Would this Welder work for me?

[jeremy_cherokee]

I haven't welded since I was in high school shop probably 12-13 years ago, however, I'm wanting to build a few things. One of which is a Steevo inspired work bench. I'm on a budget - a tight one - as I have a bunch of stuff going on, but I wanted to get something that could get me back into welding and actually be useful for a few small projects until I have decided I enjoy it enough to pursue it further.

I found a Campbell Hausfeld 115V welder brand new in the box with a welding mask for only $75. I went and looked at it over the weekend and it is exactly as described - brand new in box. Looks like they go for about $100 on the internet so, with the welding helmet, I think it's a good price.

My question is - oh wise garage journal viewers - can this welder do what I'm looking for it to do or should I wait and just get a little nicer one (which will probably be a while).

 

[Whiskeymike]

IMO, buying an underpowered welder is a painful experience that results in a lot of frustration. I don't know the CH welder, but if it sells for $100 retail, I wouldn't put much faith in it. Typically with cheap welders, it's next to impossible to get a good flow of power to develop a good bead. If I was looking for a stick welder, I would try to get a Lincoln tombstone (red box). Preferably an AC/DC machine. Usually you can find multiples of them on craigslist and try to work a deal.

Welding with a machine that won't make a good bead causes problems in getting a good weld, so the part you just welded may fall apart. It also typically requires way more grinding to clean it up afterwards. It's also really frustrating and makes you question your ability to learn how to weld. Where as with a good machine, anyone can learn to weld these types of projects pretty quickly.

If it were me, I'd get a buddy to weld it up or let me use their welder as the $100 would be better spent on beer.

 

[bczygan]

You could do the same with any HF welder off CL.

Better to not weld at all, unless you don't care how good a weld it is.

If you just want to stick two thick pieces of metal together, enough stick and spatter will eventually do it. And then it's grind grind grind!

But consider that you will be spending more on helmet, gloves, jacket, consumables etc.

Bill

 

[jeremy_cherokee]

IMO, buying an underpowered welder is a painful experience that results in a lot of frustration. I don't know the CH welder, but if it sells for $100 retail, I wouldn't put much faith in it. Typically with cheap welders, it's next to impossible to get a good flow of power to develop a good bead. If I was looking for a stick welder, I would try to get a Lincoln tombstone (red box). Preferably an AC/DC machine. Usually you can find multiples of them on craigslist and try to work a deal.

Welding with a machine that won't make a good bead causes problems in getting a good weld, so the part you just welded may fall apart. It also typically requires way more grinding to clean it up afterwards. It's also really frustrating and makes you question your ability to learn how to weld. Where as with a good machine, anyone can learn to weld these types of projects pretty quickly.

If it were me, I'd get a buddy to weld it up or let me use their welder as the $100 would be better spent on beer.

You could do the same with any HF welder off CL.

Better to not weld at all, unless you don't care how good a weld it is.

If you just want to stick two thick pieces of metal together, enough stick and spatter will eventually do it. And then it's grind grind grind!

But consider that you will be spending more on helmet, gloves, jacket, consumables etc.

Bill

Would you say the same thing about all stick welders or is it just the quality of this one in particular?

 

[Jazz1]

Buy a quality welder...poor man pay twice

 

[Wanna Ride]

Just save a little more money and buy a decent Lincoln or Miller 110 mig.

Inexperience + inadequate machine = frustration of the greatest level.

Buy decent once, and don't worry about replacing. Just about any shop, will always have room for a decent 110 machine.

 

[lilredex]

Don't waste your money on any 115V stick welder. Go 230V and get a Lincoln AC225 buzz box (or something similar). If you look around you can find those for $100 or a little more.

You can run it off a dryer circuit that is typically fused at thirty amp. With 3/32" rods and 90 amp (welder) output you can weld up 3/8" material with practice. This my present situation and it works for me.

If you want the full output from that welder you'll need a 50 amp circuit.

I've been that 115V route and it is nothing but frustration.

 

[Falcon67]

Buy a quality welder...poor man pay twice

This. I used a Century 70 for a few years. I'm not in any way an expert welder, but I used it a lot to fix things. Then I had a chance to buy a Hobart 140 at a good can't-walk-away price and did. Had to start over again as the Hobart was a whole different and better tool. The 140s run under $500 a lot and if I had the funds right now to buy a Miller 210 or Hobart 211 MVP mine would be for sale at a good price.

