Anything welding

Looking to get into welding!!

Any one have a suggestion for a welder that is easy to use and doesnt break the bank, i am interested in making sliders, bumpers and other stuff for around the house. Going to have to practice like no other but i am excited!

Ive done some reading about welders and was looking into a stick welder but some people say otherwise, any info on what you guys like to use?

 

Don't get a stick welder. Stick is for more structural welding. For the items you want to make get a MIG welder. Its much cleaner and easier to pick up. You should be fine with any of the red, white or blue brands. Even some of the other brands are good to start with if price is a concern.

 

We have athe eastwood 250 mig. Its got like a 60% dury cycle at 250 amps or something like that. Get a little bigger than the biggest thing u think u will weld. Ive only ran about 12 lbw of wire thru mine in about 1.5 years buts its been pretty good. Everything from sheet metal on an old pickup to some pretty heavy farm equiptment and trailers. It was like $900 but you could get like a 175 amp for half that or so. Also u need go know if u have a 220 plug wired go ur work area. Eastwood sent us an adaptor for 220 to 110 and the machine automatically switches over when its pluged in. But there really isn't any need of gettin one too big of u only have 110 plugs and dont plan on pullin some new wire.

 

Thank you guys for the info! Good to hear, going to look into a mug now! Stoked!!!

 

any word on the Lincoln 180 hd mig welder?? this will be a starter for me but i want to get into it

 

Take some classes learn to weld get some experience in the different processes .

My first choice would be a stick welder although one with DC output rather then just AC

They are just so much more versatile if one is limited in budget it is those that can`t use that process that steer people away.

Looking at new the Hobart line is not bad for those starting out

Buying used can be rough if you have no clue just how a given machine works .

 

Thinking about classes. My school offers some and I will end up taking one

 

Just to be clear - I weld using SMAW process. I suggested appropriate process for the items he wants to make.

If your in Orange County, OCC has a really good welding program.

 

Then you only use SMAW for structural your really limiting yourself

If I only could have one welder it would be my choice weld Stainless , Aluminum , Cast Iron , sheet metal and carbon steel

In fact it is still my go to machine for those little jobs

I still have 10 pounds of the 4043 1/8 electrodes

 

Common sense would suggest that you can use SMAW for non structural applications.

Again, my suggestions were based on the items he wanted to make- sliders, bumpers, home repairs
I and most, if not every mfg uses mig welding when deemed appropriate over SMAW.

 

Any fixed lens shields y'all would recommend? Starting my last semester (Pipe) and figured I'd research other options.
Currently i have a fibre metal shield that needs new headgear but it works well otherwise.

 

Hoods are like Bras you got to try them all to find one you like.

If your nodding your head all day .

Good Headgear and as light as possible

Any of the name brand hoods .

Every one has horror stories about every Manufacture it comes down to what you really .

Do you need to ever use it on a hardhat ??

Does it need to be affordable so you can always have a spare or two some people have no respect of other peoples gear.

 

Are there any tips or tricks for stainless steel exhaust pipe with a mig other than changing wire and gas? Hoter or colder than mild? Or anything else's i should watch out for like warpage since it expands more amd how to over come that?

 

Always solid info from this guy: https://youtu.be/_YD4kvEvuTY

 

7018 1" full pen. About 30 ft of it. This is a steel mill repair on a ladle

 

Does any of that transpose to mig welding stainless? I missed about every other word due to ignorance of tig or "tignorance" if u will. I got the clean shiny metal part but this will all be new so polishing should be a minimum for me. What was the argon purge for, would that be required for me in new metal mig application?

 

Derp. I posted that quickly from my cell phone and didn't watch the vid...for some reason I thought the title had 'mig' in there...

 

Purging pipe while tig welding keeps the inside of the weld nice and smooth cooling in the inert gas shielding.

If you were building a 500 horse power engine for racing it might give you a slight advantage for the street not enough to notice.

As to your project the best thing is set up two pieces to set your welder up.

So many things effect the output of the welder

It will need more output then the same size mild steel

 

Just what are you getting into ??

If it is an exhaust system

Speaking from experience they are a Royal Pain.

If I do another on I will weld flanges on and bolt the parts together .

Put it up Tack in place Drop it down unless the bed and cab are off.

You need to be able to see and move to weld without it looking like your first time besides it will leak.

It is hard to tell you how to do this conditions change all the time being able to react to changes is the major difference between 1 week and 30 plus years of welding

Control the heat how ever works best at the time

Do you know what grade Stainless exhaust your welding to get the correct wire??

 

I will be welding v bandge flages to each header, 2 flex pipes somewhere alomg the way and a couple of prebent and straights will get welded in and the a y pipe and another flange. All of that will be 304 ss 16 ga and post turbo.............................. A 4"-3" reducers a couple 90° some straight and a muffler. The post turbo pipe will be 409 ss and i think the wire is 308... Maybe