Help fast please!

[beastmode986]

Ok I need to make a quick decision. I can either, keep my bernzomatic mapp gas and oxygen kit or get an arc welder brand new at hf for 70$ what's a better choice? I like how you can cut with the bernzomatic what should I get/keep?

Edit: I can also possibly get the 90 amp flux idk if I wanna spend 110$ when I can get the arc for 70

 

[mckutzy]

You cant weld with the bernz, the welder is a welder, but u cant cut with the welder.
I would get the flux core, the hf stick welder suck really bad, and the flux core is a few steps up.
But why not keep the bernz and go buy the 90amp? Now you got both what you need to build something.

 

[beastmode986]

Thanks but on the bernzomatic it says you can weld with it

 

[OzFab]

You cant weld with the bernz, the welder is a welder, but u cant cut with the welder.
I would get the flux core, the hf stick welder suck really bad, and the flux core is a few steps up.
But why not keep the bernz and go buy the 90amp? Now you got both what you need to build something.

What he said... almost.
Personally I prefer Mig to stick; it's more versatile & easier to use but, as I said, it's a personal choice

 

[beastmode986]

Thanks but again on the bernzomatic I said I can weld is this true

 

[OzFab]

As far as I'm aware, you can weld light guage only. Braising is possible but that's like a strong glue.

Welding involves heating metal quickly; if you can melt metal from cold in less than 5 seconds you can weld it. Any longer & you're pretty much wasting your time

 

[Bluethunder3320]

Thanks but again on the bernzomatic I said I can weld is this true

i dont know a lot about torches, so someone correct me if im wrong, but i think with a torch you "braze" which is melting metal onto the 2 parts not welding them together, its more like hot glue.

i would go with the 90 amp flux, i have one and it has been used a LOT and still works great for what i need it to do.

not the best welds from it of course, but it gets the job done and its way better and easier than their stick welder.

 

[r97]

The bernze probably can weld (or at least braze), but you should look into what materials, and thicknesses it can handle. I know people often weld with oxy-acetylene torches, but I'm not sure if oxy-MAPP has enough heat. Also understand that learning to weld with a gas torch will be very difficult compared to a GMAW, FCAW, or stick welder.

I would suggest you look on craigslist for a used Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln Electric welder. A GMAW welder would be best, but FCAW and stick welders would be fine too; I would suggest you stay away from GTAW for now. Buying a name brand welder instead off an Chines one has a lot of pluses, especially when you pay the price of a used machine.

 

[beastmode986]

Ok thanks

 

[ryf]

if all your going to want to do is make go carts, 110v mig is sweet, arc is kinda hard on thin gauge though, it can be done but its not ideal. using mapp/oxy on anything more than sheet metal is only a better version of solder, not going to work long term, its not generally accepted as welding on structural metals.

if it were me, I would go arc or mig and keep the torch for other tasks. between the two, I would go mig for go carts, for general metalworking, arc is way more adaptive, you can get all sorts of rods, most will not work well on a 110v arc though.

I would look on craigslist for a lincoln arc "tombstone" these are cheap and abundant and require 220v but they let you do cutting, gouging and work on thicker metal.

hope this helps,good luck with your choice.

 

[fowler]

Arc is far easier to use if u know what u are doing
Granted it can be harder to learn but it is more versatile

Also u cant adjust wire feed or stickout while welding with a mig
Well some top end welders can adjust a little

But arc u can adjust everything but amps as u go
And again the top end welders will adjust as u go

The only down side is tacking

 

[devino246]

i dont know a lot about torches, so someone correct me if im wrong, but i think with a torch you "braze" which is melting metal onto the 2 parts not welding them together, its more like hot glue.

i would go with the 90 amp flux, i have one and it has been used a LOT and still works great for what i need it to do.

not the best welds from it of course, but it gets the job done and its way better and easier than their stick welder.

When you solder or braze, you are using a different metal to join the two pieces, however, you're heating up the metals hot enough to form metallic bonds, which are strong.

Those little bernzomatic torches aren't good for much, though.

 

[mckutzy]

I have one of those bernz torches, for the most part they arent hot enough to do any welding. Iam on a few welding forums and the may topics on this say you need acetylene to gas weld. Brazing it can do, for a very short time before the O2 runs out.
Like most 115v flux cored and may other things like that, they cant do what advertised. The bernz torches say it could also cut, but thats just a stretch of the truth.

beastmode986 -Just to be sure THIS is what were talking about. right?
http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS...etail/mid/1147/xmid/6954/xmfid/3/Default.aspx

NOT this?

 

[r97]

Also you can't adjust stick-out while welding with a GMAW

??? I'm confused

 

[oscaryu1]

Thanks but again on the bernzomatic I said I can weld is this true

Yes, it's true.

As far as I'm aware, you can weld light guage only. Braising is possible but that's like a strong glue.

Welding involves heating metal quickly; if you can melt metal from cold in less than 5 seconds you can weld it. Any longer & you're pretty much wasting your time

Not oldschool oxyfuel welding.

Arc is far easier to use if u know what u are doing
Granted it can be harder to learn but it is more versatile

Also u cant adjust wire feed or stickout while welding with a mig
Well some top end welders can adjust a little

But arc u can adjust everything but amps as u go
And again the top end welders will adjust as u go

The only down side is tacking

I adjust my wire feed and stickout all the time while GMAWing. A flux cored machine works fine for your purposes, or a stick welder. I'd go with wire for a newbie though.

MAPP gas has less energy in it, but you can absolutely weld with it. Need around double the pressure of acetylene (or a bigger tip), but absolutely doable. Or switch to acetylene.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Also u cant adjust wire feed or stickout while welding with a mig
Well some top end welders can adjust a little

What???

 

[beastmode986]

Ok well I got a guy on Craigslist who's gonna sell me an arc for 40$ it's a 110 volt 220 amp Chicago electric is this a good deal

 

[fowler]

??? I'm confused

Well the stick out is wrong
But I dout u adjust the wire speed while u weld
Unless u weld one hand on the trigger and one on the dial

 

[OzFab]

Ok well I got a guy on Craigslist who's gonna sell me an arc for 40$ it's a 110 volt 220 amp Chicago electric is this a good deal

Sounds good, go for it

Well the stick out is wrong
But I dout u adjust the wire speed while u weld
Unless u weld one hand on the trigger and one on the dial

... until I get the speed right I do

 

[klicky96]

Well the stick out is wrong
But I dout u adjust the wire speed while u weld
Unless u weld one hand on the trigger and one on the dial

You can adjust it. What I do is get a piece of flat stock, get my welder ready. And put beads on the flat stock, holding my gun in my right hand and adjusting the dial with my left. I run mine usually around 6.5 anyhow. I don't adjust it much, but when I do, I believe that is a very easy way of doing it.