Dipping toes in the world of Welding

[BAP]

Before spending money on a machine, find a way to try your hand at welding. Whether it be a neighbor that lets you try or taking a class at a community college or a Vo-tech center. You might find that you like stick better than mig or vise versa. You might find you hate doing it. That way, you have saved money by not buying the wrong equipment.

 

[chim]

My Father-in-law had a primitive shop with an old Lincoln tombstone welder he never used. I used it to build snow plow and winch mounting steel in the early 70's. Fiddled around there and built a small utility trailer in 1990 that I refurbed last year.

Somewhere in the 90's I bought a Millermatic 175 MIG/Fluxcore machine. Love it but if I had a do-over would definitely get a dual voltage unit. Glued a lot of stuff together using both processes. Used it to build a tractor cab and various tool fab and repair. It's able to run with gas and solid wire or fluxcore wire and no gas.

Couple of years ago the stick weld bug bit and that resulted in buying an Everlast Powerarc 200STi. That's a dual voltage inverter machine that I've been using on various little projects. It's been very handy, especially in combination with my tow-behind generator (repurposed light tower) that makes it a go-anywhere deal.

Then there's the huge number of miscellaneous supporting characters like clamps, saws, grinders, plasma cutter and PPE that you'll find yourself needing (or wanting).

 

[trikepilot]

Once Upon a Time......

There was a stubborn/block-headed guy that had more money than sense, and he decided to he was going to learn to TIG weld, come "Hell or high water".

Well this knucklehead got on the Inter-web, and after becoming an "Armchair welding expert" promptly spent 2500 bucks on a new welder, helmet, and all the supplies and such.

Well after about 4 weeks of the most frustrating series's of "epic welding failures" ever recorded in human history, he decided to sign up for a "TIG welding 101" class at the local community college.

Turns out that it was the best 239 dollars/14 weeks he ever spent.

That instructor straightened him out, in "no time flat".

The End.

Agreed. I did the same. About 4 years ago I wanted to weld. I bought a good Hobart starter rig on CL for $300 - machine, cart, tank, and misc supplies. I looked at lots of you tube vids and was muddling through it all but doing the 2steps fwd and 3 back dance. I then to a 8 week class (3hrs a night x 2 nights a week) at the local votec school and the instructor along with the miles and miles of beads I laid straightened me out fast. I am now decent - not great. My welds are solid even if they are not the prettiest. I shoulda gotten into welding decades ago. It is so useful around the property.

 

[D2Cat]

I went to the local HS class offered at night before I bought any welding equipment. Back then everything I owned broke on the weekends because that's when I used it. Always had to find someone to glue it back together. One of the most beneficial things I ever did. It has paid big dividends over the years, but also provides freedom and great satisfaction in the projects that I've accomplished.

I always remember what a coach would preach. Practice makes perfect is not necessarily true. Perfect practice makes perfect. You practice doing something wrong, you get real good at doing it wrong!

 

[bbxlr8]

So I did the same a number of years back and started in the shallow end of the pool. Videos, reading are great (I particularly like weld.com's youtube channel), but nothing beats doing.

Being home/hobby only, I settled on https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-elite-mp200i-multi-process-welder-mig-tig-stick.html and quickly decided to put in 240 outlet. Started with flux core/ stick & plan on adding gas . Supposedly, machine overachieves vs price point for arc/mig but marginal for tig & I will never go there. It is also said to be easier for a novice to set up for a variety of materials & more consistently get decent results. I am very happy with it in this regard, but have still blown through thinner gauge sheet.

My initial need was a bunch of misc repairs on my 1210 60" deck and it was very satisfying to be able to do so. Turned out great with judicious grinding & paint and the few uglies are still solid on the bottom after a few seasons.

 

[HappyTopster]

Once Upon a Time......

There was a stubborn/block-headed guy that had more money than sense, and he decided to he was going to learn to TIG weld, come "Hell or high water".

Well this knucklehead got on the Inter-web, and after becoming an "Armchair welding expert" promptly spent 2500 bucks on a new welder, helmet, and all the supplies and such.

Well after about 4 weeks of the most frustrating series's of "epic welding failures" ever recorded in human history, he decided to sign up for a "TIG welding 101" class at the local community college.

Turns out that it was the best 239 dollars/14 weeks he ever spent.

That instructor straightened him out, in "no time flat".

The End.

A fairy tale ending!

 

[HappyTopster]

My Father-in-law had a primitive shop with an old Lincoln tombstone welder he never used. I used it to build snow plow and winch mounting steel in the early 70's. Fiddled around there and built a small utility trailer in 1990 that I refurbed last year.

