Craftsman Arc Welder Info

[L5wolvesf]

I need to get a welder so I can teach myself to weld. There is a Craftsman Arc welder available for $100, model 113.201260 (I believer 113 is an Emerson product), 40 to 230 amp range. It is complete and works. Is this a good welder for someone new to welding?

Thank you for your input

 

[sk farmer]

no frills ac welder. it will do lots of work and it looks lightly used. if it comes with a fair amount of leads in good shape it is a decent deal. 230 amps will melt a lot of stuff together. a lot of **** has been built or repaired with machines like that and 6011 or 7013 rods.





edit. i mistakenly called this a dc welder and changed it to ac.

 

[dffay]

Looks to be AC only but that’s not a bad thing. Make sure you only use AC rod. It looks well kept and old enough to have copper windings so it will not only do a smooth job, it will outlive you and the next three welders.
It would be a fine start down your welding path. Stick is a great way to learn and it’s still the state of the art for everything from hobby to military application.
All welding is about heat control. With the upper margin of amps, you have huge opportunity that will fix things your next investment of a MIG or more will fall short of.
Good price too. Grab it. And take lessons. Good luck.

 

[ssdave]

That's an okay machine, in what looks like good shape. If the leads aren't cracked, and a good stinger and ground clamp, I think it's a decent buy, not cheap, but okay value.

The only thing about these old transformer AC home and farm grade machines is that they're a bit hard to start an arc sometimes. You tend to have to keep the amps slightly high, and then it's easy to blow holes through thinner stuff. It does teach you to pay attention to the puddle performance.

 

[L5wolvesf]

Thanks guys. I should be seeing and trying it in person tomorrow..

 

[sberry]

It will work,,, its one of the hardest welders to use proficiently. 7018AC has helped. If you have real work on machine repair etc its worth it to hunt up a DC version. I have miles on these,,, to tell the truth if I was starting out I would consider a Maxstar clone like the Everlast 150 or if I was a serious guy a Hobart 200. The Everlast runs on 120V which is super handy and wish they had those when I was a kid.

 

[ssdave]

You asked about a $100 welder, so I deliberately avoided advocating a $1200 one. What sberry says is right, although these welders work forever, they are a bit more difficult to use than a good one. I trained as a welder in the early 80's. For the next 30 years I only had a similar Marquette, and then Forney welder at home. Worked, but misearable to use.

A few years ago, I upgraded to a miller, and then recently to a Lincoln square wave. It is infinitely easier to keep a good steady arc going, and to start without sticking a rod or burning through. It is a real luxury to have a welder that adjusts easily, will weld ac or dc, has a nice "soft" stable arc, will work on 120 or 240, and you can pick up by the suitcase handle and carry around.

But, it is a $1200 welder, not a $100 one.

The $100 one will work, just not as easily, nor as well.

 

[L5wolvesf]

It will work,,, its one of the hardest welders to use proficiently. 7018AC has helped. If you have real work on machine repair etc its worth it to hunt up a DC version. I have miles on these,,, to tell the truth if I was starting out I would consider a Maxstar clone like the Everlast 150 or if I was a serious guy a Hobart 200. The Everlast runs on 120V which is super handy and wish they had those when I was a kid.

its one of the hardest welders to use proficiently.

If this is the case maybe I should wait for another.

Could someone explain the difference between AC and DC as far as welders are concerned?

 

[zendriver]

its one of the hardest welders to use proficiently.



If this is the case maybe I should wait for another.



Could someone explain the difference between AC and DC as far as welders are concerned?

If you want to learn to weld, why not look at an inexpensive wire welder?

Some of them come with everything you need to get started (except the metal) you could be laying down to sloppy bead in minutes.

Pretty much the technology today where stick welding not so much. You got proficient at wire welding van wanted to jump over and try to stick, the jump would be pretty easy.


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[ssdave]

Being trained as a professional welder, I tend to disagree with the advice usually given on here to "just buy a cheap wire feed" welder, if you want to learn to weld. If you just want to stick a few pieces of metal together, in a hobby fashion, that advice is good. To actually learn to weld and have high strength, dependable welds, not as good.

