looking for a welder.

[RednecKota]

hey guys, im looking for a welder. dont know much about it really.

looking for something electric. without gas.

all ive been told is make sure not to get a 110V. true?

mainly looking to weld exhaust, maybe some motor. trans mounts.

are motor mounts even possible without a gas welder?

dont have a crazy budget either.

thoughts? advice?


i hate it when i miss spell the title.

[Dj Wolf]

Yeah i wouldn't even do exhaust with out gas. Flux core sucks. just get a 110V Lincoln form home depot or Lowe's. You can hook up gas to it and it will be under $4oo. I personally like miller and Hobart, there more expensive but i personally just prefer them. there around 600.
We have used the 110V Lincoln for exhaust, engine mounts, suspension mounts (4-link, coil overs, air bags, ect), and soon a custom trans mount.

[Grapejuice1998]

hey guys, im looking for a welder. dont know much about it really.

looking for something electric. without gas.

all ive been told is make sure not to get a 110V. true?

mainly looking to weld exhaust, maybe some motor. trans mounts.

are motor mounts even possible without a gas welder?

dont have a crazy budget either.

thoughts? advice?


i hate it when i miss spell the title.

I would suggest that you take a course at your local jr college first. Welding looks simple, but if you want to do it right, you need instruction.

[AmberFireDaK]

Flux core doesn't suck, it's just hard and dirty and stinks, and ......ok flux core sucks.

You should definitely get a gas machine, especially if your new to welding


If you just want to do MIG you can teach yourself at home by yourself with a little practice and the internet. But if you want to do motor mounts and crossmembers then I agree with Grapejuice..... spend a few bucks more and take a class, and ask a lot of questions

[mopar318]

I have never seen a Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln MIG machine for near 400 bucks? And You still have to add the price of a bottle and gas. Another 100+ just for a 80 cubic foot bottle. In fact, I don't think Ive seen a 110v for cheaper than 500 just for the welder.

Hobarts are cheaper than a miller or Lincoln. But they work just fine for MIG. I choose to buy a Lincoln Tig because the range of materials they can do, the options, and I just like Lincolns in general.

Heres a link to some mig welders from fresno oxygen. You wont find any better deals than this, and they have free shipping.

http://www.ramweldingsupply.com/products-list.mcic?c=300&m=

With A 110 welder, your pretty much limited to 1/8" material. Most of them say you can do 1/4", but good luck. You just cant get penetration on any thing past that unless you bevel the materiel being welded.

[DrPepper]

self taught is OK, you can read books and practice but that takes time and material. The fastest way to learn is go where they have materials and someone to show you. Gas is still the basic and most versitile. I have both a Lincln 225 stick and an SP100 110v wire feed welders. Hardly ever use the SP100. Gets down to the right tool for the job. I'd gas weld a trailer hitch before I'd try to use the SP100, not enough poop. IMHO :D
$500 bucks might get you started with welding, buy used equipment local, have it checked by a welding distributor. Forget Lowes or HD, they won't fill your bottles and the rods are crap. Also, everything is ah-la-cart, $20 here and $150 there. I bought a #0 tip for my Victor gas set and had a heart stopping moment when I got the price. You will find out.
By the way, welding is a great skill, when you need it.

[R/Tdurango02]

Gas weldeing is a much better choice IMO. 110v welders are good if you dont buy a cheepy like harbor freight or a no name but a brand like lincoln, miller or hobart is the way to go. Any off those brands and your safe. If you can go 220v go that route youll be better of since you can weld just about anything from thin t thick depending on the size you get. I personally like a stick welder for thick apps but that cause im just good at melting shit together. Check out ebay for welders, sometimes you can pick up a good used one for a great price over buying a new one

[Nemesis]

http://www.tptools.com/p/2461,96_Clarke-Combination-Flux-Core-and-Mig-Welders.html

thats the welder we just picked up last year, so far its worked really well. If i remember they are made in italy. they probably arnt as good as a say a lincoln but they are priced right, Above the harbor freight ones and below the bigger named ones.

