Which welder for 1/8" thick steel?

[nak18]

Which welder should I choose for 1/16" & 1/8" steel?

Majority of my material will be 1/16" thickness and part of it will be 1/8. This is the tubing I plan to use.
1"x1"x1/16"x72"
1"x1"x1/16"x36"
1"x1"x1/16"x48"
3/4"x3/4"x1/16"x48"


It shouldn't bend, and I plan to use cross beams.

I work as a newspaper seller, so I get commission $30- $55/ day. Sat/Sun. This is why my choice is low.

I narrowed my choice to:

Northern Industrial Arc 200 230 Volt, 200 Amp Arc Welder
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381950_200381950


Reconditioned Northern Industrial 125 Flux Core Welder

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200441249_200441249

 

[redsox985]

Either of those welders will do 1/8", but the flux core wire feed welder will be easier to learn if you have never welded before (I get this feeling from your original question). Also, please, do NOT buy that metal. It's roughly $6 per foot. My local supplier sells it for $4 per foot. It doesn't sound like much until you realize that you need probably 12 feet for just the rectangular frame. Also, 2x2" is very large metal. With some gusseting and support, 1x1" will be fine for an average, homemade, kart. This will save you money and weight, which can be spent elsewhere and can allow you to go faster!

 

[nak18]

Either of those welders will do 1/8", but the flux core wire feed welder will be easier to learn if you have never welded before (I get this feeling from your original question). Also, please, do NOT buy that metal. It's roughly $6 per foot. My local supplier sells it for $4 per foot. It doesn't sound like much until you realize that you need probably 12 feet for just the rectangular frame. Also, 2x2" is very large metal. With some gusseting and support, 1x1" will be fine for an average, homemade, kart. This will save you money and weight, which can be spent elsewhere and can allow you to go faster!

Yeah, I went to homedepot and they have 1x1x36" for $11.
What do you mean that it's $4 per foot?
-From my understanding, the one in the picture is 4ft, so that would be $16 per foot.

How about 1/16?
Will they both weld 1/16 or just the flux-core?

 

[redsox985]

Yeah, I went to homedepot and they have 1x1x36" for $11.
What do you mean that it's $4 per foot?
-From my understanding, the one in the picture is 4ft, so that would be $16 per foot.

How about 1/16?
Will they both weld 1/16 or just the flux-core?

Home Depot, Lowes, etc. all charge too much for metal. My local supplier sells 2x2x.125 for $4 a foot and, through polls on here, they've proven to be right around the average for metal across the US. The eBay one is about $24 for 4' so about $6 a foot.

The arc welder probably wouldn't do well with the 1/16", but the flux may. Smaller with thicker wall = larger with thinner wall. If you go down in size, keep it at .125. If you keep 2x2, 1/16" should do with proper support.

 

[nak18]

Home Depot, Lowes, etc. all charge too much for metal. My local supplier sells 2x2x.125 for $4 a foot and, through polls on here, they've proven to be right around the average for metal across the US. The eBay one is about $24 for 4' so about $6 a foot.

The arc welder probably wouldn't do well with the 1/16", but the flux may. Smaller with thicker wall = larger with thinner wall. If you go down in size, keep it at .125. If you keep 2x2, 1/16" should do with proper support.

Does your supplier have a online website?

So far the closest metal suppliers only sell to companies. So far my only options are online and homedepot/lowes. Homedepot/Lowes are cheaper considering I don't have to pay over $50 in shipping.

 

[redsox985]

There's 2 in my area. One (Glenshaw Steel) is really close, but they don't have a website. The other is http://www.metcosupply.com/. Click PDF catalog, then Metals. Both will sell to individuals from my experience. I just went there and said I was from the local high school, named the teacher who orders a good bit from them, and they sold me steel.

 

[nak18]

There's 2 in my area. One (Glenshaw Steel) is really close, but they don't have a website. The other is http://www.metcosupply.com/. Click PDF catalog, then Metals. Both will sell to individuals from my experience. I just went there and said I was from the local high school, named the teacher who orders a good bit from them, and they sold me steel.

http://www.metcosupply.com/ the java is not working for me, can you post or send me the pdf catalog.

 

[redsox985]

http://www.mediafire.com/?5jyx17omkbzp9s3

 

[nak18]

http://www.mediafire.com/?5jyx17omkbzp9s3

Thanks, I checked the prices. Pretty good deal on steel. I'm probably just going to order from them in around january2012.

Homedepot, is going to have to be my choice for right now to buy my metal, since the total will cost less, and it less than 4-miles away.