Welding.
 

Speaking of old time repair businesses... welding is always an important skill.

I'm hoping to find the time to buy a welder this week, as a useful toy. Anyone want to recommend what kind I should be after if I'm just starting out, and am doing small jobs (weld a muffler together, etc.) I want something of around 15 amps (so I can move it from place to place) that is fairly easy to use and doesn't require a lot of extras (gases, etc.)

Re: Welding.
 

ALWAYS good to have welding in your bag of tricks. I have the 'old school' torch. One of these days, maybe a mig.

BUT, here is a thread addressing your question specifically. Even some insight from a professional welder or two. Hope it helps.

http://www.gearztv.com/index.php?con...d=topic_132358

Re: Welding.
 

I'd recommend this:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...s/1274051.html

I think that these little welders are the way to go and they don't use so much juice that they are completely out of the question post-SHTF either. I would either buy one of those or a big boy that has a generator as well.

Re: Welding.
 

Those Lincoln units are nice. Going to grab something similar one of these days.

Re: Welding.
 

If you are talking STRICTLY post SHTF, then you should be looking at a welder with a genny already built in. Preferably diesel. That way you can 'factor in' the cost of the fuel (especially if availability is an issue).

I don't think you could run a mig or tig welder on a regular house hold genset for long. Which would mean small, short duration jobs. NOT for the big stuff and definately not for post SHTF business purposes.

IF you are talking a regular every day society, having these skill can come in handy for a lot of different reasons. Having both a torch AND either a mig (my choice) or a tig welder is ideal.

Lincoln seems to be the brand spoken of most often when talking a quality welder. There are LOTS of other welders out there as well.

Re: Welding.
 

Hey-

I've got one of those little toy Lincoln 110s, uses 110v, wire feed, no gas, uses fluz core wire ect. It's really tits for thin stuff up to maybe 3/8. Takes a little practice to learn to adjust amps to wire speed but I find that for small jobs I really like it over stick types. Doesn't work for aluminum though.

I have run it with a 3500watt generator with no problems, but don't know how small a generator will work.

As you might guess, the first thing to look at is what is the primary use going to be, because you can load yourself to the eyeballs with expensive and space-hungry bells and whistles.

Hope I helped.

Volzka

Re: Welding.
 

It looks as if the wire-feed welders I see available work with the flux core wire and the plain old wire. Is this correct? I had thought a mig and a flux core were two different machines.

The little Lincoln looks like what my mechanic used to use for everything, and what inspired me to get one of these things. I'm not out to spend too much on my first welder, I'd just like to be able to weld small jobs.

Re: Welding.
 

For a first welder, I'd get something along the lines of what Volzka said.....a small Mig unit ( wire welder ) that uses flux cored wire. It will do fine for the occassional job.

Lincoln makes several smaller, cheap, 120v ones....they don't have a big service factor, meaning you have to stop and wait on the unit if doing a bunch of welding or it will trip your breaker regular.....but they do fine to get started welding.

If you decide to get a better unit, I like the Miller stuff better than Lincoln. I looked at both when I got my Mig unit, and the Miller had more features for the money.

I also have an engine driven stick welder....a Miller Bobcat unit, which doubles as an 8k generator as well.

And of course, a set of brazing/cutting torches with oxy-acetelene tanks.

My next purchase will be a plasma cutter.......and I was REALLY trying to stay out of the metal working business.....ahahahaaaa

Re: Welding.
 

Mig units can go either way......the better units with that use shielding gas let you weld better, and more varied materials.....for example, you can weld aluminum with the correct gas.

But unless you plan to use the welder a LOT, the flux covered wire units are fine.

Re: Welding.
 

Hey TnAndy-

You go buy a plasma cutter and I'm gonna hafta hunt you down and kill you for it.:yes:

I don't get to dream for stuff like that. Thanks for filling in the blanks Andy.

Wire feed welders without gas must use flux-cored wire as that's what sanitizes the weld.

Later

Volzka

Re: Welding.
 

I honestly can't stand Lincoln welders. I mean, they work. But I find Miller machines a little friendlier to use. Especially if you are first starting out with welding. I'd also recommend using a shielding gas rather than flux core wire. There is just way too much splatter. Yeah, it can be practical at times, but I prefere a neater weld.

I'd suggest signing up for a basic welding class at a community college or something and get some one on one time with different machines and welding methods before dropping any amount of money on a machine and just thinking that you can make it suit your needs.

Re: Welding.
 

I'd suggest signing up for a basic welding class at a community college or something and get some one on one time with different machines and welding methods before dropping any amount of money on a machine and just thinking that you can make it suit your needs.

Yep.....that's exactly what I did....the course was something like 30 bucks, and I gurantee I burned WAY more rods and wire and gas in 8 weeks than that.

Re: Welding.
 

The most common duity cycle is 6/10. 6 minutes of welding time and 4 minutes cooling time. I've never seen a welding machine with a 100% cycle. I've never really had a problem overloading any welder. I always check my welds and reposition myself anyway. This usually allows for ample cooling time for the machine.

