Topic: Welders Thread

[droopy]

gas gas gas gas you will be glad you did
I never looked back

[masonryman]

Stainless will weld nicely with gas shielded mild steel wire, but it will rust.

Mark

P.S.

what droopy said

[MJL]

Get a 220 rig, he 110s just don't work as well.

[springer]

older Lincoln stick welder (225 amp). I don't have 220 outside. Can I power this with a portable gen? If so, what's the minimum wattage needed to power it? thanks James

[dusterdude]

i would think if your generator has a 220 plug on it,it should be enough

[dummkauf]

On another thread someone posted a link to the http://www.knucklebusterinc.com

After browsing back through to the oldest page on the DIY section I found a link for an all-in-one TIG Welder/Torch/Plasma Cutter selling for $379(http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/index.htm).  While I have very little experience welding I have been looking for a cheap setup for my garage to learn with, and I'm also considering taking a class or 2 at a local community college, but I was curious if anyone would recommend this?  This seems like it would be perfect for me to learn with(I'm not going to be building bike frames or anything under a lot of stress just yet) but whenever I see the all-in-one for what seems to be a very low price the red flags start going up. 

So would you experienced welders out there recommend something like this or should I just suck it up and spend more on an actual welding setup?

[eldar]

The wattage requirements should be listed on the welder. Thing is, the generator has a unit to control the output, if you start and stop the weld, it could potentially damage that regulator(I'm just speculating).
if anything, contact lincoln and I bet they could get the you wattage requirements and then you can get a generator that meets it.

[dangerranger01]

Well, that really is not a TIG welder or plasma cutter. It is just a super Oxy/acetylene torch. It is what it is. I've read reviews on it, but i guess its up to you.

Personally, I'd spend the money on a nice MIG welder (unless you're going to be needing a TIG). If you're doing under 3/16inch metal, get a nice 120V MIG, then maybe a nicer TIG when the time comes up. And a plasma cutter....i guess when the time comes. Most people don't have one and do fine without it, although a few times it would be nice. you can also do good buts with a cutting torch. i like to use that on a any thing other than sheet metal as opposed to a plasma cutter. Do you have a big compressor to match up with a plasma though?

I guess its a matter of what you think you'll need. Decent welders are spendy remember.

[dangerranger01]

There should be a data plate saying how much wattage it needs. If not, see if it says how much current it draws. Probably something like 15 or 20amps, but its depending on the welder. So that makes out to be 3300-4400 watts. of course that is max draw at the 15-20amps and at the 220V.

[d3buttz]

many people hate these two words- "harbor freight".  but being a home shop person their stuff is perfectly fine for the price to me IMO.  our top welder at my shop uses a 250$ tig from HF at home and he swwears by it. dont forget to include the price of a bottle/gas/and a regulator.  thats gonna run you no less than 275$.

[Hondaboy]

I saw this little torch/welder/cutter being demostrated at the Easy Rider Show here in Charlotte this weekend. I dont know alot about welding, but this thing really did nice work on small sheet metal and aluminum. It cut this thin material with ease and incredible accuracy. Nice clean cut, and good looking welds. I think the guy said it would cut up to an inch thick material. I was impressed, and would get one myself if I had the need. I think its worth looking into.

[lrutt]

That thing will pull a few amps at 220v. You'd better have a healthy generator, 40amp 220v. And even then, the load/no load cycling of welding will drive your gen nuts.

What I did once upon a time was change the plug on the welder to the same pattern as my drier plug and used that outlet until I wired my garage for 220v.

Now have dedicated outlet for it but hardly use it since I got my MIG.

[motomotard]

so how to you weld with the torch?  is it basically brazing?

hobart handler 140 is the best for the money.  runs about $450 but is wire fed and shielded, will do just about anything.

[fuzzybutt]

i had no idea harbor frieght had a tig welder so cheap. i may have to give it a try.

[crazypj]

On another thread someone posted a link to the http://www.knucklebusterinc.com

After browsing back through to the oldest page on the DIY section I found a link for an all-in-one TIG Welder/Torch/Plasma Cutter selling for $379(http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/index.htm). 

 That's normally sold for gas welding aluminium.
 Friend has one, works OK but I wasnt too impressed
PJ

[Terry in Australia]

I've got one, and it's great! The Henrob is an Aussie invention and used to be marketed under the "Dillon" brand, but due to the small market here it was sold to an American company.

