If I own MIG, should I get a stick?

[Steve_P]

99.99% of home users don't need a stick welder, just a quality 220V MIG, at most; which I have. And like dnschmidt, I also have an ancient Miller Thunderbolt (dad's) and I've only used it once in the last 30 yrs; just to play with it. Also, without a lot of practice, and without cast iron preheat/cool down temperature control, the average home user isn't going to be able to successfully weld cast iron or used/dirty aluminum with any welder, including a stick welder IMO
if you're a farmer or work on heavy equipment, then sure, get a stick welder. But if you were, then you'd already have one and wouldn't be asking.
edit- and like others have said, you can weld outside with a MIG; it just needs to be a calm day, or you need to set up a windbreak. I rarely weld inside with my MIG.

 

[Jland]

Seen a few of the “if you have to ask then...” responses... if that logic was applied to every tool purchase this forum wouldn’t exist... for a hundred bucks it’s ability to weld poorly prepped material and that you can burn a hole in steel plate makes it worth having... or you could drop a couple hundred on a long, comfortgrip flex head ratchet... every one “ needs” one of those

 

[bsaint]

Damn I never even tried 6010 with mine because I heard it just won't do it. I'll try tomorrow

 

[ddawg16]

$100?

Buy it then flip it for a profit
Are you sure it's not hot?

 

[Snapped-off]

I'd look into getting a small inverter stick/tig combo machine

Any recommendations on one suitable for home/hobby welding?

 

[dr_clyde]

Any recommendations on one suitable for home/hobby welding?

I mean, this is pretty budget dependent, as well as your willingness to shop the used market.

I've bought several welders used, and they've been excellent machines. I bought lightly used industrial grade machines. Some off ebay, some from local sellers. All were not abused, but I paid less than 50% of new for a great machine.

I'm a big fan of buying machines that you can get parts/consumables/service for at your LWS. I wouldn't buy something online that your local supply house doesn't support. Not worth the savings.

The Miller Maxstar is an outstanding little tig/stick machine, and they're a staple of mechanical contractors. You should be able to pick up a used one for less than a grand. You can get away without the foot pedal/high frequency start option if you want to save some money.

If you are on a shoestring budget, I don't really know what's available new and cheap. I don't buy those machines, so I can't comment on them.

 

[liliysdad]

I learned to weld on a stick machine....and as soon as I got a decent MIG, you couldn't melt a stick welder and pour it on me.

I don't build fence, and I am not booger welding dozer cutting edges.....

 

[Chumly]

100 bucks , yes absolutely, as long as the selector switch isn't real sloppy when you turn it. Your mig will be good for 1/4". the stick will do 1/8" to 1/2", if you need thicker.

This is exactly my thoughts. $100? Why not?

Have a Miller MIG, ESAB TIG, a Lincoln Stick, then the Miller 3-in-1 which is used most since it's dual plug/voltage for general use. I'd stick more around here but my problem is that somewhere along the way my hands shake more with a full stick and break or bend them to help, but for sure there's situations I MUST use the stick and glad that option is at hand. Anyway, the most versatile and most used is the MIG (or MIG setting on the 3-in-1)

The Lincoln is ancient and still fires well. It was my Dad's and it was there in the 70's so who knows. It doesn't have hotstart like the newer ones do, but you'll get use to that since a $100 arc welder more than likely doesn't either and could very well be the same era. Haha, going from new to old has me forgetting what hotstart does for ya. *Stick stick stuck ****!*

 

[Farrier]

Saying that I have too many welders is like saying that I have too many guns

 

[Steve_P]

Yeah, but welders take up more space. And if you just have a typical 2 car garage, it matters. And if you never use it, what's the point? When I get time I'll try and sell my stick welder. I suspect the #2 cables are worth more than the welder.

 

[bsaint]

Yeah, but welders take up more space. And if you just have a typical 2 car garage, it matters. And if you never use it, what's the point? When I get time I'll try and sell my stick welder. I suspect the #2 cables are worth more than the welder.

30 feet of #1 was 190 from McMaster last week.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Learned to weld on a Lincoln Tombstone in high school, then Dad bought a Tombstone in the early 80's and I used it exclusively for a couple decades or so. I bought a Miller 140 amp Mig, not really as big as it should have been for the farm, but used it and the Tombstone for many years till I got tired of the Mig being finicky and a little undersized. Then I bought a Miller Maxstar 161 stick welder and the Mig was put up for sale and kept the Tombstone for a backup. No regrets selling the Mig for my use.

 

[gearhead1]

Short answer - I would for the capability to go thicker (225 amps), and it’s almost indestructibility. Not much to go wrong on those, it’s a transformer with taps. Pretty much it.

I started on a stick. This was a long time ago before MIG prices came down. I bought a Weldpak 100 MIG, then sold it and got a Miller 180. The 180 MIG is good to about 1/4 or 5/16 thk steel. I’ve kept the stick because it gives me the capability of welding thicker materials. It is hard to kill them and acts as a back-up. A 180 is pretty healthy, I think it depends on what type of welding you do, how often, how thick, and how portable type welding you do or plan to do. The average DIY guy probably doesn’t need the stick with a 180 MIG. I’m not the average home guy when I’m building demolition derby cars, bomber circle track cars, and repairing broken tractor implements.

 

[Farrier]

If you're welding indoors, mig is hard to beat. But if your outside, the slightest breeze is an ******* to mig welding, even with flux core wire.

 

[trackwelder]

If you're welding indoors, mig is hard to beat. But if your outside, the slightest breeze is an ******* to mig welding, even with flux core wire.

Might have some issues with dual shield outside. Flux core works great outside, I have burned thousands of pounds of the stuff.

 

[liliysdad]

If you're welding indoors, mig is hard to beat. But if your outside, the slightest breeze is an ******* to mig welding, even with flux core wire.

Flux Core is not affected by wind in any way.....

 

[gmcgeo]

I have never had issues welding with flux outside

 

[Farrier]

Flux Core is not affected by wind in any way.....

I have literally built miles of pipe fence, so we can agree to disagree

 

[gmcgeo]

I have literally built miles of pipe fence, so we can agree to disagree

are you welding in winds above 40mph?