

Many welding accidents and deaths happened because the victim had no training at all.

Even the big box stores do not sell a beginning welding handbook.

[lucky]

I want to learn how to weld.
Sadly the classes in my area conflict with my Masters cources so I'llhave to learn it the old school way in my garage.

So what kind of welder should I get?
I have 0 idea what im doing (and know i shouldnt learn on a motorcycle)
I dont even know enought to give you all the proper information in helping me make a decision.

From what i see my basic choices are
240 V Stick welder
http://www.lowes.com/pd_98103-1703-K1170_0__?productId=1115275&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

120 MIG
http://www.lowes.com/pd_366784-1703-K2185-1_0__?productId=3499662&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

120 Flux Core
http://www.lowes.com/pd_368934-1703-K2278-1_0__?productId=3499872&Ntt=welder&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

Thoughts, questions, tips?

That list is NOT your only choices for welding machines.
Buy a welding machine FROM A WELDING STORE.

[Old Scrambler]

Can you succesfully solder..............for an inch or more at one time?

Take an online course in basic metalurgy and make sure you understand the process before you pick up the tourch!

If you want to weld a few parts next week but have no idea about next year..........hire it out to a proven professional.

[luap]

http://www.bakersgas.com/how-to-choose-a-welder.php
thats some pretty good reading.

[socalenduro]

I can solder fairly well. never gone much further than an inch, as im usually doing it for electrial connections

The online class is a great tip!

And yes i dont plan on welding anything on my bike (or anything that has concquesnse for a long time)
I just want to learn how to weld long term.

Beginner buys the wrong kind of machine. Care to expand? That is why i am looking for insight here. As to figure out what is the right type of machine.

[Mtmooradian]

What are you looking to do??

I bought a welder from a big box store, the tractor supply company, Hobart mig175.... Great machine and all the consumables are available at the store.

Most welding supply stores will rip you off.
TIG machines are a little different, I'd buy an older Lincoln TIG 250 machine. It's not squarewave but for most things it would be ok.

[socalenduro]

welding of steel. smaller things.
id like to pick it up as a hobby if not an art.
Ive had little things come up around the house that i feel i could have fixed my self. Barstools, a seat mounting tab, racks in my garage, etc.

long term id love to be able to weld things on my bike. just not anything super important, id always use a professional for anything like that

[Mtmooradian]

The Hobart handler MIGs are made by miller...... Great welder..... What kind of power do have, 220? 110?

[Mtmooradian]

What's your budget?

[70CB750]

I say rent 120V  from tool rental for a weekend and play with it just to get some experience.

If you dont have time for the class dont sweat it.  After learning basics it is nothing but practise that makes a good welder.

[scottly]

I would recommend a 240v welder. The 120v units are really only good for thinner materials. Mig is the easiest to learn. I've had my Lincoln SP 135 for 20 years. They don't make that model anymore; it was superseded by the SP 175, if I recall correctly. Very good, all around welder.

[Don R]

I like the 120V gas mig for small work. I built a small car trailer with one and never had a problem. My 12 year old daughter welded part of it. (with my help). 
that said I've welded most of my life. I have a miller 250 synchrowave tig in the shop now and a lincoln power supply (invertek) with a seperate mig wire feeder unit. Overkill for sure.
 I'm not crazy about flux core for anything, although some swear it welds fine. The 110 units are sensitive to voltage too, they don't like to be far from the panel or on a drop cord.

[Mtmooradian]

I like the 120V gas mig for small work. I built a small car trailer with one and never had a problem. My 12 year old daughter welded part of it. (with my help). 
that said I've welded most of my life. I have a miller 250 synchrowave tig in the shop now and a lincoln power supply (invertek) with a seperate mig wire feeder unit. Overkill for sure.
 I'm not crazy about flux core for anything, although some swear it welds fine. The 110 units are sensitive to voltage too, they don't like to be far from the panel or on a drop cord.