 

[TractorJeff]

There is a Miller thunderbolt in Fort Dodge for 125. Amazingly most of the Lincolns' run about $200 or more. That's surprising to see them priced that high? There $50 to $150 around here.

 

[mxz1998]

I picked up an old Lincoln "Tombstone" buzz box for a 100 bucks. It's put together many projects over the years. I always say its the best 100 bucks I ever spent in my garage

 

[FigureItOut]

IMO, buying an underpowered welder is a painful experience that results in a lot of frustration.

Welding with a machine that won't make a good bead causes problems in getting a good weld...[ ]... It's also really frustrating and makes you question your ability to learn how to weld. Where as with a good machine, anyone can learn to weld these types of projects pretty quickly.

Boy that was absolutely my experience with HF welders. I started at the bottom and worked my up the HF ladder. I started thinking I could never learn to weld and that I really didn't like it anyway.

Now I've got a decent 220V Lincoln, and am using some very nice machines at a night class, and can get a decent weld, and really like doing it.

OP I'm afraid the reality is that you just can't get a welder that's effective and enjoyable to use in that price range without getting extremely lucky. That's been my experience and the experience of most people who I've heard from on the topic. The well loved Lincoln tombstone is a notable exception, and pop up frequently on Craigslist, around here at least.



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[nadogail]

I agree with what they said, a "Buzz Box" welder, like a Miller Thunderbolt, Lincoln Tumbstone (sp?), Forney, Century, Sears or Montgomery Ward will be, IMHO, the biggest bang for your buck.

I bought a new Hobart AC/DC STICKMATE because I believe it is the most versatile lowest priced highest quality welder in its class. I didn't have the patience to seek and find a quality used machine.

 

[risc]

I have a HF $80 MIG, it will stick metal together. If you read the whole Steevo thread there's a post in there about an alternate design where the welds don't take any of the load, that and a bunch of grinding will get you there.

 

[nadogail]

I have a HF $80 MIG, it will stick metal together. If you read the whole Steevo thread there's a post in there about an alternate design where the welds don't take any of the load, that and a bunch of grinding will get you there.

IMHO, the $80 MIG Welder is a toy.

It will "weld" just like an EASY BAKE oven will make some small cookies; but is it a real oven?

 

[gungatim]

Don't waste your money on any 115V stick welder. Go 230V and get a Lincoln AC225 buzz box (or something similar). If you look around you can find those for $100 or a little more.

You can run it off a dryer circuit that is typically fused at thirty amp. With 3/32" rods and 90 amp (welder) output you can weld up 3/8" material with practice. This my present situation and it works for me.

If you want the full output from that welder you'll need a 50 amp circuit.

I've been that 115V route and it is nothing but frustration.

100% agree with above. my first welder was a mig, the early 60 amp Italian job 110v for $100. couldn't do anything with it but sheet metal (still have it), bought a new Lincoln ac225 when lowes had them for $199 and that served everything I needed from sheet metal on up to tractor repair for 10 yrs. before I got a good 220v mig...

you can find them used all day long at farm sales and auctions for $100 or less and rods are cheap. plus it will be great learning experience...

 

[MagKarl]

Another vote for an older 220V stick welder if your budget is constrained. AC only is fine, I see them on CL regularly for $50-100 in my area.

 

[lakeroadster]

Is it a Campbell Hausfeld WS0990 115-Volt Stick Welder?

The manual states: Versatile design welds mild and stainless steel from 18 ga. To 1/8 in.

As long as your projects will be steel / SS in those thickness ranges, then you should be fine.

Keep in mind, as you previously stated, these are about $100 bucks new, so you are only saving about $25. IMO the smarter play would be to buy one new from a big box store, and see how you like it. Then if it isn't up to your standards you can return it.

 

[MoonRise]

IMHO, the $80 MIG Welder is a toy.

It will "weld" just like an EASY BAKE oven will make some small cookies; but is it a real oven?

A 'cheap' tool sometimes works for the job/task, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it sort-of 'works' but is frustrating to use and makes the job/task take 5x as long.

For the $25 price difference from you buying it brand new with a 'warranty' and possible exchange/return option from a 'store' versus buying it NIB from a private party, I'd really skip the NIB private party option.

First off, with welding, figure out just 'what' you want/need to weld. Materials that you want/need to weld (plain mild steel can be welded with several different welding processes, other materials may or may not have as many possible welding process options) but more importantly how thick of a material do you want/need to weld?

