Help on buying a welder

[iwannagofast]

Whats the advantages and disadvantages of flux core vs. shielded gas.

Is gas-less mig or shielded gas the way to go?

Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Hoofhearted]

It all depends on what you want to do. Flux core can be used anywhere. Gas is diffucult to use in windy conditons. Gas produces a much nicer looking welds. Flux cored tends to produce spatter.

 

[Basement rat]

Welders... For beginners, this is what I suggest.

Mig- Its cheep, easy and versatile. You can get gas/ flux and flux only. Buy a gas/ flux so you can ether or. The gas scheilds the weld while its welding to keep contamination from the air out. It helps for a cleaner and stronger weld. Flux core mig welding will do the trick if your in a bind, but its dirty as hell (soot, smoke, slag)

Buy a 120V welder. A conventional household outlet. You can use it anywhere and not need a 25' extension cord to go from your dryer, out your basement window to beside your house if you want to weld like you do with a 220V.

You will also need some "mig pliers" or a set of needle nose pliers and side cutters and a helmet. If you can swing it, go for auto darkening. If you cant... For many years men have welded and never had such a thing so don't worry too much. A wire brush to clean the metal before you weld and some decent leather gloves.

PS, Fire extinguisher aint a bad idea ether.

 

[iwannagofast]

I know how to use a welder, I can weld pretty well if I do say so myself , I just haven't ever had to buy one and since I'm in the process of building/equipping my dream garage I now have the choice of never having to haul my projects that I need welded to my friends garage.

Now for brand, it's down to Hobart or Thermadyne?

 

[Midcoastcustoms]

Whats the advantages and disadvantages of flux core vs. shielded gas.

Is gas-less mig or shielded gas the way to go?

Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Goto some of the local welding supply stores and tell them what you are intending to use the welder for. This is what they do and should have plenty of knowledgeable staff. You can search the internet for reviews and suggestions but this is no replacement for talking to someone is person. Personally I have had a lincoln electric mig for years and it does exactly what I need it to. Is there better machines out there...sure there is but i rather be a good welder with cheap machine than the guy with the really expensive welder who sucks at using it.

 

[boomshakalaka]

if you can afford a gas shielded setup and you're going to be welding indoors, get it. The only advantages that flux has is that you ca weld in windy conditions and you can get started for less investment. Neither of these things seem like issues for you.

 

[4eyes]

The CO2/Argon mix gives better looking welds than just CO2 also.

 

[mothgils]

Welders... For beginners, this is what I suggest.

Mig- Its cheep, easy and versatile. You can get gas/ flux and flux only. Buy a gas/ flux so you can ether or. The gas scheilds the weld while its welding to keep contamination from the air out. It helps for a cleaner and stronger weld. Flux core mig welding will do the trick if your in a bind, but its dirty as hell (soot, smoke, slag)

Buy a 120V welder. A conventional household outlet. You can use it anywhere and not need a 25' extension cord to go from your dryer, out your basement window to beside your house if you want to weld like you do with a 220V.

You will also need some "mig pliers" or a set of needle nose pliers and side cutters and a helmet. If you can swing it, go for auto darkening. If you cant... For many years men have welded and never had such a thing so don't worry too much. A wire brush to clean the metal before you weld and some decent leather gloves.

PS, Fire extinguisher aint a bad idea ether.

I personally would not suggest an auto-darkening welding hood. If the batteries run out and you don't know it, you soon will. I prefer a set tint lens. My hood was about $40 or so and is great. The auto lenses can be quite costly.

 

[chrisf]

If you run a search, I've discussed this ad nausium. In summary: i wouldn't even bother with flux core unless you're building a bridge or repairing farm equipment.

I always use an auto darkening mask. Mine has 5 sensors (Miller brand) and has never given me any trouble--even when contorted during TIG welding.

--Chris

 

[Aetsh]

My opinion is get the cheapest Lincon, or Miller. Mig

 

[Basement rat]

Every auto tint hood I've used is solar powered. Before you use it, stick it under a light for a min then your good to go.

 

[Kanticoy]

Every auto tint hood I've used is solar powered. Before you use it, stick it under a light for a min then your good to go.

+1, and Flux core is garbage as far as looks. You have to do a LOT of cleaning when it's done.

 

[Ethanol]

I got this one.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=lincoln+weld+pack&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=10714433059870316576&ei=_l-rTI26N8T3nAfsseXVBg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAA#

I like it and you can do flux core or shielded gas. Works pretty well. Also you can get it at home depot for $450 if you wait for a sale.

 

[Basement rat]

The slick thing about a welder like that is you can use gas if you want, and if you run out, need to weld something now and cant get gas on a holiday/ long weekend you can get by with a little grinding off of crap after.

Now, I havent looked in to it much for a long time at that I think you can get a Tig adapter for an Arc welder and even an aluminum gun for it too.

Like said above, go talk to some dealers. They will be happy to show and tell you whats what.

 

[Ethanol]

The slick thing about a welder like that is you can use gas if you want, and if you run out, need to weld something now and cant get gas on a holiday/ long weekend you can get by with a little grinding off of crap after.

Exactly why I got it! At the time I had never used gas but I thought I'd like the option. Now I'm sooooo glad I did. Cost like an extra $100.

 

[teazer]

I have an Oxy set and that's really useful to tack things up. I'm no great shakes at welding but would like to try TIG. IS it possible to get a 110v TIG set that's any good, or do I have to wire up a 220v outlet to use TIG.

I should probably sign up at the local college to learn how to weld too.

 

[Basement rat]

Also useful. You can braze, cut, weld and heat bolts and bushings for ease of removal.

Ive been thinking about getting a small kit myself.

 

[boomshakalaka]

ya, I really wanna get a oxy acet setup myself. You really can do everything with it that you can with a tig setup from what I understand. The weld quality might not be quite as good, but before tig, thats how people made gas tanks, repaired sheet metal, built exhaust systems, etc.

 

[Basement rat]

They work almost the same in theorie. With the tig you can get in to smaller places and the torch is easier to hold. heat up the metal, make a little puddle, add filler and move on.

 

[chrisf]

110v TIGs are shit. That said, newer inverter types like mine can run on 110v, but I've never bothered. There is a huge difference between TIG and ox-ace. Like the difference between an ox-pulled buggy and a lotus Elise.

--Chris