Welder type

[JPWH 6,128]

I have a 225 amp stick welder, a100 amp mig, and a 140 amp mig. All are Lincolns. I use all of them but the one I use most is the 100 amp mig. I used flux core for years. I now have gas on both migs. If I had to choose one machine I would go with the 140 amp mig. It will work on 120  and 240 volt power. Easy to change wire for different needs. The 240 is nice when you need  the higher amperage.

The welding machines vary in type and size but the welding shield also makes a difference. I would recommend using an auto darkening welding shield.

[WHX?? 49,282]

You go with a strait stick machine Bob I'll give you this squirt gun to play with. Have to come to Pullstart's plow day to get it tho... 

 

FYI I bet don't have but a little over 100 in this rig ... cart, mask, tools & all less the two welders.  I'm about ready to move up and trying to get our buddy to sell me the green one. He kinda wants to keep it in case he needs to go portable or weld in a breeze which is a pit fall of a gas one. 

 

I keep my helmet in an old pillow case but @Achto found some nice bags in the jungle for those more expensive ones. 

 

Also I have a buddy who was a welding instructor and certifies wanna be's the secret to good flux core is the quality of wire.   

Edited November 9, 2024 by WHX??

[Racinbob 11,265]

23 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

You go with a strait stick machine Bob I'll give you this squirt gun to play with. Have to come to Pullstart's plow day to get it tho... 

 

FYI I bet don't have but a little over 100 in this rig ... cart, mask, tools & all less the two welders.  I'm about ready to move up and trying to get our buddy to sell me the green one. He kinda wants to keep it in case he needs to go portable or weld in a breeze which is a pit fall of a gas one. 

I keep my helmet in an old pillow case but @Achto found some nice bags in the jungle for those more expensive ones. 

 

Also I have a buddy who was a welding instructor and certifies wanna be's the secret to good flux core is the quality of wire.   

 

I was under the impression that MIG requires a tank where flux core doesn't? 

 

I don't think I'll have any trouble learning. When I had the Lincoln 225 stick I was actually pretty good with it but it's been over 25 years. At this point I'm kinda leaning towards a flux but I'm wondering if a stick would be a better choice for my limited usage. I'm thinking being able to weld 1/4" would be nice but I'm wanting to minimize the electrical work. Maybe I should just do the electrical and be done with it.   

[ebinmaine 68,625]

Just now, Racinbob said:

Maybe I should just do the electrical and be done with it. 

 

Speaking from direct personal experience. 

 

Yes. 

 

A GOOD flux core welder could do the 3/16" and up. 

A cheap/inexpensive one.. won't.  

 

 

This will absolutely be an occasion of, you get what ya pay for.  

 

 

[ebinmaine 68,625]

We installed a 100 amp service in the barn 2+ years ago because that's what was available at the time. 

 

Lately we've been seriously considering upgrading to a 200 amp. 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 12,544]

11 hours ago, JPWH said:

I would recommend using an auto darkening welding shield.

My advice is always that you can go economy on the machine, but never on the safety equipment. Gloves, quality auto darkening helmet, apron, A-B-C fire extinguisher handy.

[Achto 27,844]

7 hours ago, Racinbob said:

I was under the impression that MIG requires a tank where flux core doesn't? 

 

That would be the only difference between the 2.

 

7 hours ago, Racinbob said:

When I had the Lincoln 225 stick I was actually pretty good with it but it's been over 25 years. At this point I'm kinda leaning towards a flux but I'm wondering if a stick would be a better choice for my limited usage.

 

Using a mig or flux core is pretty much the same as using a stick welder, just have to remember not to keep feeding the gun in closer.

[Handy Don 12,544]

9 minutes ago, Achto said:

Using a mig or flux core is pretty much the same as using a stick welder, just have to remember not to keep feeding the gun in closer.

Wire angle, push vs. drag, actually matters as well!

[WHX?? 49,282]

8 hours ago, Racinbob said:

was under the impression that MIG requires a tank where flux core doesn't? 

Correct ... the two terms get interchanged but probably shouldn't. 

 

8 hours ago, Handy Don said:

quality auto darkening helmet

Yeah I bought a horror fright $40 cheapy and a POS. It gets too dark and can't see. Adjustments don't work. 

I don't use it and just keep my eyes shut ... get better welds that way  ... 😆

[adsm08 2,208]

24 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

 

 

Yeah I bought a horror fright $40 cheapy and a POS. It gets too dark and can't see. Adjustments don't work. 