Somewhere in the 90's I bought a Millermatic 175 MIG/Fluxcore machine. Love it but if I had a do-over would definitely get a dual voltage unit. Glued a lot of stuff together using both processes. Used it to build a tractor cab and various tool fab and repair. It's able to run with gas and solid wire or fluxcore wire and no gas.

Couple of years ago the stick weld bug bit and that resulted in buying an Everlast Powerarc 200STi. That's a dual voltage inverter machine that I've been using on various little projects. It's been very handy, especially in combination with my tow-behind generator (repurposed light tower) that makes it a go-anywhere deal.

Then there's the huge number of miscellaneous supporting characters like clamps, saws, grinders, plasma cutter and PPE that you'll find yourself needing (or wanting).

Can I just hire you? I’m gettin

So I did the same a number of years back and started in the shallow end of the pool. Videos, reading are great (I particularly like weld.com's youtube channel), but nothing beats doing.

Being home/hobby only, I settled on https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-elite-mp200i-multi-process-welder-mig-tig-stick.html and quickly decided to put in 240 outlet. Started with flux core/ stick & plan on adding gas . Supposedly, machine overachieves vs price point for arc/mig but marginal for tig & I will never go there. It is also said to be easier for a novice to set up for a variety of materials & more consistently get decent results. I am very happy with it in this regard, but have still blown through thinner gauge sheet.

My initial need was a bunch of misc repairs on my 1210 60" deck and it was very satisfying to be able to do so. Turned out great with judicious grinding & paint and the few uglies are still solid on the bottom after a few seasons.

So many great stories and a lot of commonality. It’s kind of a right of passage, isn’t it?

 

[McMXi]

@HappyTopster, I went to a government sponsored welding school and spent a lot of years working as a welder in the diving, construction and fabrication industries and have never really stopped welding long after I changed careers. If I were to sum up welding in one phrase that applies to all welding processes, it's that successful welding is all about controlling the size, volume and location of the welding puddle regardless of the welding position. There are a number of variables that affect those three goals, but as you embark on your welding journey keep that in mind. Mastering the puddle is where it's at.

Everyone starting out will find MIG easier than stick because one of the big variables i.e. the distance of your hand from the work is virtually constant with MIG. A MIG machine is a good place to start. I've had a Millermatic 185 for decades (wire feed including solid wire, flux-core, dual shield, stainless and aluminum) and a few years ago bought a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200 which I use for TIG and stick. I've had a Hypertherm 380 plasma cutter for decades too.

 

[Apogee]

One other tidbit that I'll share. You might consider buying a decent acetylene setup first and start by learning to gas weld. The reason behind this is it will teach you how the metal flows, what it's like during different heating stages etc. LEARN! Once you can weld 16 gauge sheet metal WITHOUT USING ROD, then move to electric welding. You will find your welds are far better out of the gate because you're already familiar with the process. You will also find you can tig weld from the get go.

The reason for no rod on sheet metal is if you can master not melting through, then you will have a very good feel for puddle control, what it looks like, and what it's going to do when vertical, etc. It takes practice!

Then, once you've mastered it, you will still have a setup that is super handy for removing rusted fasteners, brazing, etc.

Food for thought.

Steve

 

[Apogee]

McMXi were typing at the same time. We're both basically saying the same thing in different ways. He's more eloquent than I.

 

[MAArcher]

My two cents, make a list of projects. You might find out that a lot of them, especially if you're fabricating things, you might find best suited with aluminum. If so, that's a big factor in what welder you get. Facebook Marketplace is a good place to get used welders.

I got a common beginner/cheap welder, Hobart Handler 140. Its not strong enough to do heavy welding and it can't take a spool gun, so no aluminum. Which makes it pretty useless for the things I want to do. So make a list of projects and make sure the machine you buy is capable of doing them.

 

[BT3101]

Taking a course is definitely a good idea.

I've done all types of welding for 40 years as an amateur. I currently own two machines: Hobart MIG; Primeweld TIG/Arc.

If I was only going to have one machine for hobby use and wanting to weld multiple types of metal, it would be:
MIG180 180-Amp MIG Welder With Spool Gun | PrimeWeld

I've had the Primeweld 60amp plasma cutter 5yrs and 225 amp TIG machine for over 3 years. Solid equipment and excellent 24/7/365 customer service with English as their first language. They give 3yr warrranty on all their stuff and after reading accounts of people making warranty claims (I've had no need) they are extremely generous with replacements.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

If I was only going to have one machine for hobby use and wanting to weld multiple types of metal, it would be:
MIG180 180-Amp MIG Welder With Spool Gun | PrimeWeld

That looks good. I have a yeswelder MIG205, which is similar. It is synergetic, which I haven't found to be real useful. Arccaptain seems to be popular now. In any case, I'd recommend a dual-voltage, multi-function machine for the occasional user.