And i agree the gas-less fluxcore sucks, just spend the extra money and get some gas. Also that welder comes with both a spool of fluxcore and regular wire. I would just use those for pratice on, the wire it comes with sucks. I'd get some good wire, probably from the same place you would get the gas from.

[sltdak]

So, all in all, about how much out of pocket should one expect to spend to get started with welding (just equipment, ie welder, wire/flux, gas, tips, etc)?

[mopar318]

So, all in all, about how much out of pocket should one expect to spend to get started with welding (just equipment, ie welder, wire/flux, gas, tips, etc)?

For a 110 about $1,000. After you purchase the welder, Bottle, Gas, Wire, Gloves, and a helmet.

[mopar318]

Heres a rough price list of what I have.

Lincoln Precision 225 Tig-$2050
Hobart autodark helmet-$150
Sheepskin gloves-$15
80 cu. ft Argon Bottle- $140
Tank fill- $42 each time
Numerous Tungsten's, collets, collet bodies, torch caps, and nozzles- $100

[Underwhere]

If you're looking for a MIG, then something like a Lincoln 175.
Don't use flux core. You'll want gas. It is much much cleaner.

I had a lincoln 135 MIG which I sold to get my ThermalArc TIG.

Sometimes I wish I still had a gas MIG setup to do some quick welds here and there.

I would say 300-400 for the unit itself.
60 for an auto darkening mask on ebay
then some gloves and wire.

[RednecKota]

hi, i just picked up an ARC-180 made by chicago electric(harbor fright?), for about the price of dirt.

doubt its strong enough to handle what im after.. but i have successfuly mated a couple old bolts to an old coil spring... WHOO

the 220 wire and calbe and stuff actually cost more then the unit.


has a big knob on the front that just seems to spin and spin and spin, but somehow regulates current? but has no numbers....hmmmmm....

[Grapejuice1998]

hi, i just picked up an ARC-180 made by chicago electric(harbor fright?), for about the price of dirt.

doubt its strong enough to handle what im after.. but i have successfuly mated a couple old bolts to an old coil spring... WHOO

the 220 wire and calbe and stuff actually cost more then the unit.


has a big knob on the front that just seems to spin and spin and spin, but somehow regulates current? but has no numbers....hmmmmm....

Watch this video to get a good starting point for your welding.
http://www.millerwelds.com/swf/flv/flashvid.html?swf=MIG_welding_principles.swf&w=320&h=240&v=8

[sltdak]

If you're looking for a MIG, then something like a Lincoln 175.
Don't use flux core. You'll want gas. It is much much cleaner.

I had a lincoln 135 MIG which I sold to get my ThermalArc TIG.

Sometimes I wish I still had a gas MIG setup to do some quick welds here and there.

I would say 300-400 for the unit itself.
60 for an auto darkening mask on ebay
then some gloves and wire.

I like your pricing a bit better. :D

hi, i just picked up an ARC-180 made by chicago electric(harbor fright?), for about the price of dirt.

doubt its strong enough to handle what im after.. but i have successfuly mated a couple old bolts to an old coil spring... WHOO

the 220 wire and calbe and stuff actually cost more then the unit.


has a big knob on the front that just seems to spin and spin and spin, but somehow regulates current? but has no numbers....hmmmmm....

that was hilarious, made me LOL

But seriously, the was a member here that has had success with a Harbor Freights unit, got me thinking about picking on up. 70cuda(something or something similar).

Watch this video to get a good starting point for your welding.
http://www.millerwelds.com/swf/flv/flashvid.html?swf=MIG_welding_principles.swf&w=320&h=240&v=8

Good video, I'll have to watch it later when I can hear sound, though.

But what is stickout and tacking? What do those terms mean?