I run one of these at my shop. This thing is handy. My boss lets me use it for "side Projects" now and then :smile: . I have made some pretty wild stuff with it.

Re: Welding.
 

Yeah, that's SWEET........wasn't thinking anything like that !

Re: Welding.
 

Oxy-Acetylene - very versatile - equipment with attachments capable of welding, brazing, soldering, cutting and general application of heat, if you know what you're doing! - I like the Victor brand, old equipment is durable and can be repaired if you have to, but be wary of their new regulators - Hecto in Mexico - of six I bought for the school this past summer, three were defective out of the box.

MIG - Be sure your machine will run with flux core wire, this way you won't be up the creek if you can't get mig mix, CO2 or argon. I use a Hobart Handler for quick and dirty light repair almost weekly. Be sure to keep a spare Teflon wire guide liner, tips and at least one nozzle. When the guide becomes worn, bird nest malfunctions are common. I also use a huge Lincoln Mig welder, but the Handler works just fine for home-type repair work.

TIG - For aluminum and stainless (at least better than I can do with oxy-acetylene and flux!). I taught myself using an old Miller machine. I'm told the newer machines have a square wave output that makes the process easier to learn.

SMAW (stick) - I use a Lincoln welder capable of about 250 Amps (I can't remember exactly how much) that will run DC+/- and AC. I think being able to run 1/8-3/16-inch 6010 or 7018 electrodes for moderately heavy repair will get most heavier jobs done in steel.
Take care - I hope this helps,
Mod1

Re: Welding.
 

I used to have a battery powered stick welder ran of 2 12 volt batteries in
series it worked great for small jobs or possibly post shtf it was very simple
also seemed like just a trigger (high current switch) and some sort of coil built into the handle which seemed to be a electro magnet possibly solenoid
which "pulsed" to produce a good weld.later the solenoid stopped working
but i was still able to weld without it.have often thought that i would be able to weld with just batteries and cables has any one done it?

it uses up batteries very quickly.

I now use a cheap wire feed welder for most jobs (and a lot of them)

Re: Welding.
 

That battery welder sounds pretty cool - do you have a brand name? I've never tried welding with batteries and cables directly. I'm on my second scotch on the rocks and I probably should keep out of the garage! I do think I remember seeing a brochure for an automobile powered inverter or power supply capable of welding. I'll look into it - tomorrow.
Take care,
Mod1

Re: Welding.
 

I've always thought welding was an excellent survival skill. Back in the mid-80s I signed up for a class at a community college. About 5 days before the first class, the SOBs called me and said they were returning my tuition and dropping me off the roster because "more boys had signed up for the class and they had to make room for them." Unfortunately, they were the only school around teaching it. That's one thing I truly hated about the 70s and 80s. I'd gotten booted out of a HAM radio class for the same reason a few years before that.

Re: Welding.
 

Hey-

I started out with an old Lincoln buz-box and a 5-gallon bucket of old rod I bought at an auction for $20. Man, do I kick myself in the butt for using cast Iron rod for cutting cuz its almost 5 bucks a pound now.

The first dozen or so jobs were cut using the welder at high amps for cutting. Then I went to heaven and actually bought a torch.

Sure, school is cool and better refined by experience.

Volzka

Re: Welding.
 

Maddie,
Very sorry to hear of your experience. Were not both of these episodes considered discrimination based on gender? Still illegal even if in the mid-80's I think. In your shoes I would have asked a lot of questions. Anyway, it's never too late. As others have posted, visit a local community college now. Mig welding is easy to learn - you'll gain lots of experience inexpensively. If I did, anyone can.
Take care,
Mod1 :yippee:

Re: Welding.
 

:bear_thumb: Miller ? Lincoln ?

I must be the only one here who owns Hobart....

Not too wild about Lincoln,but they build a good unit...the older pure copper transformer type AC/DC stick welders are fairly smooth.The mid range Mig/Tig units are very popular in my area.

Miller I detest...their Migs and Tigs are just not my cup of tea...lot's of reasons.
The Thunderbolt buzz boxes are about the worst stick welders I have ever used...I think I could weld better with a coat hanger and two twelve volt batteries...which is possible BTW...just got to have a steady hand.

Miller now owns Hobart so there goes the neighborhood...
Sad...Hobart is now just a name with Miller guts...I'll pass.

I use Airco Migs for the heavy duty jobs...they will cost you the farm,but you get what you pay for.
I have owned a small 110V Daytona Mig for over 15 years and it has never failed...longer duty cycle than the Lincolns...Andy knows what he's talking about...duty cycle is where they nail you on the cheaper Migs.

Get you a small core/gas 110V Mig and a self darkening helmet.
Round up a pile of scrap and get down to work....the wire feed/amps settings are touchy on all Migs...you will get the hang of it....everyone has a different preference.

No Welder Wars...I have been welding for over 35 years...I just happen to like Hobart because they run so smooth and turn out high quality work.

Each to their own....


:bear_thumb: :bear_thumb: :bear_thumb: :bear_thumb: