First welder advice

speedbump · Dec 4, 2013

Sort of like soldering but more like welding with an oxy-ace torch than anything. But of course you are melting the parent metal as well as the filler

Your right, I guess TIG would be more like Gas welding with a electricity instead of a flame.

That is very true with dual shield. And a lot of the gas-less fluxcore as well. Here is some NR-212 I ran, all the slag and splatter came right off with a wire wheel on a 4-inch grinder.

Those are some pretty welds. They look like they dug in quite well too. Mine sometimes look that way, but never as straight.

CJONE · Dec 4, 2013

Lets make it simple, buy a AC/DC stick machine. You can weld just about anything, inside and outside including aluminum and stainless. Yes I agree with thin stuff it is simpler to use a mig but you can get good with the thin stuff with DC- also. No worry about cold lap just undercut and usually a non issue anyway. Up and running for $500 ish. CJ

tkappeler · Dec 4, 2013

Thanks guys. I think I may go for the DC stick. The ones you have mentioned are:

Everlast PA160 - entry level but solid
Everlast PA-300 - adjustable hot start
Longevity Stickweld 250 - adjustable hot start

Any others I should consider?

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2013

tkappeler said:
Any others I should consider?

Well yeah! I can suggest until the cows come home. :laughing:
Invertec Multi-Process Welders | Lincoln Electric

tkappeler · Dec 5, 2013

Shield Arc said:
Well yeah! I can suggest until the cows come home. :laughing:
Invertec Multi-Process Welders | Lincoln Electric

Dooah! I asked for that one. :duh:

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2013

Yes you did!

Hey I'm bad enough at spending my money, but I could really spend yours.:laughing:

k0ua · Dec 5, 2013

tkappeler said:
Thanks guys. I think I may go for the DC stick. The ones you have mentioned are:

Everlast PA160 - entry level but solid
Everlast PA-300 - adjustable hot start
Longevity Stickweld 250 - adjustable hot start

Any others I should consider?

Everlast PA-200 too.

CJONE · Dec 5, 2013

Shield Arc said:
Well yeah! I can suggest until the cows come home. :laughing:
Invertec Multi-Process Welders | Lincoln Electric

He he, I would suggest a SA-200 but I have heard someone was hoarding them!! CJ

k0ua · Dec 5, 2013

CJONE said:
He he, I would suggest a SA-200 but I have heard someone was hoarding them!! CJ

I heard they were all up in the Pacific Northwest somewhere.

CNC Dan · Dec 5, 2013

k0ua said:
Everlast PA-200 too.

I just got one of those. I got the model that can run either 120 or 240 volts. I'm very inpressd. I had a PA140(sold it) that was great too.
I like the PA200 for the increased output and better 6011/6010 capability.

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2013

CJONE said:
He he, I would suggest a SA-200 but I have heard someone was hoarding them!! CJ

k0ua said:
I heard they were all up in the Pacific Northwest somewhere.

Where? I could use a few more!

:laughing:

CNC Dan said:
I just got one of those. I got the model that can run either 120 or 240 volts. I'm very inpressd. I had a PA140(sold it) that was great too.
I like the PA200 for the increased output and better 6011/6010 capability.

Dan you may not believe it, and I sure wouldn't have without seeing it with my own eyes! But the PA-200 with stack 6010 every bit as nice as either one of my SA-200 Short Hoods. You just have to hold a closer arc length is all.

CNC Dan · Dec 5, 2013

Shield Arc said:
Where? I could use a few more!:laughing:

Dan you may not believe it, and I sure wouldn't have without seeing it with my own eyes! But the PA-200 with stack 6010 every bit as nice as either one of my SA-200 Short Hoods. You just have to hold a closer arc length is all.

I know, that's why I bought it.
I'd say even better. And I don't have to keep any shorter arc than I normaly do. And I can whip and pause if I need to.

The PA140 wouldn't. I would have liked to send it to you to see what you could do with it, but I sold it to a TBN member.

Like night and day between the PA140 and the PA200.

Shield Arc · Dec 5, 2013

Yeah when I first got my PA-200 I was floored at the quality of arc. For the price I don't think you'll find a better welder. I'd love to get my hands on a PA-300:licking:, if Mark wasn't such a cheap skate

he would send me one to play with!:laughing:

Mark @ Everlast · Dec 6, 2013

The new 200st, although it has a reduced duty cycle, it is supposed to be a little more tolerant of a longer arc.

tkappeler · Dec 6, 2013

Mark,

I will be in touch if Santa has not already done so.

Shield Arc · Dec 6, 2013

tkappeler said:
Mark,

I will be in touch if Santa has not already done so.

Gonna get the PA-300? :drool::drool::drool:

tkappeler · Dec 6, 2013

Shield Arc said:
Gonna get the PA-300? :drool::drool::drool:

They have them back in stock? I thought you cleaned them out?

tkappeler · Dec 9, 2013

A few more questions if I may... How light of material can I do stick welding? I will probably want to do some decorative/artistic work from time to time such as making bases for tables, podiums, etc. Would this change the recommendations from my first set of criteria or can I do that also with stick?

Shield Arc · Dec 9, 2013

A lot of that will depend on your ability, and joint configuration. Personally I've never been good with thin material stick welding. At one point I would get nervous with 3/8-inch thick material!

I just don't think I could weld 16-GA with stick, maybe a lap joint.:scratchchin: 10-GA I might be able to pull that off. But this is the reason I have a Mig, and Tig welder, to work around my short comings!

joshuabardwell · Dec 9, 2013

FWIW, I believe the PA160 has been replaced by the PA160 STH, which has pedal control for TIG. So it's a true dual process welder. Talk to Mark and he'll sort you out.