welders?

[JOSH]

Does anyone out there that welds know of a cheap welder that would be good for me to learn how to weld on? And is anyone able to give me some pointers on how to weld? I'm interested in learning so that i can make some of my own things cheaply (bull bars skidplates ect...)

[snorkleman]

You could get a little 110 mig welder with flux wire and learn on that. It welds only smaller gauge stuff but its easy to learn on and no gas required. I have one for around the house welding. For instruction on welding tips, some hardware stores carry books on welding. I found one at Tractor Supply Company. You might be able to get one online. If you want to weld thicker metal for sliders and such you are going to need a larger more expensive welder. You might be able to find one used. It will most likely be a 220volt mig or some other.

[DeadlyPeace]

Mig welder would be the best thing to use. I prefer the gas/220 volts over the non gas ones. They are a lot more expensive, but nicer to use.
Just my two copper coins.

Also as Snorkle said a little 110 volt would be go to start with and are good for around the house so it not like thorwing you're money away knowing you're going to replace it after you learn, cuz there's other thing you can always use it for. Espiecally good if you decide to get into doing body work.

[fourwd1]

Actually a MIG (gas) welder is actually easier to learn with than flux core wire, at least it was for me.
Once you learn you are bound to do more and bigger stuff, at which point a little 110V unit won't cut it. If your'e at all serious it really is better to start off with a good unit that will handle a wide range of use, i.e. a 220V unit. I got a Hobart 175 and love it.

[JOSH]

Thanks for the info guys. About how much do those 220v's run?

[DeadlyPeace]

A decent mig welder will run you about $300 to $600 like the Hobart 175 which happens to be the same one my friend has and is a very nice welder (actually is a 230 volt?). Small world. Or you can get up into ones like the Millermatic 300 which fried the little brain cell to my wallet - $2400 (and the prices go up from there too). But this thing welds anything and handles up to a 1/2 inch stock. I've only had it now for 3 months and haven't needed 1/2 inch stock yet, or know if I ever will. But I have use up to 3/8 inch stock. The smaller one only use up to a 1/4 inch stock which is plenty good enough for working on your rig.

[fourwd1]

[quote author=DEADLYPEACE link=board=non4x4&thread=1067814795&start=5#0 date=1068140859......But this thing welds anything and handles up to a 1/2 inch wire. I've only had it now for 3 months and haven't needed 1/2 inch wire yet, or know if I ever will. But I have use up to 3/8 inch wire. The smaller one only use up to a 1/4 inch wire which is plenty good enough for working on your rig.[/quote]

Don't you mean the 300 will weld up to 1/2" stock on a single pass, the 175 3/8" stock, etc. ??

I use .035" wire for thicker stuff and .024" wire for thinner stuff.

Oh yeah, you post some good info, but that RED lettering you use is really hard to read against the black background.

[JOSH]

Thanks guys, i think i am gonna start looking into getting a hobart 175, i think it should suit me nicely.
Would you recomend getting a new one or should i look around for a used one?

[DeadlyPeace]

If you got the cash to get a new one then that's always the best way to go. That you know what the history is on it and and if it stops working sometime in the next couple years it's got a warranty.

[DeadlyPeace]

Fourwd....uuummm yeah......stock! sorry about the confusion in my head. I've been working on wiring diagrams for the last week and a half for a friend of mine and they're driving me bannanas.

1/2" wire....damn!.....that would be some serious welding; and I don't think no stinking welding helmet is going to keep you from going blind!!!!!

Thanks for noticing that.

BTW is this easier to read? (sorry about that too and thanks for the comment)

[fourwd1]

Josh - I wouldn't worry too much about getting a used one unless it was from a welding shop where it sees a lot of use and may be worn out. A private party may be upgrading or just not need it anymore..

Deadly - The yellow is much easier to read

[86taco]

the little hobart should do you just fine for rig work and other projects. If you run .030 wire it will weld hotter that .035. If you multiple pass weld with the little welder you can weld together thicker metal than what the guidelines say. You can weld thinner to, depends on the skills of the welder. I am a professional welder/fabricator and use a Miller 452 with .035 and .045 wire. When I run .035 I run it wide open ad it is still not fast enough. I weld on 1" regularly. I scored a Miller 130 wire welder from work for 40.00$ heck of a deal. I have layed 1/2" wide verticle ups on my rig no problem with the flux core wire. the cooling fan motor is noisy though thats only 30.00$. Welding with gas is so much better thatn flux core wire. flux core wire is just like stick welding.We have a Hobart 130 at work and we have had nothing but problems with it. Maybe it was just a bad egg from the factory. we have a Miller 172 It seems to run nice. New is definetily the way to go depending on the green.