a few welding questions
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a few welding questions i would really like to learn to weld, and was looking at some cheap mig welders. I was wondering why type of features i would want (I know basically nothing about welding). i know i'm goiing to want something that can weld without gas, as i live in the middle of the suburbs. I was planning on miled steel and aluminum welding too, so is there anything i could look for here? i also need to know if there are any online or maybe local places i could stop by (like sears etc) that sell them. lastly, is there any thing i should look out for and steer away from?
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honestly, right now the cheaper the better. I've heard that your firs welder should be your last, but i would rather buy somehting cheap to learn with for now and then get a mig/tig 2 in one unit once i save up enough money for something nice. i dont want to have a nice welder that i cant use, and i dont have a ton of money right now anyway. so i would promarily just like something cheap, so i can practice welding aluminum cans together or something 
thanks for the advice though, and i'll check that site out.
one more thing, it will have to run on ac power.
thanks for the advice though, and i'll check that site out.one more thing, it will have to run on ac power.
Last edited by LSONE; Nov 22, 2004 at 12:27 AM.
You can't weld alu. cans with a mig you need a TIG and even with a TIG good luck welding a can too thin it will burn right through. anyway you look at it if you want to weld Alu. you need a TIG a, MIG will do it but very sloppy. Tig is the way to go. You deffinatly need argon gas to weld AL.
no TIG is the way to go as far as controll. when you mig you must move as fast as the wire, when you TIG you can fine tune the amps at the tip with the foot control and put just the right amout of fill with the hand fed wire.
I have a mig and use to weld as a proffesion mig is a good all perpose tool but now that TIG has come down in price I would say for the serios doit your-selfer tig is the best tool. It is harder to learn than mig but the quality can not be compaired once masterd.
You can get a decent mig for around 800 but tig will cost double that. You have to ask yourself what you are going to weld if it's sub frame connectors and exhaust pipe get a mig. If you want to weld Al. and roll cages(NHRA mandates TIG welds) get a tig.
If you do get a mig make sure you get gas. flux wire welds IMO are not as good and you can weld thicker stuff with the same amp with gas.
You might want to check out *bay they have good deals I bought a plasma cutter on ebay and saved over 300 bucks for a unit I was going to get local plus free shipping and no tax.
just remember one thing use the proper lense you eye lids are not thick enough and you will get flash burn. ouch
I have a mig and use to weld as a proffesion mig is a good all perpose tool but now that TIG has come down in price I would say for the serios doit your-selfer tig is the best tool. It is harder to learn than mig but the quality can not be compaired once masterd.
You can get a decent mig for around 800 but tig will cost double that. You have to ask yourself what you are going to weld if it's sub frame connectors and exhaust pipe get a mig. If you want to weld Al. and roll cages(NHRA mandates TIG welds) get a tig.
If you do get a mig make sure you get gas. flux wire welds IMO are not as good and you can weld thicker stuff with the same amp with gas.
You might want to check out *bay they have good deals I bought a plasma cutter on ebay and saved over 300 bucks for a unit I was going to get local plus free shipping and no tax.
just remember one thing use the proper lense you eye lids are not thick enough and you will get flash burn. ouch
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tig is for fine craftsmanship. MIG is more for production.
anyone can learn to MIG with minimal practice. Most people prefere MIG because its easier. whatever you are going to get, I dont recomend a 120V one. they are not very practical for anything but sheet metal. If your going to get into it and do alot of custom things, I would go TIG.
Once i started TIG welding, ( I TIG high pressure vessels for a living) i cant stand MIG.
but a good MIG welder for a shop would be like a Miller 185, you start getting smaller than that you just limit yourself.
Things to look for on a TIG to get. High frequency . AC and DC
welding aluminum you want to be able to change the polarity to AC and HIgh freq. is a must.
a small tig welder can weld alot of stuff.
anyone can learn to MIG with minimal practice. Most people prefere MIG because its easier. whatever you are going to get, I dont recomend a 120V one. they are not very practical for anything but sheet metal. If your going to get into it and do alot of custom things, I would go TIG.
Once i started TIG welding, ( I TIG high pressure vessels for a living) i cant stand MIG.
but a good MIG welder for a shop would be like a Miller 185, you start getting smaller than that you just limit yourself.
Things to look for on a TIG to get. High frequency . AC and DC
welding aluminum you want to be able to change the polarity to AC and HIgh freq. is a must.
a small tig welder can weld alot of stuff.
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Can Weld
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
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wow that was on a tig?
price is my #1 concern. i know i want to learn to use both, and i figured mig would be easier to learn. another major concern is supplies, where can i get gas etc? the best part about mig is that i dont NEED gas, but i understand gas would create better welds. another is material, i was planning on using cans or whatever i have around, but i dont know where i could get milled steel to practice on. i really dont know what to do now. another issue would be room, we have 4 cars and a 3 car garage, so i have little room to work with(i would empty garage when i weld, but it becomes a hassle.) i really dont know, what do yall think?
price is my #1 concern. i know i want to learn to use both, and i figured mig would be easier to learn. another major concern is supplies, where can i get gas etc? the best part about mig is that i dont NEED gas, but i understand gas would create better welds. another is material, i was planning on using cans or whatever i have around, but i dont know where i could get milled steel to practice on. i really dont know what to do now. another issue would be room, we have 4 cars and a 3 car garage, so i have little room to work with(i would empty garage when i weld, but it becomes a hassle.) i really dont know, what do yall think?
Originally Posted by Louis
Can Weld
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
Louis ... you have WAY too much time on your hands ....
Originally Posted by Louis
Can Weld
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
Originally Posted by Louis
Can Weld
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
40 amps, 1/16 2% thoriated, dynasty 200 DX, HZ 100, Balance on 60, thats all I can remember.
4043 rod, did it in about 1/5 hours one night, no trashed cans, those were the 2 I started with.
With a sharpened or balled end?
I read that pure or zirconiated was the best for aluminum.
But I use 2% thoriated for everything.