You like like the miller? Is it the digital controls or dial?
I have a Lincoln squarewave 355 and love it... I run the para weld tig torches with the integrated digital controls. I have my fathers tig 300 that he bought new in 1970....... Still welds like new. If I had my choice I'd buy an old turbine machine for steel work.

[lucky]

What are you looking to do??

I bought a welder from a big box store, the tractor supply company, Hobart mig175.... Great machine and all the consumables are available at the store.

Most welding supply stores will rip you off.
TIG machines are a little different, I'd buy an older Lincoln TIG 250 machine. It's not squarewave but for most things it would be ok.

If you want more welding information go to WELDINGWEB.COM

Real welding stores give excellent technical information and they sell welding gases. They can answer technical welding questions about your machine. They can get your machine repaired .They have parts for your welding machine. Big box stores are not allowed to sell welding gases.
Many welding stores have sales people that have been welders and have been doing it for 20 years or more.
"Most welding stores rip you off." You do not know what you are talking about .
Many big box stores sell Lincoln Mig machines but the duty cycle is less than that same machine at a welding stores.
The sales people at big box stores usually have no welding training or information at all.

I am a certified welder and a welding inspector I know what I am talking about.

[lucky]

I like the 120V gas mig for small work. I built a small car trailer with one and never had a problem. My 12 year old daughter welded part of it. (with my help). 
that said I've welded most of my life. I have a miller 250 synchrowave tig in the shop now and a lincoln power supply (invertek) with a seperate mig wire feeder unit. Overkill for sure.
 I'm not crazy about flux core for anything, although some swear it welds fine. The 110 units are sensitive to voltage too, they don't like to be far from the panel or on a drop cord.

You like like the miller? Is it the digital controls or dial?
I have a Lincoln squarewave 355 and love it... I run the para weld tig torches with the integrated digital controls. I have my fathers tig 300 that he bought new in 1970....... Still welds like new. If I had my choice I'd buy an old turbine machine for steel work.

Most residences cannot support the Lincoln square wave TIG 355.
You can use a Miller syncrowave 250 from your home at a reduced capacity.

[Don R]

It's the old dial type miller, I got it used.  It's welded everything from stainless food manufacturing equipment to Hondas to funny cars.  I've done some aluminum too, never tripped a breaker here. Maybe if I was welding an engine block I might need to crank it up, I've never come close to maxing the amps.
 We used to pipe weld in the field with the invertek and lincoln mig. Pioneered it around here, We could throw a lot of metal into a weld.
 I've used the old lincoln turbine welders, they are legendary. These particular ones were junk. Contractor wouldn't pay to fix them, cost him a lot of hours in labor. I always wondered if the rotation was backwards. matched the arrow on it but who knows?

[jiggliemon]

First, you would do well to get acclimated with welding from a friend. The fact the you want to learn tells me you have a circle of like minded fellow. Have one of them show you some ropes.

The easiest form of welding is a MIG. Flux core usually is a mig with uglier results.

Learn how to lay a bead on a mig the move on to more fun forms of welding.

[Mtmooradian]

What are you looking to do??

I bought a welder from a big box store, the tractor supply company, Hobart mig175.... Great machine and all the consumables are available at the store.

Most welding supply stores will rip you off.
TIG machines are a little different, I'd buy an older Lincoln TIG 250 machine. It's not squarewave but for most things it would be ok.

If you want more welding information go to WELDINGWEB.COM

Real welding stores give excellent technical information and they sell welding gases. Big box stores are not allowed to sell welding gases. They can answer technical welding questions about your machine. They can get your machine repaired .They have parts for your welding machine.
Many welding stores have sales people that have been welders and have been doing it for 20 years or more.
"Most welding stores rip you off." You do not know what you are talking about .
Many big box stores sell Lincoln Mig machines but the duty cycle is less that that same machine at a big box stores.
The sales people at big box stores usually have no welding training or information at all.

I am a certified welder and a welding inspector I know what I am talking about.