It does everything they say it will, and the gas usage is reduced by around 70-80% because it runs on only a couple of psi pressure, and a good gas welder can weld anything as good as an average welder using an AC/DC TIG.   

Sadly I'm only an average welder, so I'm still gonna buy a TIG as well, but this welder definitely is not "snake oil", it's just a bloody good tool. I loaned it to my cousin (an ex-professional welder) one weekend, he wanted to try welding up a "pot metal" brake drum plate, and you would have sworn he'd TIG-ed it. I used it recently to braze in a different filler on Sean Condon's cafe tank, and it did a magnificent job.

Don't get me wrong, it's probably not a particularly easy welder to learn on, but once you become proficient at gas welding, it's the "ducks nuts". (Aussie speak, for very good) Cheers, Terry.    

[Alan F.]

In the first 'Motorcycle-Mania' movie, you can watch Jesse James welding (appears to be brazing) one of his aluminum fuel tanks with a Henrob torch, the trick of this torch is that it mixes the gasses before they exit the torch, producing a much hotter and more efficient burn.  Jesse was a certified US Navy welder way back when, talk about credentials...

[mmtsquid]

Not that I'm an authority (i've been welding for a grand total of 2 weeks), but I picked up a "gasless" MIG off of craigslist for $75, and it works great for small stuff (3/16 and under).

The welds are clean and strong, and I haven't had any problems at all - took about 10 minutes to get it dialed in.

[crazypj]

 That's normally sold for gas welding aluminium.
 Friend has one, works OK but I wasn't too impressed
PJ

 I guess my friend wasn't a very good weldor 
PJ

[coyotecowboy]

A co-worker/riding buddy has one of those Henrob setups, I think his is called a Cobra torch.  He's used it some and said it works pretty good.  I think thats what we're going to use when we chop the top on his 50 Chevy.

Another plus would be the lower gas pressures that it runs.  Acetylene is gettin' damned expensive!!!  And you could run a smaller set of bottles, like the little portable setups use and get quite a bit of runtime out of them.

[dummkauf]

so how to you weld with the torch?  is it basically brazing?

hobart handler 140 is the best for the money.  runs about $450 but is wire fed and shielded, will do just about anything.

So from the sounds of everything here it's more of a nice to have and a little tricky to use well.....I'm thinking I might be best to start out with a MIG and worry about my TIG welder when the time comes that I actually need one.  That Hobart Hander 140 looks perfect for a starer like me, plus it's in my price range   and if I could find one used for the price of the harbor freight welders that would be even better.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, I wouldn't want to talk anyone out of buying the Henrob as it's a brilliant welder, but a trained hampster can get a good weld out of a mig, and quickly progress to a TIG when money allows.

Gasless MIGS are rubbish though, spend the extra money and buy the best, and biggest gas MIG you can afford, I've got a 220 AMP MIG and it'll weld anything from dog food cans to railway line, with no effort, and can even do a passable job on aluminum, although you'll need different gas (pure argon) and other stuff (I've got a spare "Binzel" torch and line for aluminum welding) to get a good result. Cheers, Terry.

[Kalamazoo]

You get what you pay for
acetylene isnt the only gas you can use, You can mix acetylene with CO2, Helium works to, but all gases weld differently.
If you want to be able to weld anything, get oxy, in theory if your a good welder theres nothing you can't weld. Its slow but in my opinion if you want the best weld you go oxy.

Hobart makes some decent equipment, the handler 140 works great and would prolly be a better place to start.

[UnCrash]

I've wondered about a setup like this and how well I would adapt to it.

I worked as a goldsmith for a few years and am good with a torch and competent in platinum, gold and silver.  I know the importance of making a continuous mating surface and good fit between parts...

I have limited funds and want something that will cut, and braze if it welded too that would be a bonus.

[Terry in Australia]

I've wondered about a setup like this and how well I would adapt to it.

I worked as a goldsmith for a few years and am good with a torch and competent in platinum, gold and silver.  I know the importance of making a continuous mating surface and good fit between parts...

I have limited funds and want something that will cut, and braze if it welded too that would be a bonus.

If you're a good gas welder Crashy, buy the Henrob, in the world of gas welders, it's the best of the best. Cheers, Terry.