Learning how to arc weld with a stick welder will teach you how to get good puddle control and penetration, and that information will transfer to wire feed welding. What little you learn in starting with a wire feed welder will transfer essentially nothing except bad habits of cold jointing and inadequate penetration to good arc welding.

Both have their place. If you just want to stick a few pieces of iron together occasionally, weld patches on auto body, and similar, a cheap wire feed will do what you need. They really are the "glue gun of welders", easy and cheap to use. The learning curve is essentially almost nothing.

If you want to join metal structurally (think auto frame work, structural iron, heavy steel repairs, a stick machine will do you much better. Or, you will have to go to a lot more expensive, capable wire feed machine, and have good knowledge and technique.

Personally, (and I have done this for about 25 years, before upgrading in the last 5) I would use that stick machine in preference to an inexpensive flux core wire welder for almost anything. I owned both simultaneously, and almost always made that choice. I still use stick for most things, and I have a good wire feed now. That, however, is a personal preference based on a higher skill level and familiarity with the process. To just pick up the gun and stick pieces of metal together now, most people can do it easier with a wire feed machine. It just doesn't have the strength and penetration of other processes without a lot of technique. If you want to do better welding with a wire feed, get a quality machine, and gas shield capability instead of just flux core. The entry level price goes up from <200 to >600 to do that, though.

 

[zendriver]

Being trained as a professional welder, I tend to disagree with the advice usually given on here to "just buy a cheap wire feed" welder, if you want to learn to weld. If you just want to stick a few pieces of metal together, in a hobby fashion, that advice is good. To actually learn to weld and have high strength, dependable welds, not as good.

Learning how to arc weld with a stick welder will teach you how to get good puddle control and penetration, and that information will transfer to wire feed welding. What little you learn in starting with a wire feed welder will transfer essentially nothing except bad habits of cold jointing and inadequate penetration to good arc welding.

Both have their place. If you just want to stick a few pieces of iron together occasionally, weld patches on auto body, and similar, a cheap wire feed will do what you need. They really are the "glue gun of welders", easy and cheap to use. The learning curve is essentially almost nothing.

If you want to join metal structurally (think auto frame work, structural iron, heavy steel repairs, a stick machine will do you much better. Or, you will have to go to a lot more expensive, capable wire feed machine, and have good knowledge and technique.

Personally, (and I have done this for about 25 years, before upgrading in the last 5) I would use that stick machine in preference to an inexpensive flux core wire welder for almost anything. I owned both simultaneously, and almost always made that choice. I still use stick for most things, and I have a good wire feed now. That, however, is a personal preference based on a higher skill level and familiarity with the process. To just pick up the gun and stick pieces of metal together now, most people can do it easier with a wire feed machine. It just doesn't have the strength and penetration of other processes without a lot of technique. If you want to do better welding with a wire feed, get a quality machine, and gas shield capability instead of just flux core. The entry level price goes up from 600 to do that, though.

I made my suggestion mostly from a practical standpoint.

If the OPis teaching him/her self to weld, IMO it’s going to be harder with a stick welder and no one knows what the condition of $100.40-year-old welder might be. I had a 70s monkey ward ACDC (made by century) that was really not all that. It had early aluminum wound transformer that may or may not have been overheatedAnd a sticky control, requiring constant adjustment especially in DC.

I’d hate to see the OP get stuck and frustrated with something not getting good results due to required of constant Fiddling.

I agree it depends on the end results he/she is looking for.





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[L5wolvesf]

If you want to learn to weld, why not look at an inexpensive wire welder?

Actually I have been but this one popped up and seems like it could be a good deal.


Everyone’s input so far is appreciated. Before this welder came available I was going to post asking some questions about what I should be looking for.

I will be looking to do hobby types of things mostly related to cars / motorcycles. I would imagine the biggest project might be a roll cage but on something like that I would likely just tack the pieces in place and have the final welds done by a local pro. It is also possible I would do add-ons (suspension braces) myself.

I can Oxy/Ac weld and have a good idea of how do a good weld. My biggest problem is patience. When I was in a night class (2005 or so I could do a nice gas weld with the instructor hovering over us/me. But practicing at home – not so much.

