Welder Choice.

[nak18]

All right, so this is my last time making a thread(on welders) before I purchase a welder.

I took alot of time thinking and I keep hearing a MIG welder is better than a ARC welder, when it comes to thin metal and aluminum. I have 3 Final choices.

These Rand MIG welder claims to weld up to 1/4" inch steel which is pretty thick, atleast to me it is. Then i did a few google searches and a some sites say that MIG 120V can't weld above 1/8" thickness. I'm not looking to weld 1/4", but having the ability to go that high is always good.

Here are my last choice before I purchase the welder tomorrow.


1)Rand MIG Welder 120v/flux core
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Rand-MIG-Welder-130F-120-amp-110-Volt-flux-core-/390334326457

2)MIG 100 110V FLUX CORE
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MIG-100-110V-FLUX-CORE-WELDING-MACHINE-NO-GAS-WELDER-/190552134991

3)Northern Industrial 125 Flux Core
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Northern-Industrial-125-Flux-Core-Welder-RECONFC125-/390350675108

 

[Bluethunder3320]

my vote is on the northern tool welder because of cost.

i have a welder similar to the #2 but it only goes to 90 amps, and i am very satisfied, i have had it about a year and it has about 15 pounds of wire through it.

 

[Thunderbird SC]

I vote for none... I picked mine up a HF 151 dual mig 220v for $85 used with a full 10lb spool and regulator. My choice is based on cost and the fact that you only have 2 amp choices with all 3 of these welders, 4 is better and a knob for amps is best. That way you can weld on more variety of thicknesses.

 

[nak18]

I vote for none... I picked mine up a HF 151 dual mig 220v for $85 used with a full 10lb spool and regulator. My choice is based on cost and the fact that you only have 2 amp choices with all 3 of these welders, 4 is better and a knob for amps is best. That way you can weld on more variety of thicknesses.

220v welder from what I've seen looks less portable.

 

[r97]

Look on craigslist for used name brand MIG welders, a used Hobart, Lincoln, ESAB, or Miller should work great. I Saved up all my money and bought a very nice, 220v Hobart Handler 210 w/ spool gun, and i have been extremely satisfied. My 90A Lincoln Electric welder i had before worked flawlessly as well.

Please do note a few things:

1. 1/4" on these small machines isn't possible without proper technique and preparation (i.e. multiple passes, preheating, etc)

2. MIG welding aluminum with theses smaller machines is very difficult, and very limited. If you want to weld aluminum you should start looking at larger machines.

Look at these amazing deals right here on your local craigslist!

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/tls/2626049588.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/tls/2595391688.html

 

[oscaryu1]

You couldn't weld aluminum with any of those machines. Not enough amperage, wrong wire roller, steel liner, unremovable gun, wrong polarity, no gas outlet/inlet.

 

[nak18]

I ordered the Rang welder, 3 people I know dad's own a welder. Lucky me 2 of them are 220v Arc welder, and the other idk. The guy that sponsors me has a welder that was used on heavy machines in restaurants and stuff, so I may get that later in the yr.

Hopefully this guy is close to my area and wouldn't mind teaching me how to weld and use his welder, in exchange for free labor and stuff.
http://vimeo.com/25108313 (skip halfway through and look at the thickness of the metal. O_O no skin protection?)



YEAH!!!!! My welder is here and it had accessories. Going to use it mostly for welding up my frame and putting up BMX/Skateboard rails.

 

[devino246]

I ordered the Rang welder, 3 people I know dad's own a welder. Lucky me 2 of them are 220v Arc welder, and the other idk. The guy that sponsors me has a welder that was used on heavy machines in restaurants and stuff, so I may get that later in the yr.

Hopefully this guy is close to my area and wouldn't mind teaching me how to weld and use his welder, in exchange for free labor and stuff.
http://vimeo.com/25108313 (skip halfway through and look at the thickness of the metal. O_O no skin protection?)



YEAH!!!!! My welder is here and it had accessories. Going to use it mostly for welding up my frame and putting up BMX/Skateboard rails.

That guy is an absolute idiot.

 

[nak18]

That guy is an absolute idiot.

That's why I why I did the O_O.

I got my leather jacket(high colar), gloves, and 100+spf sunscreen for the extra. I want to try atleast my first tack weld tonight, but I doubt it.

 

[devino246]

That's why I why I did the O_O.

I got my leather jacket(high colar), gloves, and 100+spf sunscreen for the extra. I want to try atleast my first tack weld tonight, but I doubt it.

You dont need that much protection. Ive gotten sunburnt from welding once, and that was after TIGing for an extended period.

The sunscreen is completely unneeded. The jacket and gloves are optional, I usually just forego the safety gear minus the helmet.ut:

 

[nak18]

You dont need that much protection. Ive gotten sunburnt from welding once, and that was after TIGing for an extended period.

The sunscreen is completely unneeded. The jacket and gloves are optional, I usually just forego the safety gear minus the helmet.ut:

So all I need is the helmet and gloves(hot metal)?

Jacket, because I'm learning to weld with a fluxcore welder.

Sunscreen extra optional.

 

[landuse]

So all I need is the helmet and gloves(hot metal)?

Jacket, because I'm learning to weld with a fluxcore welder.

Sunscreen extra optional.

I would have to agree with putting on sunscreen. If you have any exposed skin, you are going to get burned. I can attest to that fact

 

[mckutzy]

Just wear a non synthetic jacket, a long sleeve shirt the same will do aswell. The leather just prevents/limites the holes burnt into your sleeves. mostly I use a shop coat. or just a t shirt. unless you welding for an extended time forget the sunscreen. if you are just starting to learn, might want to get the heavier welding gloves, not the thin for tig'ing.

 

[nak18]

I just tried out my welder, and it was pretty cool.

At first i was like WTF. its not working and then I checked everything and didn't know I had to push the trigger to weld.

Once I got started it, I had a little fun.

 

[redsox985]

My usual attire for welding on kart sized projects consists of a mask and the clothes I wore to school. Unless I'm blasting out some welds on >1/4" plate in which case I throw on gloves and a shop coat.

 

[oscaryu1]

Go on eBay and buy a $7 shipped set of welding sleeves.

Harbor Freight welding gloves went from crap to better than name brand (seriously, last year I split a pack of 3 in a month, and now it's been ~4 months and nothing O_O)

 

[nak18]

Go on eBay and buy a $7 shipped set of welding sleeves.

Harbor Freight welding gloves went from crap to better than name brand (seriously, last year I split a pack of 3 in a month, and now it's been ~4 months and nothing O_O)

Will do.

I need to buy a flip helmet first, then gloves/sleeves.

 

[oscaryu1]

Auto darkening all the way. Too bad you missed the labor day sale - $31 autodarkening helmets.

 

[mckutzy]

On a big job or a small space auto is the key. Ill tell I all most threw out my neck bobing my head so many times, then I got a auto helm and like night and day. Even my buddy appreciated the auto helm with him learning how to weld.

 

[redsox985]

I don't even know what a fixed or flip down lens mask costs, but you can get the HF auto mask for $40 with the weekly coupon. SOOOOO worth it. It's incredible.