[AT] Welders

[Chuck Bealke]

On 12/4/2011 6:01 PM, charlie hill wrote:
> Mike this is a good site to look around on.  Their prices are good too.
> http://store.cyberweld.com/millerwelders.html  Unless you know how to weld
> already I think you'd be better off to go with a  stick rig.
> MIG is nice but it's expensive to buy, cost a lot to use and can be
> problematic and require repairs with the feed mechanism.   It's just not
> really worth it if you just want to do some welding now and then and you
> want to weld a variety of thickness of metal.
>
> Charlie Hill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike M
> Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 6:39 PM
> To: at
> Subject: [AT] Welders
>
> Hi all,
> I'm in the market for a welder and would be interested in getting opinions
> as to what type to get. It would get used for machinery repair (tractor,
> brush hog etc). I was looking at some of the MIG welders at TSC the other
> day, and they looked nice, but were pricey if they are able to weld thicker
> steel. I've never used a MIG welder, but have used an arc welder in the
> past. An arc welder seems like a simpler choice, but I would be interested
> in other opinions.
> Thanks,
> Mike M
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Charlie,

Sure agree with using a buzz box for your first welder.  Used an OLD 
Craftsman 180 Amp AC for a few years and though 'twas a bit light, got 
most of my jobs done just fine.  As was stated here, a DC welder is 
preferable.  With an AC buzz box with less than a 200 or 225 Amp rating, 
the lower duty cycle time can get to be a real nuisance (forcing you to 
pause after much welding).

Don't forget to set up good air movement/exhaust for any indoor areas 
where you locate an indoor welder, as you don't want to inhale fumes 
when you weld - especially on galvanized metal.  A short and cheap high 
school evening class for adults on welding was a great investment of 
time when I started. Since moving to town, I sure miss welding and 
cutting with stick and gas. Always lusted after a Heliarc welder ($$$) 
for aluminum and wanted to learn brazing, but access to a 
friend's oxy-acetylene aircraft size torch at least allowed me to build 
some very handy special wrenches and other steel tools cheaply.

Chuck Bealke
Dallas