I've heard some of your advise, and i call bull#$%*, and I know "certified" welders that I wouldn't let weld anything thing together. Certified in what? Kids in botec can get certified. Your the same welding inspector that said that the first CBs were stick welded and that mig technology wasn't around in the 60s.
Buying a mig at tractor supply is a reasonable thing to do. As long as the model # is the same it's the same welder at the "real" welding store(just a hell of alot cheaper) And if your talking about the NASCAR editionWeldpak mig 125 that they sell at home depot... Then yeah it's different then the sp125.....THERE DIFFERENT MACHINES.....

[Mtmooradian]

Frustration has made for bad grammar.......

[Stev-o]

+ 1 get a 240V rig, more power to weld thicker metal.
I self taught on a Millermatic mig years ago. I read up and with practice, laid down some good beads. It's not difficult to weld, but it is hard to make a weld look good. Prep it critical, need bare metal on both surfaces.

[scottly]

If I was going to get a 120v mig, I would recommend a Lincoln over a Miller. My friend has one of each, and the Lincoln has performed the best. His workers used to argue over who got to use the "good" welder, so he got another Lincoln, and now uses the Miller for odd jobs away from the regular welding stations.

[JimJamerino]

SoCal, you've got something similar to an oil thread going here.  Some people on here don't read the whole thread, or even the original post before chiming in... Repeatedly... At great length.

I think the point is that if you want to learn to weld, a cheapish 120v MIG welder from a big box store like Lowe's or Home Depot will do fine. You probably don't want an off-brand super cheap one, lest quality problems detract from functionality.  Something like fixing a chair or bar stool, with thin metal, a little MIG would be suitable. Welding together scrap metal for the sake of learning a skill or creating art, no problem.  These bigger, heavier, 240v welders are something you might consider after you learn a bit, but even high school kids in metal shop learn on MIG before moving on to brazing or stick welding, let alone TIG.

[lucky]

It's the old dial type miller, I got it used.  It's welded everything from stainless food manufacturing equipment to Hondas to funny cars.  I've done some aluminum too, never tripped a breaker here. Maybe if I was welding an engine block I might need to crank it up, I've never come close to maxing the amps.
 We used to pipe weld in the field with the invertek and lincoln mig. Pioneered it around here, We could throw a lot of metal into a weld.
 I've used the old lincoln turbine welders, they are legendary. These particular ones were junk. Contractor wouldn't pay to fix them, cost him a lot of hours in labor. I always wondered if the rotation was backwards. matched the arrow on it but who knows?

Yes the "Dialarc" was a good machine.
Now some people are stripping the copper out of welding machines to get a few bucks.
Some welding machines are being stolen for that reason.
Chain up your welding machine!! Not kidding.
Really too bad. The welding machine can make more money doing repairs than the copper would get.

[cgswss]

I am NOT an expert welder, but I have been welding for 50 years.  I started with gas welding and soon got a stick welder.  Over the year I have had many welders.  Frankly all have been very usable.  If I want to weld anything right now I have the choice of TIG, MIG, MIG with gas, and stick.  About 95% of the time I use one of the mig welders and the others sit.

Personally, I don't care if welding stores charge a bit more money- Buy from a welding store!  I have had a lot of questions answered from the guys up at the welding store that actually have done what I want to do.  There is no doubt I would suggest you start with a MIG unit, if you can Stretch the budget, get it with gas right from the start.  If you don't already have one, get a hand grinder as well.  Harbor freight have useable ones for $20-25 in the 4 1/2 inch range and get a supply of cutoff wheels.

For practice, get an old bike frame.  If you don't have one laying around you can pick one out of the garbage.  You can start by just laying down straight beads on the tubes.  Then when you have the feel of that create a "crack" with your grinder and fill it.  by making all sorts of welds then cutting it apart with the grinder you can see how good the weld is from the inside and you will learn a little about how much power to use.

Of course when you are done with that, you can show off by welding together pop cans (BMFG)