Welders... Help me spend money!!

Turfman · Aug 30, 2002

I must agree with Harv here. I do small landscape and a lot of sprinkler repairs. I have a professional supplier for my parts. I use a certain automatic valve, which is model DVF100 for my residential repairs. It has great specifications and is incredibly reliable. I pay 13.10 for the valve at contractor price. I went to one of the box stores and saw the valve on the shelf in a consumer box. I take it out and look it over, the same number appears in the top of the valve the cost is 13.00. I am very upset, I’m paying 10 cents more wholesale for my valve than the box store is selling it to the consumer for. I look closer, the outer shell says CVF100. I look at the diaphram and find it is three-part. Definitely cheaper. Looks like the manufacturer made a cheaper valve for the box store. I feel better. The box stores will specify an item with a selling cost attached and the manufacturer will build a product to meet the cost. Cost is the specification, not quality.

Hydraman · Aug 31, 2002

What are you welding??? Old rusty iron?? All new iron??? A mix of all?? Where you welding??? Inside a shop?? Or out in the breeze??? All of these things play a part in the decision you have to make. If you are working mostly with scrap- or out in the breeze, the stick welder is the only way to go. But if you are using new iron in a shop the wire welder is the way to go. If the wind is blowing all the gas away from your arc, you ain't gonna weld much!!! Hope this helps you out a little. This has just been my exp. with various types of equip.
Good luck, Hydraman

g42guy · Sep 6, 2002

Hey Hydraman
I don't know enough about welding to even answer your question. That's what I'm trying to figure out. What would be best for the complete newbie.

Hydraman · Sep 6, 2002

That's why I asked you these questions-- if you answer them-- the answers will help you to determine what will fit your needs the best.

g42guy · Sep 7, 2002

OK.. I would quess in a shop most of the time. As far as iron... I'm not sure. At this point I would not know where to get new or scrap! But assuming I go with new or non-rusty, since I do have a couple of grinders and air tool that I could clean up rust areas. Thanks for any help.

blackd · Sep 7, 2002

I have a Hobart Stickmate LX235 & love it. I, like U, am new to welding and this thing is almost fool proof. I only have @12-14 Hrs on it so far, but I am getting more confident in the depth of the welds. They're still not pretty, but getting better.

Whichever welder you get. Get a good portable grinder. You will use it more than the welder.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 7, 2002

Having been at it for 40+ years now, I'd say a beginner is best served by getting some lessons first. Go to a local VoTec or community college, and do some learnin before doin any buyin.
The best way to start out is with a gas torch, and learn to gas weld. Then, move on to a stick machine, I started stick with a Lincoln 225 AC machine, and learned to weld overhead with it after some hours of trying.
Somebody once said I can teach you all you need to know to weld in half an hour, but it will take you 10 years to learn to weld. That's one of the reasons I strongly advocate establishing a relationship with a good welding suplier, the box stores sure can't help you weld.

wroughtn_harv · Sep 8, 2002

Some of the Lincoln vendors are setting up work areas to try the equipment. It is pretty neat. I wanted to see how I'd do with a spool gun on some aluminum. I had some fun.

I heartedly recommend the rookies consider trying what's available before they run out and buy something. And nothing beats classes at the local junior college or high school at night.

It's one thing to learn how to use a hot glue gun. It's another thing all together to know how to make that hot glue gun do welding.

(I once did a large industrial gate repair. The main maintenance man showed me the problem. I looked at it and realized it wasn't too much more than a thing. I explained how I was gonna repair it. He became happier than if he had good sense. Then when I told him I'd get the hot glue gun out and do it he got this real surprised look on his face. He questioned me on the type of glue I was gonna use. He'd assumed I was going to weld it. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif)

Anonymous Poster · Sep 8, 2002

Harv, that's the new "trend" in welding supliers. Mine opened a second location where they have a huge display/instruction area, and they even employ a welding engineer who can explain anything to death and beyond. Every machine, and torch they sell is available for trial in that area, and of course, staff is available to help you try before you buy.
Some parts of this concept I like, others I don't, but that could just be a function of age.
Mine is primarily a Miller dealer.