Topic: Welders...?

[jeffthompson55]

Hey guys, new to the forum with my 78' CB750. I am doing a lot of cutting and am in need of welding things back together, however I am short a welder. I have never welded anything in my life, keep in mind, and I am still learning when it comes to this stuff. Being cheap, I was hoping I could get away with a 70 amp 120v stick welder from harbor freight that is on sale for $70. Is this a good enough welder for welding parts on the frame/other miscellaneous things? Or will I be need a TIG welder or something greater? All help welcome here

[BomberMann650]

Take a welding class at the local community college.

Especially if you intend on making a chopped up 750.

Please, learn how to make a good weld.  Not doing so could prove fatal.

[seanbarney41]

Dude, I am not gonna help you wreck another old bike.

[Steve F]

Like said before, learn to weld at the local community college first.  You'll soon learn that welding is a science and if you plan on planting your butt and go screaming down the highway on a bike you built, well, IT'S GOTTA BE GOOD!
Stick welding is not the desired method for motorcycle fabrication.
MIG welders are the second choice, and TIG is my personal preferred method, but it takes loads of practice first.
I own an older MILLER TIG welder, and it's great, and can do stick welding too, but I've never tried it....I think it's a waste of time and money to stick weld stuff.

[754]

Its a bit like riding a 250 in the Three Flags Classic, its been done..
There is far better welders out there......imo much harder to learn with mediocre equipment..
And Yes, MIG is far easier and much much cleaner for welding on a bike frame..

[70CB750]

+1 on community college, much easier to learn on quality equipment.

[J-Rod10]

Personally, I was far more comfortable with tig far quicker than mig. I can stack dimes all day long with a tig. Can't mig to save my life. I got my tig in, and two days later was welding stuff up for a nuclear plant with it.

Eastwood just released a new welder, both Tig, and Mig. I bought their Tig200 to learn on before dropping coin on an expensive welder. Works spectacularly. The new one they have, you can mig with, or you can tig and do stainless and aluminum on top of steel.

[simon#42]

yes i was brought up gas welding so find tig welding very easy , to get a decent weld on a bike frame with a stick welder [ that would be strong and look ok ] would take plenty of practice

[vfourfreak]

yes i was brought up gas welding so find tig welding very easy , to get a decent weld on a bike frame with a stick welder [ that would be strong and look ok ] would take plenty of practice

+1 and you may well destroy a frame in the process of learning.

[BomberMann650]

Behold, the power of TIG

http://speedsociety.com/man-showing-off-his-tig-welding-aluminum-skills-on-some-paper-thin-soda-cans/?source=gmg

[754]

[quote a1/16uthor=simon#42 link=topic=160629.msg1844445#msg1844445 date=1473098972]
... to get a decent weld on a bike frame with a stick welder [ that would be strong and look ok ] would take plenty of practice

Biggest trick would be to use a thin enough electrode that would light up with low enough amps and not melt the tubing in the process. I doubt even 60 amps would be low enough and you'd have to use the smallest diameter stick at that rating.
[/quote]
1/16 " rods should work at around 60 amps ..

[jeffthompson55]

I appreciate the input everybody, I might just go and take a class. However, for now I'm only interested in welding small things like brackets or things on the gas tank, as opposed to a whole new hard tail or something big. Maybe even a small seat hoop if I'm feeling confident. Would a 90 amp flux core welder be good for things like that?
I'm not going to be welding a ton of things, so a $1000 machine is not even in the question here. These are like $100 welders I'm talking about

[BomberMann650]

I would NEVER use a cheap welder on a motorcycle tank.

A tractor bucket maybe.

But not a motorcycle tank.

[754]

Adding bracket or moving bungs around on a tank, you can often do by soldering...easy to undo as well..
Welding around a frame tube, is 3 times as hard as welding a flat joint. And more difficult with stick.
The 100 buck welder .. Great for welding your lawnmower, or little things around the shop.