Stick welder

[2or3wheels]

Gettin a camble hausfeld 110 volt 20 amp arc stick welder for 50 buck. brand new factory refirbushed. Any advice on my frist welds? Whats a good price and a good place to buy rods?

[sayre315]

20 amps?
you mean 200 amps right?

[2or3wheels]

i dont think so dude said 20

[2or3wheels]

i did a search and it says from 90 to 70 amp, i will look on box when i get it tomorrow. whats a good price for rods? Any specific kind i need?

[Walter Keller]

general purpose rod 6013 - practice on scrap first -practice a whole bunch.

[AutoMX]

it may be 20amp at the outlet, which is still quite low

[Kenny_McCormic]

You do WAY better and get a much higher amp unit that will actually have the power to weld spindles and such with ease. And have a cooling fan/adjustable amperage copper transformer.

Start looking on craiglslist, ebay(shipping a welder that weighs over 100lbs is expensive, local only auctions often dont get that much attention), and classifieds, I bet you can get a 200+ amp stick welder for under $100. Remember, the older and heavier the better. And it WELL WORTH, the effort of getting a 220 volt unit plugged in, forget 110 volt units if your buying a stick welder.

7014 are good rods for a noob, the hold proper arc length on their own because the flux burns slower than the rod creating a recessed electrode, just smash the electrode on the work to start and drag it along. Store rods in your house someplace dry. If they get damp on accident most types work fine after sitting in the sun on a black surface for a few hours.

[Walter Keller]

The red Lincoln 220V supply 200 amp welders are great starter welders - they will adjust down low yet you can weld 1/2" plate if needed. I had the smaller unit described and it really lacked power plus it has a really low duty cycle. Buy a plastic rod box to store your rod. You can dry them out in your oven before using too.

[2or3wheels]

I got it today, its 70 amp. Just need to get some rods and were off.

[sayre315]

70 amps?
i found a 160 amp stick for $50 at EZpawn

[Kenny_McCormic]

I found a 230 amp one for free in my grandparents basement, just needed a fan (we put a desk fan motor and prop in it, blows harder than the stock one that seized after a few minutes).

[2or3wheels]

dude, i went to the pawn shops cheapest one was 100 and it looked beat to hell. this one was sealed in the box from the factory. So for 50 bucks i feel i got a good deal came with instruction book gloves and a mask, but i have a nicer mask already.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Try talking them down then. Beat to hell means nothing as long as it works and the cables are good.

[sayre315]

you can buy a brand new 70amp stick at wal mart for $100

[2or3wheels]

i got mine at half price and its not a off brand.

[Kenny_McCormic]

i got mine at half price and its not a off brand.

camble hausfeld isnt really a trusted, recognized, name in welding.

[fluxcored]

Keep within your duty cycle. I believe 7014 or is it 7018 is a better rod for automotive applications than the 60 series rods.

But have to confess I just grab 6013 coz its cheapest.

[Kenny_McCormic]

7014 holds its own arc, easier to use, 7018 is not a good rod unless you own a rod oven, it has to be kept extremely dry.

[fluxcored]

Kenny, you're right about 7018.

2or3wheels, not to trash your purchase but man this machine sounds underpowered. I arc most stuff between 120 and 160 Amps but I think I weld hotter than most.

Then again have some kind of welder is better than none.

Enjoy mate.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Then again have some kind of welder is better than none.



:iagree:

[2or3wheels]

yeah, its hard, i got 3/32 size rods and i think its to big. I have to slide it along untill it gets hot enough for it to "pool". Is that normal? My dad though that it should happen almost instantainously.

[fluxcored]

Try a thinner rod or set your machine to its highest setting.

BTW., your dad is right.

Do'nt be discouraged - you wo'nt ever regret the lessons that you're learning now. No matter what people say - stick welding is probably the most useful skill a guy can have.

[Kenny_McCormic]

If you can weld with the crap machine you have now, you will look like a pro once you upgrade to something better.

[fluxcored]

If you can weld with the crap machine you have now, you will look like a pro once you upgrade to something better.

Truth. It's gonna be tough tho, just try and try again - do'nt let the machine beat you.

Post pics of your welds - the guys will steer you in the right direction.

[2or3wheels]

ill get a pic tomorrow. It says to only use low with the standardplug, and to use high with the standard plug with the horizontal notch in one prong. Any idea if this is to protect the wires in the wall or the fuse, i can fix fuse quick if it makes welding easier.

[Kenny_McCormic]

I think the hor notch indicates a 20 amp circuit. I could be wrong.

[2or3wheels]

i dunno says the notch is for high setting reg for low

[Kenny_McCormic]

try high, worst case a breaker trips, or if your house wasnt wired properly it burns down, you sue the moron who wired it wrong, and can afford a nice mig unit.

EDIT:It says to only use the high setting on 20 amp outlets, check your fusebox, find a 20 amp breaker and find what outlet it goes to. Then you can use the high setting.

You're gonna need a 1/16" or 5/64" 7014 rod, you do not need to pull up when the arc starts with a 7014, the flux burns in a cone shape automatically holding the proper arc length.

[2or3wheels]

yeah i have 3/32 now. im gonna play with that. im going to go try and weld my buddys yerf dog rame this weekend and take some pics.

[fluxcored]

Get yourself a small grinder to get rid of mistakes - I still am a better ......... grindor than a weldor!

[Kenny_McCormic]

and a pointy hammer for chipping off slag.

[kibble]

Stiff wire brushes work wonders also.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Stiff wire brushes work wonders also.

yep, gotta keep it clean.

[2or3wheels]

i just take a regular nail hammer and smack the **** out of it and see how much comes off.

[Kenny_McCormic]

A pointy hammer works better. I think its called a rock hammer.

[kibble]

Yeah the pointy ones work good to remove large chunks of flux.

[sayre315]

or one of those tack hammers that are small and kinda pointy

[fluxcored]

Chipping hammer

[2or3wheels]

yeah i just smack the **** outa the weld and it comes off.

[fluxcored]

Do'nt smack too hard tho, especially while it's still hot or it'll go out of alignment.

Anybody tried spitting??

[kibble]

Or water would make it come off pretty quick while it's hot.

[fluxcored]

LOL, Kibble - you're again slacking off at work, are'nt you?

[Kenny_McCormic]

Or water would make it come off pretty quick while it's hot.

And potentially crack/enbrittle the weld.

[kibble]

LOL, Kibble - you're again slacking off at work, are'nt you?

How so?

And potentially crack/enbrittle the weld.

Yes, I know, but it's fun to watch all the stuff fly off!

[fluxcored]

Thought you're at work when you replied so speedily.

[kibble]

Yeah, remember though, I live farther west than you do so that could be why. I was actually at home posting.:arf:

[2or3wheels]

no i only do it after i can touch the metal with bare hand.

These are practis welds on scrap, so i can smack them without worring if they move.

[sayre315]

we need pics!!! :)

[2or3wheels]

of what

[2or3wheels]

the welds? what?