Then, does OP need, and price include: regulator for MIG/TIG, MIG and TIG torches, stick holder, spool gun.

 

[torch]

The nice part about the gas machines was they were a generator so you could plug-in grinders, drills, work lights etc.

I have an 8500 watt Hobart gas engine welder (AC/DC CC/CV) that does double duty as the backup generator for the house. It's in a dedicated shed next to the shop and I ran suitably sized wiring underground to a generator panel in the house. The nice thing about that is it helps keep the fuel fresh because I don't often have projects that require that particular welder.

Most of my welding projects are 5/16" or thinner material. Easily handled by my little Miller MIG welder. In fact, I usually use the Miller to tack up heavier projects then switch to the big machine when I'm ready to make things permanent.

One observation on the subject of welding aluminium: you need a different gas for aluminium. MIG welding steel generally uses a mixed gas (eg: 20 - 25% CO2 added to Argon). Aluminium wants pure Argon.

Also, aluminium wire is much softer than steel, prone to creating bird's nests in the feed liner. You either need a spool gun (preferred) or at least a plastic (eg: Teflon) liner. Even a Teflon liner can't handle small diameter aluminium wire. Only a spool gun can handle the fine stuff. If you opt for a plastic liner, get a separate gun and dedicate it to alminium -- steel wire will wear out the liner in no time.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Welded professionally for two years, zero reason to invest in expensive equipment
for part time welding jobs around the house.

Buy a 220V Amazon mig/stick welder and use flux core wire (no gas). Buy a good mask
and and get someone that knows how to weld to train you.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I was/am very happy with the performance of these 2 machines, although I don't think the Thermal Arc is being produced any longer. (at least under that name)


Both operate off 220.

I originally/still wanted a Miller Dynasty after using them at the college, but like my grandpa used to say,

"You have 'champagne' ideas, but 'beer' money'.

 

[PHPaul]

All good advice. Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are the usual suspects for the Home Shop welder.

I'll just add one thing: MIG welding can be deceptive. It's relatively easy to lay down a bead that looks great but has about as much strength as a wad of bubblegum. Unless you foresee doing a lot of very light work - sheet metal and such - I'd recommend learning to stick weld first so you get a feel for the heat required to get good penetration and strong welds.

 

[BAP]

Another thing to consider, if you are going to be welding outside or working on old rusty equipment, a stick welder will perform better. MIG welding doesn’t work well in the wind because the wind blows the gas away. For older, rustier equipment, stick welding with 6011 rod works much better. On the farm we had a big old Lincoln stick welder, a Lincoln MIG welder and a Lincoln portable welder/generator. Each had it’s own best use depending upon the needs.

 

[g_man]

10 years ago I was in your place. If I needed something welded I brought it to a small shop with a friendly owner. After doing this and watching him work over and over I decided that I needed/wanted to learn and do it myself. I bought an old working 220VAC 225 AmpAC tombstone and started welding. I did it by trial and error, mostly error at first and watched a lot of youtube. It took a long long time for me to get a handle on things enough to know what I needed to do in each situation w/o experimenting first. Looking back on it - if I could have taken a local course, there were none, it would have been immensely helpful and taken a lot of frustration out of learning. So do that if you can is my advise.

Like BAP said above - Because 90% of the welding I do is outside I get along just fine with a stick welder. I still have the AC tombstone but like my EverLast PowerArc 200ST DC welder much better because it is DC which give a smoother arc and has finer currant control.

gg

 

[HappyTopster]

@HappyTopster, I went to a government sponsored welding school and spent a lot of years working as a welder in the diving, construction and fabrication industries and have never really stopped welding long after I changed careers. If I were to sum up welding in one phrase that applies to all welding processes, it's that successful welding is all about controlling the size, volume and location of the welding puddle regardless of the welding position. There are a number of variables that affect those three goals, but as you embark on your welding journey keep that in mind. Mastering the puddle is where it's at.

Everyone starting out will find MIG easier than stick because one of the big variables i.e. the distance of your hand from the work is virtually constant with MIG. A MIG machine is a good place to start. I've had a Millermatic 185 for decades (wire feed including solid wire, flux-core, dual shield, stainless and aluminum) and a few years ago bought a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200 which I use for TIG and stick. I've had a Hypertherm 380 plasma cutter for decades too.

Thank you! I really appreciate your input.