Lincoln weldpak should I ?

[rocky1]

Ok,
I tried arc welding and oxy at evening school 30 years ago. That's my experience.
My lawn tractor seat bracket has broken and the replacement part is $55.00 plus shipping. I should be able to weld this, and so I bought the small Lincoln Weldpak at Home Depot for $269.00 (115 v , no gas).
Before I open this, should I be looking at a bigger/different machine ? Tractor Supply had a cheapie for $129.00. The next size up Lincoln was about 529.00.
Having never had a welder, I don't know what other tasks I can find for it.
Of course, the smart thing was to take the part and have it welded, so I am not against having a welder :}
I have 220 available in the garage. They also had the tombstone arc welders there
Thanks in advance

 

[ibedayank]

for thin metal...weldpac

for 3/16 and thicker ....tombstone

 

[rocky1]

That's what I was thinking. For the cost, I could have the weldpak and the tombstone, or just the more expensive weldpak.
Model k2188-1

 

[GirlnAgarage]

With both a WeldPak and a Tomstone in the garage, I use the WeldPak more. Enough that I'm maxing out duty cycle in a hurry and wanting a 220 mig.

Before you open this, what version of the WeldPak is this? HD? 3200? Make sure it will accept the 10lb spools. The WeldPak HD will not run the 10lb spools. They fit, but the rollers can't regulate wire speed. The 3200 can run the 10lber. Food for thought as I've run into this issue.

I run fluxcore. I know the preference out there is for gas for prettier welds. I
I'm a glutton for punishment or maybe its the challenge.

If you intend to weld gauge metal you want smaller wire - .030" but ideally .023" (mig). For general use I'm running .035" and I'll burn up 3/16 & 1/4" for not critical structural welds, bevel for better penetration. But I only weld my home stuff not significant items (like trailers where the public is involved). I did weld 16ga with .035"....crazy...c-r-a-z-y...but got it done.

 

[rocky1]

It is the HD

 

[sberry]

For home/hobby you could get the 529$ Lincoln and call it good. Its way more machine than anything that runs from a 120 volt circuit, really twice the machine. Bite the bullet while you are at it and get an 80 cf or better C25 bottle, roll of 030 solid wire for that unit. You have 240 in garage, you will find more use for this than you ever dreamed of. There is a time and place for a stick machine but you wont need it, heavier machine repairs and construction, but most anything found in residential or on a light truck the 180 class mig can handle, the use of the 030 is kind of a trade off. Can handle a great range of materials up to the potential of the machine. Another great option in this class is the Hobart 187, about as good and simple as it can get.

 

[sberry]

My neighbor is a professional welder, journeyman level, could make a living any day of the week at it. Got a little machine shop in garage, wood working equipment too. Band saw mill, pickup truck, plow, a couple trailers. Bought a MM175 about 10 yrs ago so he would have something to do common work with vs running the mile down to my place every time he wanted a dab.He said, you got big, stick or portable if needed, etc. Built a light log trailer, been here once in 10 yrs and I think that was to do a pinch on a piece of aluminum. Done everything he has ever had to do with that one feeder.
For another couple hundred you can get one spool gun ready, for most people it probably isn't worth it, need another gas bottle,,, find a friend with one,, ha. For steel, light sheet to some 1/4 work no problem, even some small heavier stuff on occasion with multiple passes. You don't really gain much with this class of machine by trying to choke 035 thru it.

 

[rocky1]

Thank you

 

[sberry]

Get an angle grinder if you dont have one, a 4 1/2 B&D from Walmart, about 30$ and they are really good. I see some wheels from the farm store, 10 pack about a dollar a piece and they are not too bad, I use some from the welding jobber, 2 x as much but a bit better, not so much as the DIY types would notice though.

