Welfare Stick Welder

[OctaneMotorsports]

Hey Everybody,

I'm looking to start getting into welding. I have been doing a lot of stick welding at my friend's house lately and so far I am pretty damn good at it, hahaha. I have used TIG and MIG at work, and I am decent at both of those as well. So I'm looking at picking up a basic stick welder from Canadian Tire. It is a Mastercraft 115A Stick Welder (Re-labeled Campbell & Hausfeld). Duty cycle is 20% at 50A, and 10% at 70A. It accepts 1/16" and 5/64" welding rods. It welds from 18 gauge to 1/8" thick steel. 3 year warranty, what is there to lose? This will be used occasionally on light duty projects (remember, I'm fourteen, I won't be making monster truck chassis with this). I want to avoid any other type of welder because of increased cost and maintenance (argon tank, wire feed, etc.). So, bearing in mind what I will be using this for, what do you think? Can't go wrong for the price.

Another option I am looking at is a gasless wire feed welder, such as this Lincoln Electric Handy Core Wire Feed Welder:

Advantages/disadvantages for each? Thank-you!

 

[mikeatrpi]

Never used either- take that as you will - but I own a Lincoln SP100T MIG.

The correct answer depends on what your projects are going to be. If you're making art and doing small stuff around the house either will probably suit you fine.

I will guess you chose these two welders due to their low price. If you are patient, you can shop around and maybe you'll find a comparable or better (name brand, or MIG with bottle setup, or o/a torch setup...) deal on something used.

 

[wilbilt]

Either will suffice for running a few short beads, but if you plan any larger projects -such as building a set of gates, etc.- you will be cussing the short duty cycle.

 

[TNToy]

Why are you asking? It's pretty clear you've already made up your mind.

Personally I strongly prefer shielded MIg or TIG welding. I hate flux-core anything.

 

[HighOctane]

Ya but he doesnt want to spend a lot of money on maintaining gas, and he won't be using it all the time, he's thinking about one to do small projects and messing around. I would go with the stick though, cause if you are welding different metals then you have to change all the wire on the wire feed, with the stick you just buy different sticks and put them in.

 

[PAToyota]

With stick, you're not going to be doing sheetmetal or fine work. With fluxcore it is possible - just a pain. The choice of wire feed or stick really depends on what you will be welding. My TIG does TIG and stick - TIG for the fine stuff and stick when I want to weld heavy stuff together.

 

[trainer]

The Handy- core is shown @ $399
That Stick welder is $179 according to CTC's website.

If you have or can get 220volts, then think about something like this:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/p...older_id=1408474396672983&bmUID=1166624594283

If the link doesn't work; its a new Lincoln AC-225 for $369CDN at Canadian Tire

It isnt as **** as the latest Mig or Tig, but it will last you a lifetime.

That blue machine would be a waste of money, IMO

Also, see about taking a welding course in school if they still offer it. A little bit of theory goes a lot further than just burning rods at a friends house.

 

[Major Ramifications]

The place where I work has the top welder on sale for $59 right now. I honestly wouldn't recommend it, but for $59, what the hell.

 

[russlaferrera]

My 1st welding set up was an O/A. I never regretted it. You can braze,weld, cut all metal, including aluminum. Heat frozen exhaust bolts/nuts, shape metal and it is portable.

I now own a MIG and a Lincoln 225. I still use the O/A as much.

My thoughts are to purchase something you will use and keep for a long time and as money permits something you can expand on. If you go for a MIG get one you can upgrade to gas. All will tell you flux *****. Plus you can't do aluminum without gas.

Hope this sheds some light on you decision as always You are the one who has to make it....russ

 

[Tscott]

Get a 220V stick welder. you can weld almost any metal, cut almost any metal and never need to change the bottle. And if you get the urge later you can attach a gas regulator and a tig stinger and you have a poor mans tig welder. It may not work as well as a dedicated tig but you will be impressed by just how much you can do.

If you can, get an AC/DC stick and you will have a ton of rods to choose from. I have a sears model I got off ebay, $120 delivered to my front door. another $150 for new cord, electrode holder and ground plus the tig setup I mentioned and I can weld almost anything you can throw at me.

The hardest part about stick welding is making it look pretty. Its very easy to make it strong though. Remember, this country was and continues to be built by stick welders.

Tom

 

[russellmn]

My 1st welding set up was an O/A. I never regretted it. You can braze,weld, cut all metal, including aluminum. Heat frozen exhaust bolts/nuts, shape metal and it is portable.


I think everyone should learn to weld with O/A and then step up to stick then MIG then go on to TIG. It just starts off with the basics and you'll learn better technique. A buddy of mine has never stick or O/A welded before and now he is really struggling to pick up TIG. I started with O/A and when I started TIG I picked it up very quickly. The 2 are so similar I'm glad I started where I did. It's not as "cool" as MIG, but O/A is the place to start to get the basics down.
Just my .02
Russell