For anyone who is trying to start out learning to weld with an AC buzz box stick welder, keep your rod diameter small, like in the 1/16" range, and your scrap metal practice plates in the 1/8" range,and invest in an angle grinder.
While I totally agree with the others that the better welding equipment brand's are (usually) money well spent, the cheap stuff from Harbor Freight will get you started. Just be fully aware that this stuff is not perfect.
Now; there's a low level debate going on about the quality of HF's welding rods and flux core/mig wire. I've never used any of it. I work in heavy industry, and buy my supplies from the same sources as the companies I(v'ed) worked for. The general consensus seems to be to shop at the US construction big box store's if you don't have access to a welding supply house for wire and welding rod.
Now; you've got the welder. Do you have an angle grinder? If you are here, then budget mode is most likely your style. I don't take the high end stuff to work any more; instead, I sampled several models from several discount sources, looking for a 4 1/2" angle grinder that at least just plain worked.
The model that seems to be the best bang for the buck that I've found so far is HF'S Chicago Electric model #91223. I bought one as a throw away over 10 years ago, and under light to medium use it lasted for 9 of them, until it was ceremoniously killed by a now former coworker.
While between jobs last summer, I picked up a temp gig welding frames for custom machines. Having to fight over the ONE 4 1/2" angle grinder the shop owned basically had me declaring that that was
.
On the way home, I hit HF. I just hit their site: still listed for $21.99 on sale. Back then, I bought three of them. Set like this: one with a grinding wheel, one with a sanding flap wheel, one with a cut off disk. In use, if they start to bog down, back off.You're trading time for lack of cash. Respect them for what they are and they'll give you great service.
Now, why do you need one? An angle grinder I mean.
For any type of welding, you need clean metal. That's even more important when you are starting out: with time and practice comes experience. Without that time, practice, and experience, you need all the help you can get. That's where the grinder comes in. Trying to clean up a piece of metal using a cordless drill and a wire wheel doesn't work.
It's going on 3 AM my time: I apologize in advance if I didn't make clear sense....
)
