Stick welder recommendation ?

[DieselPower]

Now that is funny,,how do you get them little men to roll around like that anyways? thingy

Not hard at all. You go to FreeSmileys.org :: Free Animated Emoticons Smileys Smiley Faces GIF, pick the smiley you want to use and copy the provided image link to it and post it here.

 

[thingy]

I'm going to have to check that out,,sharing your wisdom sometimes requires visual aids....,,,,,,,,,[this oughta be good],,,thingy

 

[Egon]

As per someone's comments:

we don't want the forum clogged with questions having absolutely no connection with tractors....

Don't think my little toy tractor with grain scoop bucket would be functioning on our toy farm without the services of a welder.

 

[dmccarty]

Dan,you got some funny words there,,,I guess you didn't read soundguys post to me? [right above mine],he called me a know it all,I just agreed,in this topic anyways.
Since me and you's talking now,what do you think about the subject? thingy

I'm assuming Soundguy's comment was to your statement regarding a previous poster. Being "a know it all", is they way I read the thread and its certainly the way you come across in this thread and in others. And as you seem to imply in your post to me.

I have no comment on the subject which has no bearing at all to the tone and nature of your comments.

TBN is a place to learn from other people. Rude comments are simply not needed. If you think you are making a joke then the use of the Advanced Reply to put in Smilies or the use of emoticons will clarify your language.

Most people who consider themselves an expert in a field usually realize that the more they know, the more they dont know. For most people, the realization that they have more to learn even after decades of experience, makes them humble.

Later,
Dan

 

[PBinWA]

Man,,some people just wanta give advise,,,number 1,,you get better penatration with dc than ac,,,number2,,you can weld some thing 8 inches thick with 120-130 amps,you just gotta prepare groove and make multipasses,,[how do you think they weld pipe thats an inch thick,,just one pass?,,you'd need an 1 1/2 dia rod,not to mention it wouldn't work],,,,funny,,,,thingy

You're right Thingy. As long as you are using the right rod/filler that is rated for multi-pass welds then you are better off doing as you described. The original question was more about the difference between the two than what is the best way to do it.

If I had a big thick slab of rusty steel on a farm implement and I wanted to stick it to another thick slab of rusty steel in a hurry then I would use AC with the high amps and be done with it. Is this ideal? No. But it does give you some flexibility in the old tool kit for less money.

I will defer to you and I certainly never claimed to be an expert. I actually appreciate what you bring to these threads even if it is covered in salt and sand and burns a little.

 

[shaley]

Must be the cold weather after all the warm weather. I went fishing yesterday and everyone on the boat was the crankiest I've ever seen them.

 

[thingy]

Yeah,I guess I could put things a little better sometimes,will work on it??
I can't think of any rods that are not"rated" for multiple passes with them,maybe hardsurfacing or something.?? You can weld multiple passes with 6011 and 6013 just like you can with 6010.You can put a good weld on with ac,never said you couldn't,,its just if you got a choice,,most everybody would use dcep,,I got a dc generator welder,,no ac,,I wouldn't use ac even if it had it,,dc is smoother,runs rods better and more kinds of them,deeper penatrating.


Now dan,do you have anything to add to this thread other than helping soundman out? and calling me names? If you'll notice,have not called you or soundman any names,and I am a member too,,you got some upside down logic,but thats what makes the world go round I guess,,later,,,thingy

 

[swines]

You need to think of a welder as a type of power source and not necessarily as a type of welding process.

If you look carefully, you can find a power source that will let you do whatever process you want (Thermal Arc 300MST or ESAB MultiMaster 260 are two examples).

If you really want to do ONLY stick, then the Miller Thunderbolt, Hobart Stickmate, or Lincoln 225 are products available in a $500 or less price range.

If you want a big stick welder then you end up with something like a Miller Dialarc 250. For that kind of money, you can start looking at multi-process power sources like the Miller CST 280, Miller MaxStar 200, Lincoln Invertec series, or Thermal Arc 300S. The advantage to the inverter welders is they're way smaller in size, take up less shop space, are portable and many will have multi-link capabilities to use different voltages automatically.

 

[swines]

Yeah,I guess I could put things a little better sometimes,will work on it??
I can't think of any rods that are not"rated" for multiple passes with them,maybe hardsurfacing or something.?? You can weld multiple passes with 6011 and 6013 just like you can with 6010.You can put a good weld on with ac,never said you couldn't,,its just if you got a choice,,most everybody would use dcep,,I got a dc generator welder,,no ac,,I wouldn't use ac even if it had it,,dc is smoother,runs rods better and more kinds of them,deeper penatrating.

Hardfacing rods are specifically made for multiple passes to allow you to build up the hard surface. So, just like the other rods you've mentioned - hard facing rods are good for multiple passes.

The only rods I can think of that may be single pass are some of the high speed tool steel rods & the air and oil hardening TIG fillers. But, those are way into the specialty category.

 

[kossetx]

Robert, My .02

I see used tombstones in places fairly often, but they're always ac machines. I would think shipping on ebay would be seriously high.

If you've used the stick welder much you'll know that real high amperage is not neccessary for most applications. I recently welded some 3/4" plate to 3/4 plate and I used 5/32" 6011 rod and I felt 150a was a little to high but I liked the weld better than I did at 135 using my tombstone. I think higher than 150 would have just gouged the weld.

I wish I would have gotten dc when I got my tombstone. Get it when you get yours.

Unlike most here I prefer my stick welder to a wire feed. I feel I get better penetration. A wire feed machine to weld thick stuff costs too much as you have pointed out. I have a small wire feed for very thin metal and the stick for heavy stuff. I almost always use the stick. Since I don't use it for a living, changing out rods simply gives me time to look at my project as I go along.

