So, which Welder would you buy?

[KRS]

If you wanted a stick welder, which would you buy and why... and do you know the approx price?<br /><br />I say "stick" because it's less moving parts to break/adjust and I think it will be more versatile, albeit requiring more skill.<br /><br />It's tax refund time, and my wife gave me a little nod to consider a better welder.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Originally posted by KRS:<br />I say "stick" because it's less moving parts to break/adjust and I think it will be more versatile, albeit requiring more skill.<br /><br />

With todays wire feeds, I wouldnt have a stick welder you know where. <br /><br />I have never had to replace anything major on any wire welder I have ever had. You can weld thin stuff where you cant with a stick welder. Just a 110 with .023 wire is all most people need. A 220 if you have the bucks. Step up to a bigger wire if your going to build a trailer or something. Dont bother with a flux wire welder, and gas it with 75%-25% Argon and CO2, much less spatter. LIncoln make some great little welders.

 

[brother chris]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

This is the one I bought, not too long ago. It seems to work fine. <br /> http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=2493 <br />Although, if I had to do it again, I would have bought one that I could change it into a mig or tig. <br />Now I have to buy another one, in order to weld aluminum, etc...<br />Here's a tip...go to any Home Depot or Lowes and check out their returns area....you might find a good deal.<br /><br />B.C.

 

[KRS]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Good info guys...<br /><br />

Originally posted by Bassin' Fever:<br />With todays wire feeds, I wouldnt have a stick welder you know where. <br /><br />[/QB]

What is the max thickness you can go? What penetration do you get? Which one do you like.<br /><br />****<br /><br />BC, that is the same one I have looked at, that one or the AC/DC version.

 

[fireship1]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

I agree with the others. I have a Lincoln Electric Weld Pak 100 at home (120 volt model) It runs off of a 20 amp outlet so you can plug in anywhere. You can't do major welding with it like structures or load bearing stuff. But you can fab and repair all kinds of things. The small stick welder now sits unused on a shelf for many years. As a plus you can weld with or without shielding gas. You can also weld aluminum or stainless with the proper wire liner and solid wire. I paid $400.00 a while back at Home Creepo. I know that they have come down much in price. If you need to weld thicker stock pick up the Weld Pak 155 (230 volt) It welds thicker material and costs a bit more. Happy welder hunting!

 

[KRS]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Ability to weld the heavier stuff is necessary, so a cheaper flux-wire unit it out of the running, right?<br /><br />For <$400, what is the best welder that you would rely on to place structural welds on your boat trailer?<br /><br />******<br /><br />Harbor freight is selling a Chicago Electric AC/DC 140 amp unit for $99,<br /><br />Input: 230V, 60 HZ, 20 Amps <br />Open circuit voltage 50 VAC, 65 VDC <br />Duty Cycle: 10% @ 130 amps AC; 15% @ 100 amps DC <br />Welding current: 47 to 140 amps AC; 25 to 110 amps DC <br />Thermal overload protection <br /><br /><br />Anyone use one of these?

 

[gatorred]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

mig is an other name for what you want they weld alumin too price from 200 to 1000 all by what it for

 

[heycods]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

I think I have the same wire welder as BF LubeDude<br />up to 1/4 in metal welds fine with it, On the farm on the heavy metals 1/2 to 1' I still go back to my DC rig or my portable gas powered. I agree for most new metal and properly cleaned old metal the wire welder is the only way to go.<br /> I taught half the maint Dept. where I used to work how to run a wire machine. I could teach an Idiot how to weld with one in an Hr. When you think your good with a wire machine teach your wife how to run it. She will show you up, It aint fair but women just have a steadier hand than men.<br /> I have ben around some damx good pipline welders with a verry steady hand, But they had usually been smoking some nerve setteling tobaco.

 

[KRS]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Which welder (by name & model) would that be

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

try and get a convertible that will do stick and wire, some even have a tig attatchment as well.

 

[magster65]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Stick welders are on the way out. Save up the extra money and buy a wire feed. Weld your way into the future <br />A 110v macine will do hobby and most home stuff with the proper prep. If you're going to do heavy stuff you'll need a 220v machine.<br />Not sure about pricing down there... and I'd only buy a brand name unit.

 

[tommays]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Stick welders are not going anywere and are still buy a long shot the strongest WELD.<br /><br />They build stick welding robots for factorys that build things that need to be extra strong.<br /><br />You will never see steam pipe or other types of code work being done with anything but stick !<br /><br />Mig is just a GOOD WAY to do fast work on things that really are not all that heavy duty<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[ndemge]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

When were up in the shed on the project of the day, we use my millermatic 175 mig. Works great for most everything, and can handle pretty heavy stuff.<br /><br />But when my brothers made a fork attachment for 3point hitch, the broke out the 200 amp Lincoln stick welder with a big arse stick and went to town.<br />It wasn't pretty, but it got a lot more penetration than the mig would have gotten.<br /><br />So unless your doing major tractor repair, I'd go with a mig.

 

[qaztwo]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

I like miller have a old thunder bolt and a 175 mig. If you have access to 220volts go with that. Would stay away from no names. Lincoln miller hobart cann't be beat plus if you ever sell can get 90 percent your money back.

 

[magster65]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

Originally posted by tommays:<br /> Stick welders are not going anywere and are still buy a long shot the strongest WELD.<br /><br />They build stick welding robots for factorys that build things that need to be extra strong.<br /><br />You will never see steam pipe or other types of code work being done with anything but stick !<br /><br />Mig is just a GOOD WAY to do fast work on things that really are not all that heavy duty<br /><br /><br />tommays

#1 - Most MIG wire is rated at 70000 psi. That's more than adequate. Tig welding is the best but it's too slow for high production.<br />#2 - All automated equipment is MIG welding or spot welding. <br />#3 - Pressure welding is routinely done with MIG welders. You don't want a harder weld than the base material.<br />#4 - Yep, it's good and fast but I disagree that it's not heavy duty.<br />I've had my C and B tickets since 1983. Your statements were probably more truthful at that time but the industry has come a long way since then. <br />The main reason stick welders are still used is because they're cheap and the shielding gas doesn't blow away if there's a breeze. It's MIG for me.

 

[gatorred]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

try tractor supply store look there try search on line if used,try ebay.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: So, which Welder would you buy?

I have a 220 Hobart Stickmate stick that is mine outright. My dad has an OLD Craftsman crackerbox that mimics the Lincolns of the era exactly. We own together a Hobart Handler 135 mig that is 110. We also have a plasma and oxy-acet rig that is co-owned by both of us. For most of my welding I prefer the mig. I've welded plenty of stuff with the mig that needed to be strong. My tractor forks, the 3 point hay spike, the old race cars roll cage and other parts, my trucks bumpers,etc. If I am going to be welding something like 1/2 plate then I prefer to use my stick welder. If going up real hot then I use my dads stick. It doesn't work very good below 130 because its so old but get up around 180 and it blazes a path. If I was looking to purchase everything and just getting started I would go with a new 110 wire gun and a used older stick unit. I would get a good name product in both. For the wire gun expect arund $400 and another $100 for the bottle. Buy the bottle, don't lease it. A lease will only be good for a year and after about three years you would have paid for it anyhow. You should be able to pick up a good used stick for about $75-$100. If not the Hobart Stickmate is usually $225 at Tractor Supply.