good first welder?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
good first welder?
I kinow its kind of a broad topic, but I was looking for all kinds of responses. First let me tell you about my experience with any sort of metalwork:
ONCE, I used my dad's oxy/acetyline (sp?) torch to cut up some pieces of scrap metal for parctice.
Tried a friend's tig welder ONCE, messed around with it for a couple of hours. Then he kicked me off of it, so he could get back to work.
That about sums it up. I really don't have any experience, but I do have lots of people that have been doing this for a while and are more than willing to help. As far as purposes, well I am looking for something that can give me all around performance. I have been planning a bike build for a couple of years now, and this is one of the things holding me back. So, any and all comments are welcome. I'm just looking to find a good place to start.
--btw--
I'm sure that some one will tell me to go to vocational school, but I just don't have the time for it. I would love to go to one, I have looked into it, but I just don't think that any of the programs available around here would work for me. Also, I'm not planning to do this as a profession. Wouldn't mind it, but I like my current job.
ONCE, I used my dad's oxy/acetyline (sp?) torch to cut up some pieces of scrap metal for parctice.
Tried a friend's tig welder ONCE, messed around with it for a couple of hours. Then he kicked me off of it, so he could get back to work.
That about sums it up. I really don't have any experience, but I do have lots of people that have been doing this for a while and are more than willing to help. As far as purposes, well I am looking for something that can give me all around performance. I have been planning a bike build for a couple of years now, and this is one of the things holding me back. So, any and all comments are welcome. I'm just looking to find a good place to start.
--btw--
I'm sure that some one will tell me to go to vocational school, but I just don't have the time for it. I would love to go to one, I have looked into it, but I just don't think that any of the programs available around here would work for me. Also, I'm not planning to do this as a profession. Wouldn't mind it, but I like my current job.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 8
From: BC, Canada
Wire feed welder with gas (MIG welder) has my vote. Easy to learn on, gets great results. If you have a choice, get a 220volt one with 10' leads for the torch and ground lead. You won't be sorry if you start with a little better model. ...Terry
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
I agree with Terry. Here is my pick. Hobart HH180, running 030 wire and C25 gas. Very good little machine for most everything automotive less than bumpers and hitches. Next step up is the Miller MM210, excellent value for the $ and it would save you from wanting to upgrade in the near furture. Here is the welding site. http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
I would go for a good miller wire feed if you are talking about spending $1500 plus, but for an everyday kick around welder- get a lincoln buzz welder( Stick) they are near bullet proof and not that expensive. You may even try buying one at a school auction for pennies on the dollars- I bet there are millions of these in daily service around the world. Go to any lincoln sales center or agricultural supply and they will show you what a buzz welder is. i may add those cheap wire welders that use gasless wire really add up in the long haul and the cheaper ones really don't do much of a good job- don't waster your time and money with those 100-250 dollar wire machines.
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
mig welders are great all around welders they are realitively in expensive and will give you pretty good welds. Personally I prefer TIG welders they are not as easy to use for beginers but they can weld almost anything and will give you very nice welds.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Probably a 110v MIG welder with flux core wire is a good beginner machine. Something 125 AMPs and more so you can do 1/8" plus welding. If you are doing 1/4 metal (bumpers trailer hitches etc) I think the only option is going for a 220v MIG machine. If you are doing exhaust, then you want something that uses a bottle of gas because the flux core MIG wire burns through the thin exhaust tubing too easily.
I bought a Hobart 135 from northerntools.com and I am pretty happy with it. There are some minor things that could be improved, though I think it is much better and hotter then the Snap-On it replaced.
imo, For under $500 generally MIG is good for beginners because it is easy to make a decent weld, ARC is the best value for experienced heavy duty welding though it has a learning curve. If you only do welding once in a while, the MIG is best because the consumables (wire roll) does not go stale as fast as a ARC welding rod and you can buy a small 2 pound roll that will last a while.
Do not bother with those <$200 welders. Not worth the money and they do not have the adjustment to handle very light guage metal, which is all they are really good for welding up. imo.
I bought a Hobart 135 from northerntools.com and I am pretty happy with it. There are some minor things that could be improved, though I think it is much better and hotter then the Snap-On it replaced.
imo, For under $500 generally MIG is good for beginners because it is easy to make a decent weld, ARC is the best value for experienced heavy duty welding though it has a learning curve. If you only do welding once in a while, the MIG is best because the consumables (wire roll) does not go stale as fast as a ARC welding rod and you can buy a small 2 pound roll that will last a while.
Do not bother with those <$200 welders. Not worth the money and they do not have the adjustment to handle very light guage metal, which is all they are really good for welding up. imo.
