Welder type

[Racinbob 11,265]

Before our move to Florida in 2000 I had a Lincoln 225 and was was more than enough for what I needed. I don't know if I ever set it above 125 amps. I have an occasional need for a welder now but I don't need anything snazzy. 3/16" (maybe 1/4") would probably be the max thickness I'd need it for on down to lighter stuff like mower decks etc. Because of the limited usage I don't see me going with a multiprocess machine. Here's two that were handy to link to. 

 

Easy-Flux 125 Amp Welder

Welders - Harbor Freight Tools

 

A quick search really muddies things up. There are tons of 80-120 amp machines that seem to fit my needs but I know a lot, maybe most, of you guys have a lot of experience so I thought I'd run it past you. Based on my needs what do you think would be my best choice? Not brand but type. My first thoughts lean towards a light duty stick machine since I have some experience with them. . 

[ebinmaine 68,625]

1 minute ago, Racinbob said:

My first thoughts lean towards a light duty stick machine since I have some experience with them. . 

 

 

That was my first thought as well. 

 

I have the older version of HF 120V flux core welder. 

It's "rated"  up to around 3/16" and that's pushing it.  I won't use it for anything that thick that I need to depend on. 

 

For anything 3/16" or thicker I'll be using my 40+ years young Lincoln "tombstone" AC stick welder.  

 

Likely I'll keep myself at a usable skill level on both but if I HAD to choose it would be the stick welder. 

 

 

[Racinbob 11,265]

There's a vote for what I was thinking.

Those old Lincolns just go on forever don't they. I see a bunch of stick welders good for more than I need such as this one.

 

ETL MMA Welder 200A 120/230V Dual Voltage Digital Inverter IGBT Stick ARC Welder High Current DIY Welding Machine with Welder Kit

 

I kinda hope I don't have to do much wiring to power whatever I get but just because it is rated to that capacity but I can limit the input current simply be not setting it that high. 

 

 

[ri702bill 8,550]

24 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

For anything 3/16" or thicker I'll be using my 40+ years young Lincoln "tombstone" AC stick welder. 

Now where did I leave that dang chippin' hammer???  

[953 nut 56,016]

I learned to weld on an AC Stick welder when I was a kid and have had a Lincoln 225 for over fifty years, it is my go-to for most jobs.

About 30 years ago I bought a Lincoln Wire-Matic 250 MIG welder which is far bigger than I will ever need. I don't use it enough to feel proficient at it but its ability to tack things together rapidly is great. Once I develop a bit of muscle memory with it I love using it but seldom have that much welding to do.

If I could only keep one of them it would be the stick welder, not because it is better, just because it is what I am most comfortable with. If I were buying one I wouldn't want to purchase the least expensive one out there, the price probably is reflective of the quality.    

 

[Racinbob 11,265]

Another one for stick. 

 

I'm just posting the links as examples. I would go with a mid range price wise. Arccaptain seems to come up a lot and reviews decently. But I'm looking more for welder type than brand but any recommendations there are welcome too. 

[ebinmaine 68,625]

32 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Now where did I leave that dang chippin' hammer???  

 

That reminds me I need to get a replacement brush for mine. 

[Wayne0 539]

1 hour ago, Racinbob said:

There's a vote for what I was thinking.

Those old Lincolns just go on forever don't they. I see a bunch of stick welders good for more than I need such as this one.

 

ETL MMA Welder 200A 120/230V Dual Voltage Digital Inverter IGBT Stick ARC Welder High Current DIY Welding Machine with Welder Kit

 

I kinda hope I don't have to do much wiring to power whatever I get but just because it is rated to that capacity but I can limit the input current simply be not setting it that high. 

 

 

I just can't believe how small that is!

[Achto 27,844]

I have done a fair amount of welding with one of these machines.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-57861.html

 

Very good welder, flux core is a bit messy but some anti-spatter spray before you weld helps a lot. Have welded 20ga sheet metal through 1/4" with no issues. 

