I "need" a welder..?

[knute_m]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

One last thought!

A Lincoln 115 V / 140 amp MIG/Flux core welder costs about $400.

A Lincoln 220 V / 180 amp MIG costs about $600.

A Lincoln 225 Stick costs only about $250.

The 115 V /140 amp MIG/Flux core is very portable, it can plug in anywhere, and it will do lots of work.

The Lincoln 225 Stick is not very portable, needs a dedicated 220 V circuit, but can weld most anything on a farm.

Together, the two would only cost just a little more than a 220 V / 180 amp MIG/flux core and, you’d have the best of both worlds.

Geeze! I gotta find a new job. I need to be much busier!

Knute

 

[Bill_C]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

One last thought!

A Lincoln 115 V / 140 amp MIG/Flux core welder costs about $400.

A Lincoln 220 V / 180 amp MIG costs about $600.

A Lincoln 225 Stick costs only about $250.

The 115 V /140 amp MIG/Flux core is very portable, it can plug in anywhere, and it will do lots of work.

The Lincoln 225 Stick is not very portable, needs a dedicated 220 V circuit, but can weld most anything on a farm.

Together, the two would only cost just a little more than a 220 V / 180 amp MIG/flux core and, you’d have the best of both worlds.

Geeze! I gotta find a new job. I need to be much busier!

Knute

this is exactly the route I went!! About 10 or 12 years ago I bought the Lincoln Weldpak 100, stuck the adaptor on it for a 10 lb reel of flux-core wire, and have been very pleased. It works great on thinner stuff, and you can't beat the portability and ease of use. Wanna weld the mailbox? Just run a heavy extension cord out and fix 'er right up!! For stuff like mower decks, and small brackets, it's fantastic!

But I occassionally wanted to weld stuff like 1/4 and 3/8 inch plate, and it takes a billion passes with the small welder, and I'd be reluctant to weld something really critical (like a trailer hitch)with it. So I recently bought the Lincoln 225/125 AC/DC stick welder--$389 from Home Depot online (plus tax, though shipping was FREE). It even comes with the receptacle (saves about $15 right there). With my new auto-darkening helmet from Harbor Freight, I'm like a kid on Christmas Day.....at least until the Visa bill comes....but now I can weld thin stuff with ease with the wire-feed, and thick stuff with the stick welder, for much less than $1000 total.

 

[Sully2]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

this is exactly the route I went!! About 10 or 12 years ago I bought the Lincoln Weldpak 100, stuck the adaptor on it for a 10 lb reel of flux-core wire, and have been very pleased. It works great on thinner stuff, and you can't beat the portability and ease of use. Wanna weld the mailbox? Just run a heavy extension cord out and fix 'er right up!! For stuff like mower decks, and small brackets, it's fantastic!

But I occassionally wanted to weld stuff like 1/4 and 3/8 inch plate, and it takes a billion passes with the small welder, and I'd be reluctant to weld something really critical (like a trailer hitch)with it. So I recently bought the Lincoln 225/125 AC/DC stick welder--$389 from Home Depot online (plus tax, though shipping was FREE). It even comes with the receptacle (saves about $15 right there). With my new auto-darkening helmet from Harbor Freight, I'm like a kid on Christmas Day.....at least until the Visa bill comes....but now I can weld thin stuff with ease with the wire-feed, and thick stuff with the stick welder, for much less than $1000 total.

Thats the direction Im leaning! Had the opportunity to spend about 4 1/2 hrs with a friend...known him about 50 years..know he's welded about 40 years now...he clued me in on LOTS of info I had no idea about.

Example.. thought that "amps were amps"..? Didnt have the foggiest that it wouldnt require as much DC amps as it would AC amps ( who'd have thought that??) Anyhow...thanks all for constructive input...I appreciate it

 

[JoeJ]

Re: I "need" a welder..?

Sully,

I'd bet that friend could get you doing just fine with stick. And he could do it in just 1 afternoon.

I know I'm way late on this thread, but my advice is pretty much along with the fellas that recommend taking a short course at a local tech school.
Also, I would send you to a WELDING SUPPLY store first. Even if you decide to buy at a big box store.
At the welding store they will/should let you hands on try different machines. This should give you a better idea of just what you want.