I understand ssdave’s point about going with the arc welder to learn, but, given my patience thing, I could see myself getting frustrated. Having a simple wire feed to start with may be the better path for me.

 

[BD1]

The AC welder is fine. Make sure any rod you buy is AC.
Depending on location, AC/DC machines average about $300. DC is definitely a smoother arc.
The Miller thunderbolt and Lincoln tombstone are the most popular.


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[FSrepair&fabrication]

Learn to whip 6011 and youll be set for most general repair. I advise against using a MIG for beginners because its too easy to lay a bead and teach yourself bad habits and make pretty but weak welds. If you learn with stick the transition to mig is much better. AC is hard to strike an arc and stay lit, but if you get it down and then try dc youll be a much better welder. For $100 buy it, and get some 3/32 and 1/8 6011. Get that down and youre good

 

[zendriver]

Actually I have been but this one popped up and seems like it could be a good deal.


Everyone’s input so far is appreciated. Before this welder came available I was going to post asking some questions about what I should be looking for.

I will be looking to do hobby types of things mostly related to cars / motorcycles. I would imagine the biggest project might be a roll cage but on something like that I would likely just tack the pieces in place and have the final welds done by a local pro. It is also possible I would do add-ons (suspension braces) myself.

I can Oxy/Ac weld and have a good idea of how do a good weld. My biggest problem is patience. When I was in a night class (2005 or so I could do a nice gas weld with the instructor hovering over us/me. But practicing at home – not so much.

I understand ssdave’s point about going with the arc welder to learn, but, given my patience thing, I could see myself getting frustrated. Having a simple wire feed to start with may be the better path for me.

Another reason I suggested wire welder is because Unless one is welding on construction or farm equipment, most average joe welding tends to be on thinner metals (body panels, roll bars, exhausts etc) where stick is not really the best choice, especially for a beginner.

There was a recent thread in FP where a newbie was getting reasonable newbie results, with a $200 wire welder.

If they are considered a “glue gun” well that’s all you’re doing with metal anyway.



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[Showkey]

There’s very little to go wrong with the buzz box AC stick welders.
I have one that is 60 plus years old. Not longer used much........

OP for $100 and box a few 7018 sticks........it’s possible to learn to weld. Does help to to have coach.......but........can be done on youtube. Ideal you take a Intro to welding course at the high school or tech .......but.......many don’t offer courses these days or the timing does not work.

5 years from now those welders will still be $100. If it does not work out.

In typical GJ fashion it goes from $100 stick to $1-2k unit.

Don’t make the mistake of getting It home to find you do not have Adequate power in the shop.

If I was teaching someone to weld today ( I taught high school shop 40+ years back) I would teach them to torch braze first, then gas weld, then everything else.
If had to sell one unit the buzz box would go first and gas weld would be last on the sell block. Because there’s no substitute for a torch in the shop.

 

[strutaeng]

Yeah, that machine will do a lot of work. Like mentioned, if the welding leads are in good shape, it is a good deal.

I learned on a Miller Thunderbolt AC. I bought it for $40, but did not have leads. $100 for 100' of welding cable got me a very nice setup. I have bought an older Dialarc, but would not hesitate to weld anything with the Thunderbolt AC.

The other day I had a buddy come over to weld a brace on his boat trailer. I dragged out the Hobart Ironman 210 setup for FCAW, but the joint was such that I could not get the gun close to the weld, so the stick machine got the job done.

Yes, it is a bit more difficult to learn on an AC only machine, but what I discovered is that you once you get the hang of it, you can more easily do Stick DC and FCAW and MIG. Electrode striking, electrode angle, weld puddle manipulation, etc. are all learned with stick. Even proper body posture.

On the other hand, a guy that only knows wire welding would **** on stick. At least, that's the way it seemed in my case. I already had done some wire welding before I learned stick.

What I did is got me some different electrodes and went to the metal scrapyard to pick up scrap metal and practiced, practiced, practiced. You can run E6011, E6013 and E7018AC. I never was able to figure out the E6013 electrode puddle manipulation, so I stopped using that one. Haven't tried it lately. It's for sheetmetal anyways, which I don't really do.