 

[rocky1]

I returned the weldpak, went to Harborfreight and bout the 90 amp for 89 dollars,
1st attempt is awful, but it held. I'm done
I assume one can lay the nozzle on the work surface and pull the trigger to start the arc. I hel the nozzle above and tpped the surface with the wire. A new toy

Thanks for all the input

Sorry, don't know how to post pictures, but the above links seem to work

 

[sberry]

Return that one too, you are starting off on a hard row. Some tools like a hammer cheap may be fine but a welding machine is so technical and the only way to cut price is to cut corners, they just plain cant make it work right at that cost.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

+1 ^^

I would not have returned the WeldPak for the HF unit. It wasn't my intention to make the WeldPak sound incapable. It is very capable. I wanted to let you know what I ultimately ran into. I hit the WeldPak'sduty cycle stitch welding 8' of 3/16" to 1/4" pieces.

If you were never going to run 10lb spools or weld a lot of 3/16" + pieces, the WeldPak was perfect.

Everything under that is its bread and butter.

 

[A29]

Ya did what? Good luck with it.

 

[petee_c]

I found a Hobart Handler 120 in kijiji (more popular than CL locally) for $200 including a nice cart, new gloves, extra ground, extra gun, new auto dark helmet......

Take a quick peak at CL/kijiji in your area.....

 

[rsanter]

I would go with a lincolin, miller, century or hobart
prefer lincolin and miller
how much welding do you think you will do?
the weldpac is decent but I would want one with the gas

bob

 

[5lima30]

Personally I would take back the WeldPack which you will outgrow and get the Lincoln Tombstone which IMHO is more versatile. As I recall the tombstone is about the same price. BTW they can be found regularly on CL for $125-$150.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

Personally I would take back the WeldPack which you will outgrow and get the Lincoln Tombstone which IMHO is more versatile. As I recall the tombstone is about the same price. BTW they can be found regularly on CL for $125-$150.

The Lincoln Tombstones at Home Depot are only A/C, not AC/DC just so you know. I have Miller Arc Welder and a Lincoln Weldpack HD. With both you can weld anything form sheet metal to heavy steel plate. Flux core *****, get a gas bottle and never look back at smokey splattery welding with flux core.

 

[rocky1]

Already used the HF to repair the mower seat bracket. Replacement bracket was 55 dollars and shipping. Welder was 89 bucks.
Now, the larger question. Will I become addicted to having a welder and wanting a bigger and better one? I'm between jobs, so I am rationalizing my spending.
I appreciate the help. I just could not rationalize spending more on equipment I may not use. This way, the mower is patched together again and I have a toy.
I'll keep an eye out on CL.
To buy a MIG with the gas and all the supplies would cost as much as a new mower.
Thanks to all

 

[ibedayank]

with the cost of wire going up
for the thicker stuff i use the arcwelder more as the box of rods are NOT $60 or more for 10 pounds

or $15-20 for a pound of fluxcore

 

[Warrenator]

I have a 220V Lincoln Weldpak, it is a great welder but I find myself wishing I had the 115V version so I could run it anywhere with an extension cord. I would gladly give up duty cycle for the convenience of a go anywhere welder.

Stuff I want to weld always seems to want to be attached to a fence or a post or a wall.

 

[rocky1]

I should have kept the weldpak. Or at least, I should have replaced it with something bigger than a 90 amp unit. It seems to have fixed the bracket, (had to reweld it again). More power would have been nice.
I'm not into it for a lot of money, and I'll look around.

 

[pipsters]

I bought a Hobart 140 for $405 from TSC a few months ago.

 

[Steevo]

All of these projects were done using a Lincoln 140HD 115v mig welder.

It is a versatile little wire welder, when used within its range.

 

[planecrazy29]

I recently bought a Lincoln ProMig 180 that I found on CL. I added a bottle and haven't looked back. I'm restoring a '34 Ford pickup that needs everything from frame repair to body repair. It has handled everything I've thrown at it. I've put nearly 10 lbs through it in the month I've had it. FWIW, I've never used MIG before. The ancient Lincoln IdealArc 240 I used to have I could never make work but I've gas welded and brazed before. Using this machine is a breeze. It's not as nice as the Power Mig, but I got it for $430. This unit is a current model sold at Lowes.