[Rob454]

I have a Cambell housfeld welder It works just fine for anything Im gonna weld. I have the gas bottle but I need the hose kit to make it into a gas welder. I use flux core for now and yes gas welding is a much cleaner weld than flux core but for youe AVERAGE home mechanic either one will work. yeah there are better welders out there but at the time it was all I could afford. I can afford better welders now but I dotn do enough welding to warrant a expensive welder and the welding I do this welder is way more than adequate
IF you have the money get the best welder you can afford. The gloves helmet and sundry stuff wont cost much. The cash outlay will be a nice sum but once you have it you can do anythign you want. I would also be careful cause you start welding for others youll be replacing wire argon tips etc so make sure that your buddies pitch in to help with the materials
Rob

[mopar318]

Dont spend 60 bucks on a auto dark unless your an idiot. The 60 dollar helmets suck. If you only have 60 to spend then just get a regular 12 shade.

I know my eyes are worth more than a Chinese piece of shit.

[AmberFireDaK]

Dont spend 60 bucks on a auto dark unless your an idiot. The 60 dollar helmets suck. If you only have 60 to spend then just get a regular 12 shade.

I know my eyes are worth more than a Chinese piece of shit.

QFMFT! I've used a few cheapo's..... some are decent, but most of them you have to close your eyes to start cause they don't kick on fast enough

If you want cheap then get a Jackson or similar, but if you want an auto-dark then spend the $$$ and get a SpeedGlass or Miller Elite, I like the Optrel Satellite's as well but the view window is pretty small

[mopar318]

QFMFT! I've used a few cheapo's..... some are decent, but most of them you have to close your eyes to start cause they don't kick on fast enough

If you want cheap then get a Jackson or similar, but if you want an auto-dark then spend the $$$ and get a SpeedGlass or Miller Elite, I like the Optrel Satellite's as well but the view window is pretty small

QFMGT?? Is that French?:funny:

Yeah but seriously the cheapos suck. I know you can close your eyes, but they still glare, and do no provide the UV protection like a good helmet. If you welding aluminum, and forget to close your eyes, then it only takes one flash to give you flash burn.

A couple months ago I was using my cheapo helmet. I was welding a bead on some charge piping, The helmet kept flickering, then the next beed it just didnt darken and I got flashed bad. I threw the fucker at the wall as hard as I could.

[96daksport]

QFMGT?? Is that French?:funny:

Yeah but seriously the cheapos suck. I know you can close your eyes, but they still glare, and do no provide the UV protection like a good helmet. If you welding aluminum, and forget to close your eyes, then it only takes one flash to give you flash burn.

A couple months ago I was using my cheapo helmet. I was welding a bead on some charge piping, The helmet kept flickering, then the next beed it just didnt darken and I got flashed bad. I threw the fucker at the wall as hard as I could.

I work with a guy that was welding inside a big sheetmetal box and got flashed from the reflection behind him. Nasty feeling, they need to give you liquid cocaine or something like that to make your eyes stop itching.

[AmberFireDaK]

QFMGT?? Is that French?:funny:

Yeah but seriously the cheapos suck. I know you can close your eyes, but they still glare, and do no provide the UV protection like a good helmet. If you welding aluminum, and forget to close your eyes, then it only takes one flash to give you flash burn.

A couple months ago I was using my cheapo helmet. I was welding a bead on some charge piping, The helmet kept flickering, then the next beed it just didnt darken and I got flashed bad. I threw the fucker at the wall as hard as I could.

Who said QFMGT? :jester:

[mopar318]

Who said QFMGT? :jester:

Sorry I had a hard time repeating a Canadian.

OK, What does QFMFT mean?

[sltdak]

Who said QFMGT? :jester:

I don't know about QFMGT, but someone used QFMFT. I think it was you. In anycase, what the hell does either mean?