Good luck, MP

 

[John D]

LMAO Shaley. Ive used my lincoln tstone for 10+ years now and has done me right building trailers and what not. its a good choice for the money. jb

 

[ww_kayak]

I know absolutley nothing... but I would think the duty cycle of the machine may come into play if you weld alot of thick stuff ( single or multi-pass). I pushed my 185 to the limit quite a few times stick welding some 1/2 plate on my backhoe. No big deal, but if I was always welding 1/2".... It would drive me nuts.

 

[thingy]

Swines,yeah your right,remember using hardsurfacing over hard surfacing a long time ago,I was thinking that brittle factor,can't think of any filler you can't multipass,,stick tig or mig,,I'm sure there has got to be one though,,,and yeah,,if you got the money you could get a constant current/ constant voltage machine,,than you can do anything,,tig stick mig flux core air arc,,wonder what one of those rigs cost? Probably a good bit,6,000 plus,,but you'd be set,,,thingy

 

[thingy]

Yeah,duty cycle is probably the most important thing,,espiecally mig or flux core,,,cause of course,you don't have to stop as often,,,thats why,basicly for most of us,we need to get a higher amped machine,than the amps we plan on running,,,thats just the way they make them.,,,but,,,will say this,,,120-130 amps will burn a .035 wire,,it will burn a 1/8 inch rod,,so you need to figure out,what duty cycle your machine,the one you plan on buying,,,is at that amperage,,,A 60 percent duty cycle at 120-130 amps,,,on a stick machine,,would let you run that machine all day with out worrys using a 1/8 inch rod,[cause you ain't going to be running it more than a min or so,,you stop,change rods,spit,,grind,brush,,etc,,,],,now,,a 60 percent duty cycle on a mig machine at 120-130 amps,,might not be enough,,probably would be,,but,,,maybe not,,,,,,the the way they make these machines,,you need about a 180-200plus amp machine to give you the duty cycle you need to run that .035 wire or that 1/8 rod hard...if your just planning on running a couple inches at a time,,well,,you can get less,,but its always better to have it and not need it,,than to need it and not have it...thingy

 

[kossetx]

If you push the cycle limit of a lincoln 225, your not a hobby welder anymore.

 

[Ken S.in Ky.]

bcarwell
there are a lot of god units out there. to me one of the biggest considerations, Is what you personnelly will be doing with the machine you buy.I have 3 different welders One of those is a torch outfit and a bundle of metal coat hangers. the plastic hanger don't work. I for one enjoy gas weelding from time to time. My sons get a kick out of watching. I guess it's becoming a lost art though with all the new mig machines and all. You will have to deciede what you want from a machine. It is better to have more welder than ya need, than to need more welder than you have! Ihave an AC225 Lincoln that i have used for more years than i care to mention. It has always did what I needed fabing trailers,farm type repairs,3ph attachments and the like.Have welded on every thing from lawn mower fram and handles farm equipment repair and even bulldozer for neigbors. The thing is !!! You match the rod to the metal amps tto the rod to be used, Then ya prep the metal then you weld. Metal prep being a GREAT BIG factor in the equation. and it is amazing how many people for get that part of welding. Welding is like a long journey, ya learn as ya go and ya go as ya learn. Have a good journey and the journey will be good to you!!

 

[digger2]

Going back to the original question.I recommend a Lincoln ac/dc 225/125
machine or Miller/Hobart equivalent.I would stay with one of these brands although there are some others that are prob. fine. Yeah,you could go with some super mega bucks machine that will do everything and then some,I
use a Miller at work every day that costs about 10 times what i paid for my
little Lincoln,but who cares what the machine costs as long as it will do what you want it to.From what you have said,i'm sure the Lincoln ac/dc 225/125
or equivalent Miller/Hobart will easily do anything you have in mind.
Anyway,3 years ago i paid $470 for my Lincoln ac/dc 225/125.It works great and had a 3 yr. warranty.I know alot of people who own these machines
and if you treat them right they will last you a long time.One more word of advice,if you do buy a machine,go the extra $$$ and buy the ac/dc.
AC machines are ok,and they do work,but you will be much happier
getting the ac/dc to start with.Besides,you may want to hook up a tig to it someday.
Digger2

 

[thingy]

WW,do you have a miller blue star 185?,,thats what I got now,,,welder/generator,,,,good machine,,,got the wheel cart for it,,can move it,[well,wouldn't want to move it to far,but you can move it on dirt even],,can load it in back of truck with ramps,[after backing truck to low spot],,,thats what I wanted,,,big enough to do heavy work,,but light enough to move on my own,,,welds great to,,you can burn a 1/8 rod all day,,you will wear out before you gotta worry about duty cycle,,,,[for those who don't know,,its a miller welder generator,,dc output,185 amps max,,,got 5,500 continuous output on auxillary ac current,,cost about 2,200,,,battery start,,,,,generator alone is worth that about,,,,
Now,,,as far as welding thicker steel,,did you know you can weld 1/2 steel with a 3/32 rod?,,yeah,,,just gotta prepare a groove and make mulitple passes,,,,,,,,I mean,,you can't make a single pass weld,[full pen.] on 1/2 steel with a 3/16 rod, so,,,yeah,the bigger the rod,,the faster,,but,,,,you make as many pass as you need to fill the joint,,,,What if you was welding 3 inch thick steel,,,you'd have to make several passes than,,,,even with 1/4 inch rod,,,,,!!!!! thingy