Note: Hobart flux core wire works better than the HF brand wires with these units.

Edited November 7, 2024 by Achto

[oliver2-44 9,879]

I to am learned and am more proficient with a stick welder. 

But I'm going to go against the grain.

A flux core wire welder sure is easier to use on thin stuff and this WH hobby is all thin stuff.

 

With a stick I can very can carefully weld 1/8" but anything below I blow holes in.  

I intermittently blow holes that I have to repair, trying to weld mower decks and smaller square or round tubing with my stick.

I picked up a used Miller 110v (older heavy) suitcase wire welder that I am working to get proficient at.

Around here there are a bunch of residential  boat dock and pier welders.  (Welder, clip board and a truck and their in business)

They are welding 2-7/8 pipe, 4" red iron square tubing and purlins with wire welders. 

The better ones at least make 2 or 3 passes on the few heavier pipe welds.

 

 

 

[WHX?? 49,282]

That must be the one I have on loan from Joel Dan. I can weld better with it than the cheapy I bought from him. Pics when I get out to the shop. 

Isn't that the same one your brother has? 

I have to fab a front receiver for the new SxS and I'll just tack it together and bring it Dan for final. 

 

I like the one Joel has now but that means argon and all that. I doubt if Bob wants to go that route tho. 

 

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

usable skill level

 

You mean you have one?!?!? ... I wish! 

I just used my cousin's Lincoln tombstone to weld bucket hooks on the big tractor and no ... you do not want to see pics ... 

 

This is the one I always like but way beyond what I would need. I guess it's like horsepower ...  way too much till you need it ...

https://www.harborfreight.com/unlimited-200-professional-multiprocess-welder-with-120240v-input-57862.html

 

[WHX?? 49,282]

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

I need such as this one.

Wow I just looked Bob ... they're giving it away! 

[JimSraj 444]

I’m gonna throw in with Oliver2-44. A wire feed welder, capable of using both flux core or Argon/CO2 gas shield, such as a Lincoln 140 or similar is probably going to work fine for anything you’d want to weld on a WH. That size can be run on regular 120 20 amp circuit. 

[Handy Don 12,544]

I vote with @Achto for a decent quality flux core unit of around 125A. It is worth learning and practicing and the anti-spatter spray really does work!

If the budget and interest allow, the HF 140 Flux/MIG leaves the option of moving up to gas and thicker pieces if you choose (I did) for not a lot more money--you can lease the gas tank if you don’t want to own one.  I used Forney flux core wire (their welders are also well reviewed) and .030 copper coated for MIG work.

[ebinmaine 68,625]

28 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

You mean you have one?!?!? ... I wish! 

 

Usable. 

Ain't pretty.... but Usable.  

 

 

 

48 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

With a stick I can very can carefully weld 1/8" but anything below I blow holes in

 

Jim get you some 6013  1/16"  rods and go to burnin'  em.  

 

Use a stitch weld. 

 

Time consuming. Yes. But good results.  

 

 

I like the idea of a gas welder but HUGE money around here.  

 

 

[Achto 27,844]

33 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

That must be the one I have on loan from Joel Dan. I can weld better with it than the cheapy I bought from him. Pics when I get out to the shop. 

Isn't that the same one your brother has? 

 

Yes & yes

[Racinbob 11,265]

2 hours ago, Achto said:

I have done a fair amount of welding with one of these machines.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-57861.html

 

Very good welder, flux core is a bit messy but some anti-spatter spray before you weld helps a lot. Have welded 20ga sheet metal through 1/4" with no issues. 

Note: Hobart flux core wire works better than the HF brand wires with these units.

 

Real thin is something I would need. 20ga to 1/4" is excellent for what I'm looking for. I'm putting that down for flux. I've been looking at that same welder pretty hard.

 

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I like the one Joel has now but that means argon and all that. I doubt if Bob wants to go that route tho. 

