Welding guys

[skeets]

OK since I do not weld, and was told when I tried to learn that i was,,, unteachable ,, so I am conceding giving it a try any way. So with that in mind I have some light things that need attention like the ainti scalp wheel bracket on the deck, and a few other things I would like to try. Money and experience are prime issues, here so please nothing about a bigzap 5000 welding parlor just down and dirty, so if I give up or die I aint lost nuttin.
I was reading about the laser welding ,easy and holds will, not good for heavy duty stuff expensive, Mig smaller units good for like stuff, not real easy to learn, still not cheap, stick welders not cheap good for just about anything, hard to learn.
These are things I read , how true I have no idea. SO input from you guys that know how to glue stuff together, and I do have 240

 

[Tughill Tom]

Mig is the go to. Practice, Practice..... And Practice some more. You'll get it, go slow.
You can get a basic 120/240 V volt unit and use Flux Core wire for under 1K when on sale.
A good Grinder is a big help as well.

 

[jimh406]

There are lots of videos on YouTube that teach welding.

I agree try a MIG. I have a Miller, but some people say their Harbor Freights and Amazon Migs work fine.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Laser welding in the ads and commercials that you see is for the most part a scam.
They suck you in with fancy trickery.

Yes there are units that can do that kind of welding, but they are expensive.

A mig welder is the easiest to learn, you can get a simple unit fully equipped for around $500.

 

[Workerbee]

Migs the easiest, but a stick welder can do a lot too, at much less cost. Id bet your local marketplace or craigslist has a few good units. Lots go cheap 1-200$ and lots come with most of what you’ll need. Rods wont break the bank either.

 

[85Hokie]

Believe it or not the Flux Core welder at Harbor Freight is not a bad beginner welder. For under $200 - it will handle 90% of the things you'll ever need, hell it is allllmooost idiot proof. I use it at work on all the things dumbasses break - which seems to be a lot lately.

Are there better welders? O yes - but for the cost, this aint a bad one, get cha a good helmet and gloves too.

 

[GeoHorn]

For a complete amatuer…the HF unit is likely fine. A really durable Hobart unit is better…but will run $800.

A wire-feed MIG unit…. is almost as simple as a hot-glue-gun. The most common mistake…is holding the gun too close, too far, ..and running the heat too cold.… all of which are easy to learn for projects like you just mentioned.

(Especially with the advent and now-common,self-dimming cheap visor-helmets.)

DO IT! (You’ll wonder why you waited so long.)

PS: KEEP FIRE EXTINGJISHERS AND/OR WATER HOSE NEARBY…. you WILL set the grass on-fire!

Also…KEEP PETS and Children away. Pets have no concept and will be blinded if you allow them to watch.

Get and USE proper welding clothing.

WEAR long-sleeve welding jackets. Your forearms WILL become cancerous if you expose the skin to what amounts to direct-sun.
Avoid clothes and shoes you value. You WILL drop a spark inside your shoes.
And you WILL forget…and grab a piece of work you just-finished…..with your bare hands and burn the sheet out of yourself.

And welding overhead will make you a believer in a cotton cap with a bill….which you wear over your EAR…. to keep sparks from dropping inside the ear-canal.
BTDAT

(A = ALL)

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Mig is the go to. Practice, Practice..... And Practice some more. You'll get it, go slow.
You can get a basic 120/240 V volt unit and use Flux Core wire for under 1K when on sale.
A good Grinder is a big help as well.

I recommend a Yeswelder MIG205, Arccaptain MIG 200, Primeweld, . . . 110/220v multi-process rig capable of MIG, flux, stick, even scratch TIG supposedly. Available for around $500. Or Harbor Freight Titanium equivalent for about $1000, if you feel more comfortable with a store front.

And, yes, a good grinder with good grinding disks. Grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't.

 

[AndyM]

"Grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't."

I like that.