beginner welder?

[stupidjet]

i know nothing about welding. i want to learn. since i dont know a welder, i'll self teach myself. whats a good beginner welder? one of those $250 craftsman work to learn on?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...rtical=TOOL&subcat=Welders&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

dont nned soemthing outrageous...just to learn on and fix small thigs at home...

 

[Jokeman]

i know nothing about welding. i want to learn. since i dont know a welder, i'll self teach myself. whats a good beginner welder? one of those $250 craftsman work to learn on?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...rtical=TOOL&subcat=Welders&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

dont nned soemthing outrageous...just to learn on and fix small thigs at home...

Spend a little extra money and get an Hobart 140 from The Tractor Store. They are gas capable and you will end up wanting to upgrade later.

 

[brianpgriset]

Stick with either Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart. Millers' will be a bit pricey so I'd stay with the latter of the two. And last I head TSC has new Handler 140's for $399 which is a nice deal for a new Handler.

Since your getting a MIG unit (I'm assuming thats what you want, and its a good process to start on) GET A GAS CYLINDER FOR IT! Most people that start with fluxcore wire and get fustrated by messy/splattery (is that a word?) looking welds. GMAW gives a nice clean weld when finished.

Your going to have to look around at local welding gas suppliers (maybe Praxair or Airgas) and spec out the price/size of a cylinder you want. I'd reccomend at least an 80cf. tank of C25.

All in all your going to spend a good dime on a nice little 110V rig, but dont do it the half-assed way so manny do and buy a cheapie flux core only wire feeder. If you really want to get into it make a little investment.

 

[TNToy]

I went straight from no welder, to a Miller 175. You could say I jumped in with both feet.

Do exactly what I did.

I had the chance to use a wirefeed welder similar to that Craftsman glob-o-matic twice before I bought mine. That was all the convincing I needed. A larger, more expensive welder welds both thick AND thin materials far more confortably than a cheap one. There really is no comparison.

Side benefit: I didn't waste $250 on a machine that I would outgrow almost immediately. Short of opening a fulltime fabrication facility, my machine suite me just fine.

 

[Ironcrow]

I went from no welder to a Millermatic 251, with a big bottle of C25, and an optional spool gun. It's an expensive path that may not be for everyone. But, I couldn't be happier.

 

[Special55]

i know nothing about welding. i want to learn. since i dont know a welder, i'll self teach myself. whats a good beginner welder? one of those $250 craftsman work to learn on?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...rtical=TOOL&subcat=Welders&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

dont nned soemthing outrageous...just to learn on and fix small thigs at home...

Check with your local community college or vocational school. Many of them have welding classes that aren't too expensive. If you are forced to go the self instructional method I can offer a couple tips.
1. Read the manual that comes with the unit thouroughly. There is alot of good info and it will be very helpful.
2. It is natural to want to pull the bead. With mig you want to stay within
1/8th inch of the material and push the bead as you go.

Good luck and enjoy your new toy,
Rich

 

[PAToyota]

Check with your local community college or vocational school.

Listen to this guy! The advantage of taking the classes first is that then you'll have a basis on which to make your own decisions. I started out the self-taught route. Bought a little 110V MIG and thought I was doing pretty good. Then took a class to "expand" my knowledge. After learning gas, stick, MIG (on a decent 220V model), and TIG I fully realized the shortcomings of my little 110V MIG and how much better I could do.

Of course, that only fueled the fever and I now have a 300amp MIG and TIG and an 80amp plasma cutter...

 

[eschoendorff]

Spend a little extra money and get an Hobart 140 from The Tractor Store. They are gas capable and you will end up wanting to upgrade later.

I have one of those HH140s and Jokeman is right. I think you'll like it.

Oh yeah... and all the other advice these guys have offered is spot-on. I am happy with my 140, but you may soon want something more substantial. And welding classes are probably the best thing you could do - maybe even before you drop a dime on a welder. I WISH I had the time to go and take some classes.

 

[REFLEXX]

Beg, borrow, steal to get a 220v machine. Mig first then Tig is the natural progression.

Plasma is icing on the cake when you start fabbing stuff.

 

[May Pop]

Just a thought but if you put your town along with your name someone close to you might say why dont you stop by and try mine. Iwould be willing to do that if a person was in my area. Ron

 

[pl_silverado]

I went from no welder to a Millermatic 251, with a big bottle of C25, and an optional spool gun. It's an expensive path that may not be for everyone. But, I couldn't be happier.

I did the same exact thing

Next on the list is a Tig.

 

[Ironcrow]

Actually, like a previous poster said, I took a class at the community college. That's how a ended up with my first machine being a nice 240V MIG. I used the school's unit while taking the class and decided that this was for me. Got a Hypertherm Powermax 600 plasma cutter too. I'll bet the school and the local welding supplier got a scheme going

 

[eschoendorff]

I'll bet the school and the local welding supplier got a scheme going

Good for him! I sooooo wish that I had time to take a class...

 

[JCByrd24]

I went straight from no welder, to a Miller 175. You could say I jumped in with both feet.

Do exactly what I did.

Ditto. The 175 will do almost anything you'll ever need to weld around the house/shop.

 

[motorheadjohn]

Another vote for community college course...it was well worth the time and cost almost nothing.

 

[steve392]

Like everyone else says, go for the formal training. I took a semester of basic welding last year at the local Vo-Tech and came away with a good understanding of not only welding basics, but it also helped me decide what type of welder to buy.
I just purchased a Millermatic 175 Mig machine. Just waiting for the electrician to wire me up a receptacle and I'll be good to go.
If you're going to be an occasional (hobby) weldor, its better to buy your gas bottle outright and have it filled as needed.

I'll be going back to the welding supply in the spring to get a gas outfit, too.



Steve

 

[ron in sc]

I just picked up my Hobart Handler 187 at Tractor Supply Company this morning.

Check links below:
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=22714

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=22784

 

[Jeff_K_H]

Another beginner here. What about an entry level stick welder like this one?

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=2494

I've seen them for less than $400.

 

[brianpgriset]

Another beginner here. What about an entry level stick welder like this one?

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=2494

I've seen them for less than $400.

AC/DC stick machines are awesome, and I'd say they are a MUST HAVE for anyone that works with metal alot. I have the exact same model you listed in the link, bought it used for $280. If you could get one new under $400 that'd be a good deal. I've used it here and there since I got it 3 years ago and I've had no problems. I've probably burned down about 30-40 lbs of rod. Not a whole bunch but I work mostly with under 1/4" material so I use my little MIG.

DC stick is great. Once you set it to DC you'll probably never use AC again. This thing doesn't have the worlds best duty cycle but if your just a hobbyist you'll be please with this machine. You might want to sneek a peak at the Hobart AC/DC Stickmate as well. It differs some from the ol' Lincoln tombstones, has a few more DC amps but a lower duty cycle.

Just something to consider.