Welder
 

The time has come! I have actually found a welder that I can afford, the question is will it be good enough? I'm not looking to weld together an entire frame from scratch, I'm just looking to a 2slicknick type job (like that murray kart). Welding parts onto the frame, seatbacks, etc etc. It's a 70amp arc welder. Do ya guys think it'd be fine? Looked it up and I see that it welds up to 1/8in thick, I know welding will take some time and practice (and a helmet! :D) but it would fine, wouldn't it? I don't think any of the tubing on my YD is more than 1/8?

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/tls/4414914246.html

Edit: According to metalstudman, the metal is about 16ga thick (.0598in) and the welder handles 11-12ga (.125in) so I'm good to go there. Got info from this thread

I am not sure about that type of welder, but I imagine it would work for what you want to do with it. I am unsure of how pricey rods can be, but make sure you have a helmet and gloves. I bet it will weld metal. Practice makes perfect. Good luck. Maybe someone else will chime in here.. Time for work:cussing:

Arc/stick welders are notoriously hard to learn, and each metal alloy has a stick to correspond to it, wrong stick, weld fails. If you do choose to get an arc welder, once you get proficient with it, you can do damn near anything. For the most part though, the materials we are welding are too thin to easily weld with an arc welder.

My $.02, save and wait for a decent flux/mig set up. You won't regret it.

Interesting. I wanted an arc anyway just because its the "go anywhere" kinda thing. I def. don't want one with a gas tank so either flux/arc, but I figured an arc would be a good hobbyist/starter welder. I know I'd be able to do a lot with it once I get the hang of it, people say its like striking a match. Is that somewhat true?

Again, thanks for the great info/responses!

Striking a match is likely referring to the motion used to weld with a stick. Please research methods for arc welding if you buy it, the seams need to be a certain way and the ends of the welds can't be on corners and things like that. That is what drives people to move to mig/wire, they are point and shoot.

Flux also takes some finesse to get down pat, mig is more forgiving and leaves a cleaner bead and can be used on really thing stuff without burning holes.

Once you learn how to arc weld you should be fine. Me and my son has been teaching ourselves how threw the internet and YouTube. I bought the arc welder from HF. Cause it was on special. Remember after all arc welding is how everything got welded in the past before might and tig came out. Just practice... there's different rods for different metals and amp settings. You'll be fine. Engoy!!!!!

But again like master said mig would be the way to go if you haven't bought the arc welder yet.

The arc isnt that big a deal to us "old timers" cause thats all there was back then! That being said, if they had mig/tigs back then, I'd taken my stick welder straight to the dump! what with all the different rods and making sure they didnt get the least bit damp and all that! just an "old farts" opinion! :biglaugh:

Haven't bought it...but still think that I may. Essentially the downfalls of it are that a) sticks can't get wet b) difficult to start c) certain sticks per metal.

So are there different sticks for different types of steel...not stainless or alum. just steel. I know there are different thicknesses, but what about types of metal?

you have regular steel ,stainless and more hard to weld is the old cast iron. it is also very hard to get used to looking through a welding shield because of the darkness of the lens. you don"t want to burn your eyes welding. I have done it twice and believe me it is no walk in the park. and yes mig is a hell of a lot easier than stick.

Yea, as I'm not going to be "Really" welding, I don't think I want to deal with Mig/Tig and buying gasses (keep in mind I'm also on a crazy low budget...it doesn't mean cheap out on everything, but I have to work with what I can get my hands on... :evil:). So really it's looking for a decent inexpensive flux or buying this arc, arc WORKS but flux style is easier... Isn't flux essentially mig but with the shielding gas "built in" to the spool? Anyhow, the guy still hasn't emailed me back (didn't leave a # so I couldn't call) so its not like I COULD buy it...

I'll keep looking... Thanks for the great input, guys!

I think a Flux core mig is just the thing you need. I am amazed of the love for welding I have now.. Mine is a TSC mig and I have done some amazing stuff with it. I have actually welded my special needs boy a swing and made him other various things like ramps for his wheelchair. Very versatile these flux core migs are. Research, buy new flux core and read directions FULLY. and read and watch you tubes DIY vids.

Well that arc welder is SOLD. Someone got to it before me, so next time I look it'll be at a flux! Mig/TIG is too expensive/advanced for me (I don't need that kind of thing) and I'd be willing to get an arc, but flux seems to be the best bet. Again, this info is invaluable! Thanks

Hey it's just like the right buggy, sometimes you just have to wait for it to come along!

Ordered a Miller 140 autoset myself.. Can't wait to make some sparks.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/tls/4439604419.html

the guy just re-listed it for 20$....I'm considering picking it up just to toy with it a little... at that price....

Well.... You might as well get it then. Have him show you how it works though.

Agreed, Nick. Although I'm a bit wary of it being re-listed and much cheaper... I'll be careful here.

And like I said it's only $20


Edit: That being said, it'd be nice if I got an email back... :p