I would like to learn how to weld and am looking to get a welder. what brand/type would you recommend. not looking to spend too much. thanks!
learning to weld
- Thread starter BLASTER 02
- Start date
not your run of the mill harbor freight 100 dollar job.
spend a little cash, get a 140 amp 115v welder with the gas kit. you'll like it a lot better in the long run, and the gas is much more forgiving than flux core wire.
if you have 220 service get the nicest welder you can afford.
I would stick to Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart for brands.
spend a little cash, get a 140 amp 115v welder with the gas kit. you'll like it a lot better in the long run, and the gas is much more forgiving than flux core wire.
if you have 220 service get the nicest welder you can afford.
I would stick to Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart for brands.
Anyone who wants to learn should consider takeing an entry level course at your local community college and make mistakes on there dime and you will have enough knowledge to make the decision of what you really need to buy, ect ect.
will look in to a class...what do you think about this?
Weld Pack HD Feed Welder-K2188-1 at The Home Depot
Weld Pack HD Feed Welder-K2188-1 at The Home Depot
Thats a flux core welder, very unforgiveing poor quality welds to be expected. Works but not that well.
Thermal Arc/ Thermal Dynamics offers pretty reasonable set ups if youre looking for a tig/mig/stick unit. i have a Thermal Arc 175 amp and its treated me good for all the jobs ive done. 1/16 sheet metal to 5/16 steel. runs about 800 bones but if youre serious and want something for professional work and want penetration and clean beads, look em up.
Hey now i have a lil $100 welder from harbor freight. I would of got something nicer if i could afford it tho. But i will tell you the truth after welding on that it makes a nice mig welder feel like a breeze.
Also mig welds can look perfect but not have any penetration, looks are very deceiving with a mig.
Ive learned that you can push or drag the puddle, i like pushing comes more natural to me, i also make a side to side or kinda a V shape when i weld to make sure it gets on the both of the material.
If your just looking for a welder to keep around and use on small lil projects i actually would consider getting a flux core one, you can use it in the wind since the gas is in the metal and wont be blown away, easy to use on a farm or something not having to lug around bottles. (obviously need a extension cord still lol) But it will weld like say a blaster frame that thickness no problem, little3mill built his dragger with a flux core welder, they will work fine for smaller stuff, but i cant weld sheetmetal with mine to well burns hot. I almost never use mine but it has been handy to have around.
Also mig welds can look perfect but not have any penetration, looks are very deceiving with a mig.
Ive learned that you can push or drag the puddle, i like pushing comes more natural to me, i also make a side to side or kinda a V shape when i weld to make sure it gets on the both of the material.
If your just looking for a welder to keep around and use on small lil projects i actually would consider getting a flux core one, you can use it in the wind since the gas is in the metal and wont be blown away, easy to use on a farm or something not having to lug around bottles. (obviously need a extension cord still lol) But it will weld like say a blaster frame that thickness no problem, little3mill built his dragger with a flux core welder, they will work fine for smaller stuff, but i cant weld sheetmetal with mine to well burns hot. I almost never use mine but it has been handy to have around.
i would like it to make gusetts for the frame, fab a 6 pack rack and some other little work.. looking to spend around 400$. can anyone post a link for one that is reasonable...Thanks for your help guys!!!
for $400 you could get a nice mig welder, and it would definitely weld some gussets and a grab bar. But a flux core will to.
good all around AND it comes with a regulator so you can feed it off the bottle. works with .35 mig wire or .30 flux core.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=sDY4T6r4J8jV0QGV5YTjAg&ved=0CHkQ8wIwAA
Thats a good welder for a tight budget, but since you've got $ 400.00 to spend on a machine, check this out:
Northern Industrial Welders MIG 135 115V Flux Cored/MIG Welder 135 Amp Output | Wirefeed Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment
Northern Tool has decent welders, and that model fits your budget with a little wiggle room to spare. It comes with a fully-adjustable gas pressure regular, and multiple wire-feed and heat settings. Very important if you're gonna weld on a variety of thicknesses of mild steel.
That Northern Tools welder is very similar to my personal Lincoln Pro Mig 140 unit. My Lincoln works with a 40# cylinder and cart, and I can weld just about anything on a Blaster or piece of lawn equipment with it no problem. Plus, both the Northern Tool machine and the Lincoln 140 run on regular 115V, so you can plug it into a wall outlet in the shop. No 220V required.
oh come on now flux core isnt that bad well aslong as you got the know how...my self i do perty great weld with flux core and would preffer it over gas welds but i also have 5 or 6 yrs welding experience with it...and id recommend you getting your self a nice helmet with auto tint they can get cashy but they are more than worth it
Dont under estimate them little flux cored cheapies, they may lay down an ugly looking bit of bird crap, but with a little practice you can do a pretty strong weld job.
Pushing the puddle seems to me to be the best way to use a MIG setup.
Pushing the puddle seems to me to be the best way to use a MIG setup.
I used a Lincoln Pro-Mig 135 on flux core for a LONG time. I managed to get half way decent with my "bird sh*t" welds.
I then switched to gassed mig welding and the difference was like night and day. The quality of the welds aren't even to be compared....
I think you should get a mig welder that has the ability to go gassed, you'll thank yourself later....
However, I'm with mmajay on this one. A night class at the local community college will get you the basic understanding of how all of the processes work (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW or stick, mig, and tig) and what the machine features are and do. They'll give you time to practice one or each of the different processes without having to buy all of the different machines and without having to purchase all of the consumables yourself.
When you get done with a welding proficiency course, you'll have a MUCH better understanding of what machine you'd like to purchase and WHY you'd want it.
I then switched to gassed mig welding and the difference was like night and day. The quality of the welds aren't even to be compared....
I think you should get a mig welder that has the ability to go gassed, you'll thank yourself later....
However, I'm with mmajay on this one. A night class at the local community college will get you the basic understanding of how all of the processes work (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW or stick, mig, and tig) and what the machine features are and do. They'll give you time to practice one or each of the different processes without having to buy all of the different machines and without having to purchase all of the consumables yourself.
When you get done with a welding proficiency course, you'll have a MUCH better understanding of what machine you'd like to purchase and WHY you'd want it.
That is true, i took a 2 week class at my highschool using all the different machines and it really makes a difference. If i just went out and bought a welder with out that class i wouldnt of known sh*t. Atleast now i can run a bead.
I run the Hobart 140 MIG. I have a 110 version and the 220 version. GREAT for beginners and experienced welders
If you've really got tons of cash to burn and want nothing more than to spend MANY hours learning how to..... but an AC/DC tig welder and go for it. 
Similar threads