I don't use it and just keep my eyes shut ... get better welds that way  ... 😆

 

I have one of those too. It sounds like mine works a little better than yours, but yes, there is basically too dark, or not dark enough, and no middle ground.

 

I do like it for cutting work though. I leave it in the Grind setting and I can see what I'm doing, but I get enough darkening to protect my eyes from the torch, and some actual eye protection too.

[adsm08 2,208]

9 hours ago, Racinbob said:

 

I was under the impression that MIG requires a tank where flux core doesn't? 

 

 

Right. MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas. So to truly be MIG welding you need to be using a shielding gas. The gas and the flux serve the same purpose, to keep the nasty stuff out of your welds. Flux has slag to chip away at the end, gas doesn't.

 

 

But all MIG units I have ever seen are capable of both modes.

[ebinmaine 68,625]

9 hours ago, Handy Don said:

My advice is always that you can go economy on the machine, but never on the safety equipment. Gloves, quality auto darkening helmet, apron, A-B-C fire extinguisher handy.

 

I'm not prone to using cheap safety products but HF has a particular type of gloves I like a lot. 

They just .. fit..

They're made for TIG welding and much thinner than any stick welding gloves. That's important to remember when handling hot 🔥 steel.  

 

[Achto 27,844]

15 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Yeah I bought a horror fright $40 cheapy and a POS. It gets too dark and can't see.

 

I suggest one of these helmets or at least one that has the true color technology. Vision is crystal clear compared to the old green tint lenses. If you are purchasing an auto tint, you may also want to make sure that it has replaceable batteries. I had a Harbor Freight cheapy with the non-replaceable battery, the batteries died mid weld. My welding project was done at that point, until I was able to purchase a new helmet.

 

https://www.amazon.com/ARCCAPTAIN-Welding-Darkening-Viewing-Powered/dp/B0BV6RYWV9/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1ID2OZCZTC81F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.--7_R6rGIU-FcBXQHDPqlrnHbhkO6jZyCdo4psjRis8sR2lE_4cryWYy9A6uWw878__36E0niXrUUjVhd2fCs81wKK2uXJIKHBcotRVIilRybEb5GhOuMaK4U1FmIKHtNHg8R5OzxQf_zDWcl2z-XRH5l5t5cz49ENEvTMs-9usNCreu-TSKlFemjkMEfPX1Tmy4ifMKI8Msks9yXbShnZSOZWADLLlLuKhqqXCvZxqaMFw3708iSYA9NOuCMo4oiwCZCut8n96YPqMPb-24TzRWgHH1ALgav7YOTMbRmxc.hMlDKZaijVkkaXDITfdNmoP2I50JrRJyaWv8P9RvDhE&dib_tag=se&keywords=welding%2Bhelmet&qid=1731249103&sprefix=welding%2B%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-10&th=1

 

The helmet above is an awesome choice for the money.

 

[ebinmaine 68,625]

9 minutes ago, Achto said:

The helmet above is an awesome choice for the money.

 

Seconded. 

I have a very similar one.  

 

 

 

[WHX?? 49,282]

Don't they claim the batteries recharge with arc light?

Holy crap Dan their giving it away!

What's the diff between the 25 dollar and more $$ ones? 

Edited November 10, 2024 by WHX??

[Achto 27,844]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Don't they claim the batteries recharge with arc light?

 

They do recharge while welding, but they still only last just so long.

 

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

What's the diff between the 25 dollar and more $$ ones? 

 

Guessing the cheaper ones are just constant tint and do not auto tint.

[adsm08 2,208]

21 hours ago, Achto said:

 

They do recharge while welding, but they still only last just so long.

 

 

Guessing the cheaper ones are just constant tint and do not auto tint.

 

Some of the cheaper ones are just a photovoltaic cell with no battery, so they operate a lot like a calculator.

[Handy Don 12,544]

Yep, a good quality helmet will have a large viewing area with fine-grained control for degree of darkness and a quick response time. Also, the better the quality, the clearer the view when in non-darkened state. Most will also have a “how long do I stay dark after the arc ends” adjustment, multiple photosensors, and photovoltaic battery charging. Most also offer a switch for weld/grind states.

Going further up the scale, one can get forced filtered air feed to assure non-fogging, clean air to breathe.

I use a mid-level Hobart Inventor series.

Edited November 12, 2024 by Handy Don