First Welder

[thebikedoctor33]

What would you recomend as a first welder. Like a specic company and model. I need something cheap, as in sub $200 and 120V. This will be my first endevor into welding so it needs to be user friendly and simple. I will be welding new floor pans in among other things if that needs to be takn into account. It doesnt need to do anything special, mostly just steel and possibly some aluminum if I could. I dont know how well mig welders work with aluminum, but i bet one you you do..

Thanks

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by thebikedoctor33

What would you recomend as a first welder. Like a specic company and model. I need something cheap, as in sub $200 and 120V. This will be my first endevor into welding so it needs to be user friendly and simple. I will be welding new floor pans in among other things if that needs to be takn into account. It doesnt need to do anything special, mostly just steel and possibly some aluminum if I could. I dont know how well mig welders work with aluminum, but i bet one you you do..

Thanks

You will not find anything quality for $200. A welder is an investment, and its worth the extra money you would pay for a good one versus a crappy one. A good one like Miller/Hobart, and Lincoln Electric will last you several decades if basic care is taken. There are Millers/Hobarts and Lincolns that friends of mine use that are from World War II and work as well today as they did then.

A couple tips for buying a welder for somebody new. Do not buy a flux core (also known as gasless) only machine. Flux core is a joke. The welds are not strong, slag and flux needs to be cleaned off several times. Cannot properly weld sheet with it, so on and so forth. Make sure you buy one that is ready to be hooked up to a bottle.

Second. Do not buy the smallest machine. I guarantee that you'll need bigger and better within a couple weeks. Buy a machine thats middle duty (in other words, the biggest you can buy for 120V). You dont need a huge 230V machine, but buy the biggest you can buy that still plugs into a 120V outlet.

Third. Stick with name brands, Miller, Hobart, Lincoln Electric, ESAB. These machines are the most well built and have parts readily available. Cheap brands dont last, and dont have accessories or spare parts. Stay away from Harbor Freight/Campbell Hausfeld.

A beginner setup will cost you about $750, that includes the welder itself ($550 considering it comes with gas setup), a bottle of sheilding gas ($20 per refill, price of the bottle depends on the size and if you buy or rent one), then a mask ($30), and gloves ($15).

MIG can weld aluminum, but not well. You need straight Argon gas, teflon lining, and aluminum wire. Steel welds the best and easiest with MIG, use 75% Argon 25% CO2 sheilding gas (10-15CFH), and ER70S-6 wire.

Hope that helps.

[PBking82]

I thought for aluminum welding with mig, you also needed an "aluminum gun" that has the spool/gun together. Last time i checked those are not cheap. Peace-

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by PBking82

I thought for aluminum welding with mig, you also needed an "aluminum gun" that has the spool/gun together. Last time i checked those are not cheap. Peace-

Spool guns are reccomended but not a neccesity. They just help to keep from binding. If you dont use a spool gun then you have to keep the gun cable really straight and use thicker wire.

Its difficult to weld without one, but I've done it.

[thebikedoctor33]

Hows this look? Is that everything I would need to get started?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...05&R=200311005

[mike@af]

I used to work at Northern Tool. That welder was decent, but parts were not readily available for it. Clarke is a British brand, so parts were hard to find and when you broke something they would have to be ordered through Clarke.

Honestly, I saw the same customers that bought that machine coming back for replacement parts. That tells me that it falls apart easily. The most frequently asked for part was the trigger.

I highly reccomend the Hobart 140:
http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhan135.html
I have talked to several customers who loved it. I have also used the machine at the Hobart Demo with no problems.

The extra money spent on a good machine is well worth it.

Hope that helps.

[thebikedoctor33]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

I used to work at Northern Tool. That welder was decent, but parts were not readily available for it. Clarke is a British brand, so parts were hard to find and when you broke something they would have to be ordered through Clarke.

Honestly, I saw the same customers that bought that machine coming back for replacement parts. That tells me that it falls apart easily. The most frequently asked for part was the trigger.

I highly reccomend the Hobart 140:
http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhan135.html
I have talked to several customers who loved it. I have also used the machine at the Hobart Demo with no problems.

The extra money spent on a good machine is well worth it.

Hope that helps.

if i buy either of those two, will i need to get like tanks of some sort. with the gas, how much will that be?

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by thebikedoctor33

if i buy either of those two, will i need to get like tanks of some sort. with the gas, how much will that be?

Yes, you will need to get a tank. The price of the tank depends on the size. Also, you can rent tanks with a deposit, or you can buy one. An 80CF tank runs about $200 to be bought. This size tanks lasts about 8hours of continous welding depending on the setup. It costs about $20 to refill. The prices fluctuate.

Look through your phone book and see if there is a store that rents and fills bottles. If you have a Northern Tool by you I know they rent/sell bottles and have full ones for trade.

[thebikedoctor33]

well thanks for all the suggestion and info. i think i have a basic idea of what to look for now. i'll let you know when and what i get.

thanks

[mike@af]

Feel free to post up on here before you buy anything to get our advice if you would like.