On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:25:26 -0500, "ATP*" wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey guys,
Since i was a little kid i been fascinated by the art of welding.
I been thinking of learning how to weld. Today i went to walmart
and noticed they had three choices of welders for sale, and arc
($99), a wire feed ($199), mig wire feed (regular $299, on sale $199
now).
I want to learn to weld and the projects i want to do are things
like building go carts, maybe some auto-body work.
Which welder you recommend i buy to start learning to weld?
Thanks!
I would say take a course at your local community college/vocational school
first, if that's an option where you live. Otherwise, for sheet metal work,
I like MIG. I'm not sure what you're going to get for $199, though. Do a
Google Groups search, this discussion has been done about a million times.
Im going to go out on a limb here, and get flamed like the dickens
(doning Nomex suit), but if you are just starting, just wanting to
dabble, and if you find you dont like welding and want to get most or
some of your money back....the Lincoln SP 135T mig welder.
Or the SP 135Plus
http://www.welders-direct.com/mercha...Code =K1873-1
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...eet.asp?p=7082
It runs 110vts, so you can run it from a 15 amp cicuit breaker in your
garage, its capable of running flux core or gas shielded wire,
stainless steel, regular steel. Its supposed to be able to weld 1/8"
aluminum. Ive not tried. Shrug..
The SP 135Plus is a bit more powerful for more some more money.
I would also buy a Harbor Freight auto darkening welders mask
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91212
in particular..a pair of their welding gloves
A right angle grinder from the same place.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91223
(often on sale for $19)
along with a box of their grinding disks and a wire cup wheel
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45651
(though you would be better served later buying your wire cup wheels
from one of the posters here, Tom Gardner..Ohio Brush..good ****
Maynard)
And..and here comes the flame part..a tank of CO2 gas instead of the
argon/co2 mix. Ive recently started using CO2 instead of Argon/Co2
mix..and while the weld is not as "pretty", its hot, burns deep, burns
through rust very well, gives good penetration and is exceptionally
cheap to use. Its not recommended for thin sheet metal though. Burns a
bit too hot unless you downsize to a much smaller wire. Shrug.
On the other hand.....You can do very good work with the above welder
using flux core wire when starting out. The welder is capable of up
to 1/4" steel welds with the proper technique. Its also very capable
of using .030 wire, which means you can spend less time building up
your weldments, but is also capable of using the smaller wires for
doing delicate sheet metal work.
I used one of the Harbor Freight Mig welders, and it was a decent
machine for its type, but its not the machine that the Lincoln is, nor
does it have the same ratio for resale value if you ever want to sell
it. Shrug...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91124
Its not a bad machine, even for a biginner. Others will flame me over
this G
If you are able to spend in the $600-700 range..this is probably one
of the finest machines you will find
http://www.weldingmart.com/Qstore/p000029.htm
The Miller 175, but it does take a 220 volt circuit to run it. A
marvelous machine.
Stick welders are common, can be purchased new or used quite
reasonably..but for a newby..I personally think MIG is easier to
use/learn and stick is harder to use with sheetmetal.
I have commercial grade stick, and mig and tig machines. Shrug...I use
them all for the application most suited to each of them, but the MIGs
get the most use for "utility" usage. Hell, I even have a plasma
welder..but thats exotic stuff you will never use...chuckle.
Im not a "welder". Im whats called in the oil patch..a dauber. G
but I tend to make things that pass the BFH test, if not the Pretty
Test.
Just my .02USD worth, and on discount tonight only G
Btw...check your local welding dealers for trade ins and used
machines. You can often pick them up for far less than half the new
price, when someone upgrades as their skill set or needs increase.
You can often find older commercial grade machines quite cheaply. But
they typically require 220vt power. (becareful they dont sell you a
3phase machine..unless you live in Europe and have 3phase at your
home.)
Again..its hard to beat the Lincoln. Support is good, the design is
good, consumables are available everywhere, and you can often find
them in the Big Box stores or heavily discounted on the internet.
Its NOT a commercial grade machine, but then...do you really need a
commercial grade machine?
Gunner
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken