Someone school me on welders

[MountaineerTom]

I'd like to get a welder someday, but I need a little help on what to look for as i pretty much know nothing about them.

 

Here's what I'm looking for:

 

Something for what I concider light work;

1. Like when I modifided my step rail brackets and had to get a few pieces welded (1/4 inch think), wanting to make some floorboards for my son's LT80 ATV, odd and end type jobs like that.

2. Something easy to use for those types of jobs. (wire feed)

3. Something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, but not something that's not cabable of doing what I want. I don't need a top of the line setup, but I don't want something useless.

4. I just want to be able to complete jobs myself, without having to take stuff to a shop and trying to explain what I want to someone else. I won't be building race cars, monster trucks, custom choppers or anything like that.

 

Anyone have any tips/suggestions? I've been looking at a Craftsman tool catalog and see that Sears sells a few different brands/models. I'm not sure how it all compares. Gas, Gasless, amp output?

 

Thanks.

[RyanbabZ71]

definitely go wire feed

[Kansas Kid]

Are you looking for a welder to run on 110V or 230V? I imagine a stick welder running on 110V would be more then enough for what you are planning on doing. Stick welding is the easist to learn, and the welders themselves are cheaper. Most of them that I have seen will weld steel up to 1/4" thick and easily handle they type of stuff you want to do.

 

MIG welders (wire feed) are much more expensive up front and more suited to people who weld more frequently. If you know what you are doing it is no problem figuring out how to adjust the voltage and wire feed rate, but if you aren't that familiar with welding, it can be a pain. You also have to have a bottle of argon gas with MIG welders, which adds to the cost. Now for my situation I would buy a MIG welder because I plan on using it fairly frequently and welding heavier duty parts.

 

Don't even bother looking at TIG welders for what you are wanting. I'm certainly not an expert on welders, but I think a decent quality stick welder would work pretty well for you.

[Black02Silverado]

I agree, a good stick welder would be just fine. Price them out online. Mig is great but as stated in the previous post there are opions to consider using Mig. Tig is sweet but like anything else way out priced for the beginer. Tig is more for the individual that would be making a living off welding or has their own buisness to keep running by welding up equipment and such.

 

Check on line and EBay. I was looking at a welder myself. Just never found the time to look since it isn't top on my list of needs right now. I have an ExMark mower to pay off first, thanks to my old mower giving up the ghost earlier this year.

[Worktruck]

I have a 115V mig welder. It is desined for use welding body panels and such. You can weld up to 1/4" steel with it but if you are a novice I don't recommend it. This little jewel uses no gas to shield the arc so it isn't real expensive. I used to weld for a living and recommend a stick welder if you intend to do any out of position welding such as overhead or vertical. It is alot easier to learn with stick. I am also looking for a small welder, problably mig, and expect to pay about $600 for a decent set-up. I to will be making footboards for the boys ATV and making a go-cart as a winter project. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[k1500chevy97]

I would definatly recomened either miller or lincoln .

We currently have a lincoln power mig 300 i think is the model in the shop and everyone who has used it speaks highly of it.

I havent had the chance yet but i am anxiously waiting to get a turn at this big bad boy

[MountaineerTom]

I'd be looking at a 110V welder. Stick welder huh? That shows how much I know about them, I thought they were suppose to be harder to use. Thanks for all the info, keep it coming.

[MCourson]

**Disclaimer I am not a welding expert** But from my limited experience,

for a beginer I would get a MIG wire feed welder. I have a Licoln SP 135T wire feed and an old Licoln AC 225 stick welder. Both do a good job. The stick used to belong to my uncle who built quite a few dirt hobby stock cars with it.

[TheScaryGuy]

This little jewel uses no gas to shield the arc so it isn't real expensive

 

I thought all welders needed a flux, or else air would get into the weld making it very weak. What's your flux if its not argon? I took a year of welding block when I went to highschool. I perfer stick over everything. Once you have the knack you've got it forever. Dirt simple and cheapest. Always wear a welding cap though. It used to always piss me off when i set my hair on fire.

[Kansas Kid]

I thought all welders needed a flux, or else air would get into the weld making it very weak. What's your flux if its not argon?

With a gasless wire feed welder you have to use a flux-cored wire. When you use a solid wire, you have to have a shielding gas which is where the argon comes into play.

[Worktruck]

Yeah, what Kansas Kid said!

[MountaineerTom]

So, you don't have to use gas for a stick welder?

[BIGDAWG69]

No gas is required for a stick welder.

[silverado man]

The only thing you need to know with the stick is what kind of stick to use with the type of metal you are welding. Also you'll have to hammer the flux off the weld after you are done to clean it up.

[MountaineerTom]

Cool. That's sounds about what I'm looking for. Thanks for all the help.