WELDING? Does any one have any info Options

[Digndoug]

Im looking into getting into welding. I would like to learn how to do it, for projects and some things. I dont know anything about it. I would like to know what would be a good welder to get and what price range. I was looking at some at sears for around $250-$350.. Any sugestions or tips?

Thanks

Doug

[Chanh55]

I would take that 300 bucks and enroll in a introduction to welding class at a local Community College or something. It'll teach you proper technique as well as safety.

[bloodrain]

I would take that 300 bucks and enroll in a introduction to welding class at a local Community College or something. It'll teach you proper technique as well as safety.

agreed. and I highly doubt u can find a good welder for $300.

[MaX]

yeah. i'm a welder by trade, and i started off with a 2 week course on the do's and dont's, it was really helpful...

if you're going to buy a welder, you're going to have to get an argon gas bottle(that's the gas i use at work) for it, and then you'll have to refill it every now and then and that can get pricey.

unless you're going to do it for work, buying one isn't really worthwhile,

you should go down to a mechanic/fabricator who you know and get them to show you the basics etc and practice there for a while....

and then see if you still enjoy it.

welding is awesome to get into, but it's not for everyone.....but definately give it a go

This post has been edited by MaX: May 3, 2006 - 5:13 PM

[playr158]

300$ won't cut it more like 600-700 for a reasonable welder

i like the millermatic 135 and 175
both have gas capability (MAJOR plus) voltage and wire feed speed control....

its alot of fun to do and just takes practice

oh and doug check out
http://tool.capitalrentals.com/
they will rent you out a MIG welder...see if you like it..defenitly cheaper then buying

This post has been edited by playr158: May 3, 2006 - 5:24 PM

[97sccelica]

i have access to:

millermatic 210(mig)
dynasty 200dx series(tig)
and a miller plasma cutter(unsure of what model)

and after using the cheaper walmart and sears welders, the miller stuff blows them away. they actually make welding easier. granted, those three pieces of equipment total up to over $6k, and thats with a 25% student discount

i first started welding in 8th grade metal shop. in the past year my friends picked up the miller equipment because we started doing a lot of heavy fabrication on our cars.

[Digndoug]

Thanks guys, thats not what i wanted to hear, but more like what I expected.

I dont want to start droping that much money at this time, maybe i should start some other hobby ...

[azian_advanced]

i'm not a welder, but my dad bought his used for $200 cdn.. though i'm pretty sure it's a $hitty one but still does the job nonetheless.

[b1gr3d]

home depot has lincoln migs fro 350-450...good for sheetmetal and use 110

[Valo666]

I would take that 300 bucks and enroll in a introduction to welding class at a local Community College or something. It'll teach you proper technique as well as safety.

I would take that 300 bucks and enroll in a introduction to welding class at a local Community College or something. It'll teach you proper technique as well as safety.

agreed. and I highly doubt u can find a good welder for $300.

just because you take a welding class doesnt mean your gonna be a good welder. I have a friend who took a 1 year welding class in college and then took a 1 year autobody program and he cant weld for crap. If you want a cheap/effective welder, $350 + for a decent lincon electric MIG, but with that your gonna be looking at using fluxcore wire or a wire with the gas inside of it already. As for Tig, dont try it unless you know mig. Tig, $300 for the unit itself, and around another $250 for a tank + gas. I say learn at your own pace. I learned to weld by my self, aswell as all my friends did. Just by teachin our selves, we have done so much coustom work for automotive stuff. We cut and relocated leaf spring brackets on a 89 Chevy K1500 short bed and cut the frame down 18" and then full boxed the frame. The truck looks like it rolled off the assembly line lookin the way it did. And that was just in highschool. Theres lots of littel tricks you can learn with welding too. Like if your wanting to plug a hole in a body, so..for example. My 83 celica has a bunch of little clips that go right into the sheet metal that hold the side moulding on. The side moulding is all shot/half missing, so im gonna plug the holes. Best way to plug the holes withou distorting the metal, hold a penny on the back of the hole with a pair of plyers or tape or w/e. and just do small tack welds onto the penny. The weld wont bond to the penny because its copper and also the penny will act as a heat sink. it will give very low to no distortion. You can try and take a welding class, but its not gonna nessesarly make you a good welder.

[Yellow94GT]

300$ won't cut it more like 600-700 for a reasonable welder

i like the millermatic 135 and 175
both have gas capability (MAJOR plus) voltage and wire feed speed control....

its alot of fun to do and just takes practice

oh and doug check out
http://tool.capitalrentals.com/
they will rent you out a MIG welder...see if you like it..defenitly cheaper then buying

I agree with player. Renting can familarize you with welding without the investment. Get a good welding book and read it. Understand how to be safe, and use proper technique.
If you can already do work with tools and you have enough interest and talent to do most repairs on your car then welding may be really a good way to make excellent modifications and repairs.
Mig welders allow for a wide range of applications without a requiring a very high degree of skill for novices.
Many only require 110 volts and are very portable.
If you like to fabricate and you have attention to detail there are many opportunities to make safe, reliable mods instead of paying someone else to do it for you.
Yellow94GT