Also, about welding, what does stick out and tack mean?
As in "stick out should be XX"
and "you should tack every 3 inches"

[Grapejuice1998]

QFMGT?? Is that French?:funny:

Yeah but seriously the cheapos suck. I know you can close your eyes, but they still glare, and do no provide the UV protection like a good helmet. If you welding aluminum, and forget to close your eyes, then it only takes one flash to give you flash burn.

A couple months ago I was using my cheapo helmet. I was welding a bead on some charge piping, The helmet kept flickering, then the next beed it just didnt darken and I got flashed bad. I threw the fucker at the wall as hard as I could.

I wonder if the battery was just weak? They don't get cheaper than the helmet I have and it's never let me down in 5 years. I like it because I can put cheater magnifiers in it so I can see my work better.

[mopar318]

I wonder if the battery was just weak? They don't get cheaper than the helmet I have and it's never let me down in 5 years. I like it because I can put cheater magnifiers in it so I can see my work better.

Yes the batteries get weak, and then they dont flash On until the the arc charges through the solar panel. So you get a delay. Its pretty much a hit and miss with the cheapo helmets.

Also going to depend on the welding. Mine seemed fine welding steel. But when welding AC its just didnt wanna work. They also glare like a MF. The new Hobart Helmet I have is SOOO much easier to see, and its alot more comfortable as well.

[mopar318]

I don't know about QFMGT, but someone used QFMFT. I think it was you. In anycase, what the hell does either mean?

Also, about welding, what does stick out and tack mean?
As in "stick out should be XX"
and "you should tack every 3 inches"

Stick out in a mig, Is the amount of wire sticking out. The tacks will depend on what your welding. When doing body work, I do a tack every 1 inch. Then I go back and fill in between tack and allow too cool so that it does not warp.

[AmberFireDaK]

Sorry I had a hard time repeating a Canadian.

OK, What does QFMFT mean?

Quoted for Motherfuckin truth

[sltdak]

So, tack means to weld in spots so everything sticks together before you completely weld the pieces together?

Also, what does QFMFT and QFMGT mean? (sure it's not welding related, though)

[AmberFireDaK]

A tack is a very small weld to hold what your working on......sometimes you don't want to weld your work solid so you can tack every XX inches and it will be good enough. In other cases when your welding something solid you tack in to hold, but also so that the heat of you welding doesn't shift the work as your welding

Again...QFMFT means quoted for motherfuckin truth.... it's also used as QFT or quoted for truth but I like to swear so I use the former rather than the latter

QFMGT means nothing.... Mopar318 just can't read :jester:

[mopar318]

There is also a cold tack, and a hot tack. Even though Steel melts at the same temperature, just don't get that confused.

Cold tack would be something you want to set in place, and mostly likely remove. So you would turn your wire speed up, and pull the gun back a little bit, so that you don't get penetration.

Hot tack would be something you want to hold in place while welding. You will want penetration on this. When I do hot tacks, I like to turn my heat WAY up, as well as wire speed.

Just so you know if these terms come up.

[sltdak]

is this a good deal or no?

lincon 225 stick welder new, dont think its ever been hooked up 100

[sltdak]

So, now no one know anything about welding? :huh:

[TrueblueR/T]

So, now no one know anything about welding? :huh:

stick welder is oldscool not used much anymore unless you are out on a job site where you use a portable..

[sltdak]

So, no good for someone that wants to dab in welding a bit? What about price is that no good too?

[TrueblueR/T]

So, no good for someone that wants to dab in welding a bit? What about price is that no good too?

a hundred bucks is cheap has almost that much in scrap copper.. how long are the leads???

[sltdak]

doesn't say, it's an ad in my local craigslist.
I may look into picking that up to play around with, then.

I could use that to weld bumper brackets to a frame, right?

[TrueblueR/T]

doesn't say, it's an ad in my local craigslist.
I may look into picking that up to play around with, then.

I could use that to weld bumper brackets to a frame, right?

yep after a bit of practice

[Underwhere]

You're really going to want a MIG with gas at the least.