For sheet metal thickness stuff, MIG is usually the way to go. Some skilled folks can weld some sheet metal thickness items with stick welding (not all that easy, have to use 'thin' rods and low amps and still have a pretty good skill level), or it can be welded with TIG (more $$$ for the equipment, you said you are on a tight budget so that option is probably out for you) or with oxy-acetylene. For 'thick' stuff (anything more than about 1/4" or so), you can weld it pretty easily with a 240V powered stick welder (used 'buzz' box Lincoln or similar, could be AC or AC/DC, maybe $100-$200 or so most of the time if you wait and look around, or just go buy a new one).

Some of the 'small' 120V powered wire feed welders (Lincoln, Miller, Hobart 140-amp class machines) have enough power to weld 1/4" steel with some FCAW, but many/most folks who get a 120V powered wire feed welder rapidly 'outgrow' the machine's power limits and move up to a 240V powered machine. BTDT.

A $100 budget is a rather low one. You need a welding helmet (mask). Low-end ones go for maybe $30-$50 (HF auto-dark with the 'flames' on it is usually mostly 'decent', but not as 'good' as a name-brand $200+ auto-dark helmet). Welding often means you need to do some work with a wire wheel and/or grinder/flap-disk either before or after (most of the time, both ) welding. HF 4-1/2" grinder on sale for maybe $20. Add a welding jacket, maybe $50 or so for a 'simple' one (or a thick flannel shirt, but it may get holes burned in/through it from weld spatter and that means you get hot metal onto your skin ). Oh, and welding glove(s), maybe $10-$20 per pair.

Tight budget and wanting to make a steel workbench? Although I like welding , you might just think about bolting or riveting it together for now. You can buy a whole bunch of nuts and bolts or pop rivets for $100.

YMMV.

 

[jeremy_cherokee]

Thank you everyone for the information. This is why I love this forum! I took everyone's advice and am passing on the little welder. I'm actively looking for one of these Lincolns. We'll see what we can find. I'm pretty sure father's day gives me an excuse to exceed budget expectations, right?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Don't waste your money on any 115V stick welder. Go 230V and get a Lincoln AC225 buzz box (or something similar). If you look around you can find those for $100 or a little more.

Or at least spend the money and get a dual voltage MIG that can use gas (no just flux wire). Yeah, it' a lot more than $75, but you will use it for a lot longer.

 

[pringa8]

Welder aside, that must be a cheap as hell mask if it's included for that cheap. Question is how much is your sight worth to you? Don't cheap out on a mask and save yourself some frustration and get an auto darkening helmet.

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[jeremy_cherokee]

I was wondering the same thing.

I found a Lincoln AC 225 for $250 that comes on a nice little cart thing, has gloves, and some extra sticks. I think I"m going to make a move on that one instead.

 

[KDXSR5]

I picked up an old Lincoln "Tombstone" buzz box for a 100 bucks. It's put together many projects over the years. I always say its the best 100 bucks I ever spent in my garage

This. Paid $150 for a refurbished "tombstone" from a welding supply store. Put longer leads on it and called it a day. Works great!

 

[plumbing101mike]

Don't waste your money on any 115V stick welder. Go 230V and get a Lincoln AC225 buzz box (or something similar). If you look around you can find those for $100 or a little more.

You can run it off a dryer circuit that is typically fused at thirty amp. With 3/32" rods and 90 amp (welder) output you can weld up 3/8" material with practice. This my present situation and it works for me.

If you want the full output from that welder you'll need a 50 amp circuit.

I've been that 115V route and it is nothing but frustration.

This is good advice. I bought a 115 volt welder. Junk. Spent $100 on an old 230 volt machine and have used it for years.
A decent 115 volt welder will cost some coin.

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[Crazyjake8493]

Glad you passed on the CH welder. I had one of those 120 volt Campbell Hausfelds I got as part of a trade, and I hated it. Sold it about two weeks later. I'd never buy another 120 volt unit, my TIG has 120/240 dual voltage if I ever only had access to 120v. Everyone else's suggestion of a 240 volt stick welder on CL is the way to go until you have more to spend.

 

[jeremy_cherokee]

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

I've been trying to contact a guy here locally with a nice Lincoln but his number is showing invalid and he has no email.

So ... the search continues.

 

[milkovich]

If you can swing it, this hobart 135 would be a good box: https://desmoines.craigslist.org/tls/5627185184.html

If you're stuck at the $100 price range, you can't go wrong with the old lincoln stick welder.