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  #1   IP: 32.211.28.40
Old 01-10-2018, 09:22 PM
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Al Schober Al Schober is offline
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Welder

I've been thinking of buying a welder, and don't know enough about them to make an intelligent selection. I'd like the capability to weld mild steel (not necessarily stainless) up to perhaps 1/8". I've been looking at the small MIG welders with the thought of using shielded wire. My thought (I could be wrong) is that dealing with the gas bottle would be a hassle? Any other features I should get/don't need? Max/min current, AC/DC?
For brazing, I've been using goggles with a #5 lens - seems OK. For welding, do I need a full face shield (seems like a good idea)? How effective are the auto-darkening shields?
Harbor Freight welders any good? I've been told to avoid them for certain products like vaccines and parachutes, but some of their products are decent and good for their price.
Besides, I think we need a new topic to kick around - things are slow on the BB.
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  #2   IP: 107.77.97.113
Old 01-11-2018, 12:18 AM
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I bet you'd have a lot of fun starting off with a stick welder off of craig's list.

Do this:

Take a community college class in welding. It's just too damn easy to practice mistakes until you give up trying. The instructor will be the source of recommendations then and it will simply be a fun winter thing.

I'm a terrible welder 'cause I don't learnt it no good.
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  #3   IP: 73.129.213.235
Old 01-11-2018, 06:12 AM
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I picked a Hobart product to rebuild a car. I started on frame repair, learning on larger, flat surfaces and moved on to a thinner gauge wire, door panel fixes and more detailed work. I've done small stick welding projects and using a mig with a tank is far more forgiving and offers better welds on mild steel for a non-professional. A tank can last for years, based on how you use it.

auto darkening masks are great, don't skimp on the gloves.

James
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  #4   IP: 12.219.49.130
Old 01-11-2018, 07:42 AM
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I have a Lincoln MIG set up. I use the shielded wire and gas. Have welded all sorts of projects including stainless.

The welder I bought runs on 120 v, so I can plug it in anywhere. It will weld up to 5/16 I believe. It is SUPER handy. I lent it to my brother and he liked it so much he bought his own. Now his stick welder sits unused unless we need to weld something thicker than 1/8

Lincoln or Hobart, I recommend you buy the quality brand. Parts, service and supplies are much easier to obtain. Duty cycle and build quality is much higher.
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  #5   IP: 166.137.252.75
Old 01-11-2018, 09:53 AM
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Please go on. Welding is a black art I’ve never understood much about.
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  #6   IP: 107.77.97.113
Old 01-11-2018, 12:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tenders View Post
Please go on. Welding is a black art I’ve never understood much about.
My point exactly. See post #2.
The answer to "what welder should I buy?" is; What kind of welding are you doing?
Not satisfactory I know, but I don't think there's a nutshell big enough for the subject.

It is fun to stick metal together so I would say enjoy the learning.

A note:
Cover all your skin against UV rays from the arc. Welders(humans) always have a sunburn at the opening of their shirt collar. Not good.
Also, wear boots, not shoes. Sparks fly every where and get into places you cant imagine!
A piece of red-hot slag will burn a hole right through your sock and half way through the skin of you foot before you can say....
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