Stick welding? That's really old.

If you get it, you'll be selling it and buying a MIG later on anyway.

I say find a MIG with a small gas bottle.

Don't waste your time with Flux Core. I had a MIG with flux core and sold it.

[Rob454]

I work with a guy that was welding inside a big sheetmetal box and got flashed from the reflection behind him. Nasty feeling, they need to give you liquid cocaine or something like that to make your eyes stop itching.


If you get flash burn and your eyes itch like that a old remedy is to slice up potatoes and place them over you eyes. Sounds liek BS but it works. I got flashed once really bad. I was using a helmet and the lens was bad or somethign cause my eyes literally felt like someone sprinkled broken glass on them. My buddys dad told me to do the potatoe trick. Youre not going anywhere but laying down on the couch. He said replace them when they arent cool anymore


You can weld a lot thicker than 1/8 inch even with flux core. I welded two peices of 1/4 inch plate together and my buddy said they wont hold. I let him have as many shots with a sledge hammer as he wished. if he broke them I bought lunch at a steakhouse. He never broke it. It may take some practice but you can do soem decent welds even with flux core. Jsut gotta practice a little bit.

[Grapejuice1998]

doesn't say, it's an ad in my local craigslist.
I may look into picking that up to play around with, then.

I could use that to weld bumper brackets to a frame, right?

Stick welding is some of the hardest type of welding to master, especially for the un-trained. You'll end up sticking more electrodes to material, than you will actually welding them together. Stick welding puts off a huge cloud of noxious fumes and a LOT of hot slag flies everywhere. You also start off with your welding hand pretty far from your material, which makes it harder to hold steady, then you push the electrode into the work as you weld, so your position is constantly changing.
Get yourself a MIG, whether it's flux, or gas. It'll still weld easier than a stick will. Flux leaves a lot more spatter though.
If you have a community college close by and they offer welding classes, I would go take one first (that's what I did in 2001). That will give you a good foundation to build on, instead of hit and miss, learning by yourself. You won't even know what you're looking at.

[sltdak]

Do I need a helmet or auto darkening glasses when welding with gas? The two-one red, one blue-tanks?

I just picked up something like this, but probably smaller. What all can/should I be able to do with something like this?

http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/KITS/TORCHKITS/tabid/215/ctl/Detail/mid/1147/xmid/6954/xmfid/3/Default.aspx

[sltdak]

When doing electric welding, like arc, stick, Mig or Tig on a car or truck, all the grounds have to be undone so the electrical components don't short out, right?

[DrPepper]

go to the local Junior College and enrole in a basic welding course. You will only commit a few weeks and a small amount of $$ to get instruction and an opportunity to work with all kinds of welders. I did that many years ago and it was well worth it. Reading this thread you will see guys that are used to working with their welding equipment and telling you it's best. I have a Lincoln 225, SP-100 and Victor gas outfits, and use them. I'll gas weld a 1/4" angle and you won't break it either, but I won't try to stitch a sheet metal panel with gas without warping it, you just have to know how.

:stirthepo That's my opinion :huh:

[Grapejuice1998]

go to the local Junior College and enrole in a basic welding course. You will only commit a few weeks and a small amount of $$ to get instruction and an opportunity to work with all kinds of welders. I did that many years ago and it was well worth it. Reading this thread you will see guys that are used to working with their welding equipment and telling you it's best. I have a Lincoln 225, SP-100 and Victor gas outfits, and use them. I'll gas weld a 1/4" angle and you won't break it either, but I won't try to stitch a sheet metal panel with gas without warping it, you just have to know how.

:stirthepo That's my opinion :huh:

X2!!! I did exactly that in 2001 and have never regretted it. If you don't get educated first, you won't even know what you're looking at. From setting the machine to welding properly, you must know what you're doing, or you're going to be wasting time and expensive resources.