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Anything welding

Discussion in 'Garage / Workshop' started by EL TACOROJO, Sep 17, 2010.

  1. Aug 16, 2021 at 6:08 AM
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Kirk
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    Before you go shopping, ask yourself what type of welding will be most useful for you?

    Once answered I'll offer my opinion if I can.
     
    Canadian Joe likes this.
  2. Aug 16, 2021 at 6:31 PM
    RustyGreen

    RustyGreen A breaker point guy in a Bluetooth world

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    The cheapest way to learn is a Craigslist/Marketplace Lincoln AC-225 stick welder, with a little searching you can usually find one in the $100-200 range. The AC-225 has been in production for over 50 years, ask around as a friend or family member probably has one sitting in the corner of the garage gathering dust.

    There isn't much inside one, a big honking transformer, 2 switches and a fan so they never seem to wear out. Buy a nice helmet and gloves, some 6011 1/8" rod and scare up some scrap metal and start practicing. Buying a book or watching some videos will help.

    Note: You will need a 220 volt 50 amp circuit for the welder.

    Mig welding is much easier to learn but the up front cost will be higher. If you learn to stick weld and enjoy welding you can buy a mig later.
     
    Canadian Joe and wiggler[QUOTED] like this.
  3. Aug 17, 2021 at 4:12 AM
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Reserected from the dead.
    The only thing I learned by starting out on stick welding...?

    ...after MIG welding, I knew I was never gonna stick weld again.
     
  4. Aug 17, 2021 at 5:06 AM
    RustyGreen

    RustyGreen A breaker point guy in a Bluetooth world

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    :rofl::rofl:
     
    koditten[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Aug 17, 2021 at 3:38 PM
    Wyckedan

    Wyckedan Well-Known Member

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    1 fully operational Death Star
    New cool toy arrived today

    20210817_152947.jpg
     
  6. Aug 17, 2021 at 6:54 PM
    cynicalrider

    cynicalrider #NFG

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    Accurate for me too. My buddies and I want to run some rods for fun to see who's come out better but for the work I do, stick has no place for me.
     
  7. Aug 17, 2021 at 7:50 PM
    glorifiedwelder

    glorifiedwelder IG= @Liquid_Torch

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    jason
    Santa Clarita, ca
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    I’ve been waiting almost 2 years for these hoods to be available stateside. Mine finally arrived today. Look forward to testing it out in the morning.


    0B23E9E7-9324-4DC1-8682-5A8507BFA655.jpg

    BB6F76A5-25AD-4EDD-9593-D2CB432F7300.jpg

    19FCC6D3-37D4-41FC-8AED-46D9CBAC64F8.jpg
     
  8. Aug 17, 2021 at 7:55 PM
    Tacman19

    Tacman19 Well-Known Member

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    As many as I can fabricate
    I would agree to that too but then I found this dude on Youtube. He makes it look fun.
    Zim
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7pS6fN7dQuDmuLG28P5ZSA
     
    RustyGreen likes this.
  9. Aug 17, 2021 at 8:31 PM
    Gen1FTMFW

    Gen1FTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Took a full year of welding classes with the intention of getting a certification, with the first semester focused on brazing/oxy/stick. I'm with the others, never will stick again unless I have to.

    Having said that, pick up a cheap MIG (sub $1k machine) and don't look back. Realistically, stick/MIG are two different beasts. Start with MIG and don't worry about stick/TIG until you get comfortable.
     
  10. Aug 17, 2021 at 9:38 PM
    wiggler

    wiggler Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for all the input, will be doing my research based off of this.
     
  11. Aug 17, 2021 at 10:06 PM
    aviorperformance

    aviorperformance Well-Known Member

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    I didn’t know this thread existed. Here’s my welding machine line up. Boys and their toys.

    Diversion 180
    Syncrowave 210
    Dynasty 200
    Multimatic 215

    CF4EDD78-A8AF-4C80-AC4C-602D5EA21E11.jpg

    Most of my work is TIG.
     
  12. Aug 17, 2021 at 10:08 PM
    Gen1FTMFW

    Gen1FTMFW Well-Known Member

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    :drool::drool::drool:
     
  13. Aug 17, 2021 at 10:17 PM
    aviorperformance

    aviorperformance Well-Known Member

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    I had a Millermatic 140 for years and that little box never let me down. We put it thru a lot every single day. Later I sold it for a couple hundred under what I bought it for new. Miller isn’t the cheapest but they do last and hold value on the resale.

    We upgraded to a big 220v mig after that one which I also later sold. Now most machines are inverter type and much lighter to move around.

    At 1 point we needed a 110v mig for a on site random job. I went to harbor freight to buy one of theirs to just get the job over with. I will say the machine welded REALLY good. I think I paid like $400? The downside is the components were horrible. The ground clamp messed up very quickly. The mig gun felt very cheap and a connecting point on the machine was breaking, all with minimal use. I sold it for $200 and got a portable size Miller.
     
  14. Aug 17, 2021 at 11:16 PM
    TacoTuesday1

    TacoTuesday1 Well-Known Member

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    I went with HFT MigMax 215.
    Why?
    -good reviews
    -couple people here who have it are happy with it
    -they sell somewhat compatible other products like cart, helmet, etc.
    -upgrade later? If well-kept, you can sell it
    -bought the 2yr warranty for less worry about it
    -had a sale + join ITC club for other sale prices
    -inverter technology so it's half the weight of Hobart MVP210
    -comes with stuff
    -seems strong enough for applications you may run into with Tacoma
    -supposedly as good as other welders, fraction of the price
    -dual voltage, high and low, supposedly flux, MIG, and TIG capable
    -will not beat on it daily
    -available in stock same day for pickup. Minus the skinny staff sure he had to "help" by damn near dropping the thing and I had to stop him. Probably not a great idea to drop an expensive tool with electrical components inside
    -I heard I will have to upgrade the gun on it after some use, so there's pros and cons
    -might have come with a regulator included, not sure

    I did not see anything that looked good on the used market
    people with good welders usually keep them.

    I mean what's the other one. Miller? Probably $2k+.
    I can see why that might be useful if your dayjob is part fabrication
     
  15. Aug 18, 2021 at 6:49 AM
    Tacman19

    Tacman19 Well-Known Member

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    As many as I can fabricate
    Holy weld shop. Your electric bill tho....LMAO
    Nice collection.
    Zim
     
  16. Aug 18, 2021 at 6:53 AM
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    This picture had been blowing my mind.

    Trying to figure out why there is an adjustable tensioner pipe between the 2 idlers.

    I just figured it out that I'm actually seeing the drill press stand in the back ground.
     
  17. Aug 18, 2021 at 6:57 AM
    Tacman19

    Tacman19 Well-Known Member

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    As many as I can fabricate
    Is that 24 grit? Damn!
    Zim
     
    Pyrotech[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Aug 18, 2021 at 7:00 AM
    Tacman19

    Tacman19 Well-Known Member

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    As many as I can fabricate
    That's nice, really nice.
    Zim
     
  19. Aug 18, 2021 at 7:04 AM
    JoeyWales

    JoeyWales Well-Known Member

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    Hopefully the head band is more comfortable than the 9100 series
     
  20. Aug 18, 2021 at 7:22 AM
    Gen1FTMFW

    Gen1FTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Haha. Same here. I also didn't see the motor the first time it was posted and was wondering what the hell was gonna turn the belt. After your comment I looked a bit harder and found it...
     
    Pyrotech likes this.

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