 

You are so right. No gas.

[Racinbob 11,265]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Jim get you some 6013  1/16"  rods and go to burnin'  em.  

 

Use a stitch weld. 

 

Time consuming. Yes. But good results.  

 

 

I like the idea of a gas welder but HUGE money around here.  

 

 

 

When I had the Lincoln I was able to weld pretty thin stuff with 6013. Another rod that comes to mind is 7014, I think. Both rods were easy to weld with. 

[Handy Don 12,544]

One important difference between stick and flux core is learning how to adjust amps and feed rate, since one rarely uses a job-specific wire. This takes the place (mostly) of using different rod compositions.

Mine also has an automatic small speedup of the wire feed once you’ve struck an arc--better machines allow one to control the amount of that speedup.

Another useful feature is an inductance control that manages the rise time of the current each time the wire touches the puddle (remember, the arc is not continuous, it is a series of arcs, hence the “sizzle” sound)---in effect, the control lets you keep the puddle warmer or cooler (very helpful when welding thicker or thinner parts, respectively). It does this WAY more smoothly than you can do it by hand (and you can hear the difference--a smoother buzz vs. a sharper chatter).

Yes, it does take practice to learn to use these features effectively.

Edited November 7, 2024 by Handy Don

[ebinmaine 68,625]

47 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

When I had the Lincoln I was able to weld pretty thin stuff with 6013. Another rod that comes to mind is 7014, I think. Both rods were easy to weld with. 

 

Agreed. 

 

Difference between those two is the depth of penetration. 

7014 will dig a wee bit more. 

 

Another advantage of a stick welder for me is the usage of different rods. 

 

6011 is a great deep-digging strong root weld. 

Can be a %*!^$@^$&$;  to start the arc though.....

 

 

[Wayne0 539]

Years ago, I picked up a cheap Century "Power Mate 100" wire welder at Sam's Club. It had the gas setup, but came with flux core wire.

I ran the flux wire until I got proficient with it.

At that point, I added gas and never looked back.

I can put a decent weld on 1/2" plate and used it to build my log splitter.

Can't remember what I paid for it as I have CRS. I know it wasn't much.

Edited November 7, 2024 by Wayne0

[adsm08 2,208]

I bought an Eastwood MIG 180 a few years ago that I love.

 

It does gas or flux, 110 or 220, all the consumables are standard, readily available replacement parts, and I thought the cost was reasonable. Although I got it on sale and the regular price has gone up a bit since I bought it.

 

I also plan to need to potentially weld on vehicle frames at some point, so the ability to do thicker metals was important to me.

 

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-mig-welder-180-amp.html

[oliver2-44 9,879]

13 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Jim get you some 6013  1/16"  rods and go to burnin'  em.  

 

Use a stitch weld. 

 

Time consuming. Yes. But good results.  

 

 

I like the idea of a gas welder but HUGE money around here.  

 

 

I,ve use 1/16 and 3/32 rods. But I do better stitch welding thin stuff with 1/8 rod and work with my amp setting lower than I can with the smaller rods. To ME the larger 1/8” rod gives me some more metal to fill the arc keyhole with vs the smaller rod just being an arc gouger.   That’s counterintuitive, but that’s just me

Edited November 8, 2024 by oliver2-44

[ebinmaine 68,625]

7 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

I,ve use 1/16 and 3/32 rods. But I do better stitch welding thin stuff with 1/8 rod and work with my amp setting lower than I can with the smaller rods. To ME the larger 1/8” rod gives me some more metal to fill the arc keyhole with vs the smaller rod just being an arc gouger.   That’s counterintuitive, but that’s just me

 

Definitely understandable. 

Welding is certainly not an exact science. 

It's an art that can vary a LOT from person to person and still be successful. 

[Marv 949]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Definitely understandable. 

Welding is certainly not an exact science. 

It's an art that can vary a LOT from person to person and still be successful. 

unless you are welding space equipment,

Marv