first time welder looking for good machine
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 526
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From: USA
first time welder looking for good machine
i want to learn how to weld. i am debating going and buying a machine then just practicing on some scrap metal that i have laying around. my question though is what type of machine should i get? i am new so i dont really know much, but i am willing to learn. thanks!
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Usually In the Garage
first time welder looking for good machine
I'm can't claim to be much of a welder, but I'm constantly borrowing my brothers Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 and it seems to handle everything I've needed it for. He paid a couple of hundred bucks for it at Home Depot I believe.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 870
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY Rochester
first time welder looking for good machine
Hey there cjcathey2002! Do you have any local Continuing Education programs in your area? They offer great courses for the first timers and are usually pretty inexpensive.
The ones offered up here, included with the tuition, welding helmet, leather gloves, decent reading materials. Whats also nice is the interaction between students and instructors. A few times, during the course, we were able to put our knowledge to use at a local business. They purchased the materials and supplied the assorted welder.
That way, you can use a variety of them, with out commiting to one before you buy it.
Or you can go out and rent one, until you find one that suits you.
Talk with you guys later....
The ones offered up here, included with the tuition, welding helmet, leather gloves, decent reading materials. Whats also nice is the interaction between students and instructors. A few times, during the course, we were able to put our knowledge to use at a local business. They purchased the materials and supplied the assorted welder.
That way, you can use a variety of them, with out commiting to one before you buy it.
Or you can go out and rent one, until you find one that suits you.
Talk with you guys later....
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
From: WA
first time welder looking for good machine
Originally posted by Scooter29
Hey there cjcathey2002! Do you have any local Continuing Education programs in your area? They offer great courses for the first timers and are usually pretty inexpensive.
The ones offered up here, included with the tuition, welding helmet, leather gloves, decent reading materials. Whats also nice is the interaction between students and instructors. A few times, during the course, we were able to put our knowledge to use at a local business. They purchased the materials and supplied the assorted welder.
That way, you can use a variety of them, with out commiting to one before you buy it.
Or you can go out and rent one, until you find one that suits you.
Talk with you guys later....
Hey there cjcathey2002! Do you have any local Continuing Education programs in your area? They offer great courses for the first timers and are usually pretty inexpensive.
The ones offered up here, included with the tuition, welding helmet, leather gloves, decent reading materials. Whats also nice is the interaction between students and instructors. A few times, during the course, we were able to put our knowledge to use at a local business. They purchased the materials and supplied the assorted welder.
That way, you can use a variety of them, with out commiting to one before you buy it.
Or you can go out and rent one, until you find one that suits you.
Talk with you guys later....
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: USA
first time welder looking for good machine
thanks for all the input. i actually work with a guy who is very good at welding, but i just havent had a chance to get his opinion on a good starting welder. he welds stainless, aluminum, steel and some others as well, so he is going to guide me through the process.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Port Richey FL.
first time welder looking for good machine
i use a linclon pro 135 mig and it can do just about any thing you need to do and it works great on 110 volts..i would recommend it to be one of the best lil migs i have used ...it will do steel alum and stainless with no probs at all..very nice ..check in to it ..they have them on there site and also at lowes
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New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
first time welder looking for good machine
I was in your shoes just a few weeks ago. I needed to weld some subframe connectors on my Mustang, and always like doing all the work myself. After talking with a few people, I bought a Millermatic 175 (220V) machine. I also bought a cheap auto-darkening helmet, and a 40 CF tank with 75/25. It costed me way more than I wanted to spend, but I figure I'm only 28, I have at least 40 more years to get my money's worth. I picked up some scraps, and bought some from HD to learn. It does have a learning curve, especially sheet metal. (Very easy to burn thru). I would say I spent around 5 hours welding, and I felt confident on welding on the car. I'm definitely not a pro yet, but I trust my welds. I would of taken a class, if I could have found one. Now I saving up for a oxy-acet torch. It never ends...
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New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
first time welder looking for good machine
I haven't 'mastered' any part of welding. Make sure your metal is REALLY clean, not just polished. You want bright metal. Make sure you are using gas, 75/25. Keep your nozzle clean. I use nozzle dip often. From what I've read, every machine's settings are a little different, and even the same make/model have variants. I use 30/10 settings for sheet metal, both are lower than the chart. Stay close to the metals. I am usually 3/8 inch from the work. I 'push' sheet metal, rather than pulling thicker metals. Start a pool, and move pretty quickly. But again I'm pretty much a beginner myself. I just practiced a lot and learned what works for me.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: ohio
first time welder looking for good machine
i work for the lincoln electric company and won't buy anything other than lincoln. i have a sp170T mig welder at home and it is rated to weld up to a 1/4" and does a great job. most mig welders that you can use at home are pretty much rated equally. it all comes down to steel thickness and what types of steel you want to weld. i completed lincoln's welding courses and learned a ton! but i still made most of my progress watching other people and lots of practice.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
first time welder looking for good machine
amt,
I recently purchase a lincoln weld pak 435. It cost me $200 more than a weld pak 100. Allegdedly, I can weld stainless, and aluminum with this 110VAC system. What do you know about this? I always thought these materials were strictly for a TIG?
Secondly,
I made an extension cord for my welder. It's 3 conductors @ 10 ga. The cord is about 20 ft, long. I should be able to use this without trouble? If there is a problem, what are the symptoms of too much resistance in an extension cord?
Thirdly,
I am using gas, 75/25. What line pressure is correct? This was not in my manual.
Thanks,
KingFisher
I recently purchase a lincoln weld pak 435. It cost me $200 more than a weld pak 100. Allegdedly, I can weld stainless, and aluminum with this 110VAC system. What do you know about this? I always thought these materials were strictly for a TIG?
Secondly,
I made an extension cord for my welder. It's 3 conductors @ 10 ga. The cord is about 20 ft, long. I should be able to use this without trouble? If there is a problem, what are the symptoms of too much resistance in an extension cord?
Thirdly,
I am using gas, 75/25. What line pressure is correct? This was not in my manual.
Thanks,
KingFisher
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
first time welder looking for good machine
Stainless will require diff. gas., tri-mix. Aluminum will require you to purchase a spoolgun. Don't know about your lincoln, but my Miller's gun is around 450 bucks, plus you will need to buy diff. wire(s)
I think your extension cord, at least the gauge/length, is fine. excessive heat, blown circuit, or fire are your symptoms. You want your wire to have a larger capacity than your breaker, to be fire safe. Your 10 ga is rated well over 20 amps, which is the typical 110 breaker, actually it's typ. 15.
I would check Lincoln's website regarding all your questions, especially gas pressures. I know Miller has all their manuals available online. You should be b/w 20-30 for your pressure, I would think. I run b/w 20-25.
I think your extension cord, at least the gauge/length, is fine. excessive heat, blown circuit, or fire are your symptoms. You want your wire to have a larger capacity than your breaker, to be fire safe. Your 10 ga is rated well over 20 amps, which is the typical 110 breaker, actually it's typ. 15.
I would check Lincoln's website regarding all your questions, especially gas pressures. I know Miller has all their manuals available online. You should be b/w 20-30 for your pressure, I would think. I run b/w 20-25.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Port Richey FL.
first time welder looking for good machine
For doing alum, lincoln has a kit for it ..its 50.00 its is some kinda sleve..thats all you need for that ,and the wire is diff .gas is also diff for alum ..the 75/25 is for steel .. not sure about the pressure , i run about 20 to 30 ..but if you find out from licoln let me know so i can be sure..