Help on a starter welder
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX.
Help on a starter welder hey guys im strolled thru walmart last night and found a small starter welder for like 100, yea i know its walmart but hey as a starter i wanted to see what you guys thought about it as i dont know anything about welding and wunt to try n start a little bit as a small hobby, well here are the specs on the machine
Campbell Hausfeld 70 Amp Stick Welder with Ready-to Weld Kit. Includes welder, helmet, gloves, hammer/brush and electrodes. Great for small projects or hobbies.
70 Amp Stick Welder Kit.Includes helmet, gloves, hammer/brush and electrodes. Output current 50-70 Amps. Welds thicknesses from 18 gauge to 1/8 inch. Uses 1/16" and 5/64" electrodes. Use for small repairs, project or hobby welding.
plz any feedback would be good, even if it to insult the walmart welder
Campbell Hausfeld 70 Amp Stick Welder with Ready-to Weld Kit. Includes welder, helmet, gloves, hammer/brush and electrodes. Great for small projects or hobbies.
70 Amp Stick Welder Kit.Includes helmet, gloves, hammer/brush and electrodes. Output current 50-70 Amps. Welds thicknesses from 18 gauge to 1/8 inch. Uses 1/16" and 5/64" electrodes. Use for small repairs, project or hobby welding.
plz any feedback would be good, even if it to insult the walmart welder
Well a good starter welder in my opinion is the miller 180. It cost about $900 and it welds awesome I've used one already and convinced me to buy one. Check out millerwelds.com they have a small 110 volt that probably welds just as nice. I use the 180 for doing body and framework since I'm a bodyman.
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,284
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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No expert, but I would never use a stick unit on my car. The cheap gas migs is where I would start.
Will do most hobby or car type stuff, except all out hardcore chassis work. I started with a big TIG,
but all my cars are moly & I do a lot of aluminum stuff.
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No expert, but I would never use a stick unit on my car. The cheap gas migs is where I would start.
Will do most hobby or car type stuff, except all out hardcore chassis work. I started with a big TIG,
but all my cars are moly & I do a lot of aluminum stuff.
.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FL
I've been looking at getting the Hobart Handler 140 or the Lincoln 3200hd. Both are 110v Gas ready migs. Just gotta guy a bottle and your in business. I have a cheapo Craftsman gasless mig and its does a an alright job for odds and ends, but gas is better,
A 70 amp stick would be like buying a 1991 Geo Metro as your only car. Yeah, it'll do something like get you from point A to B, but it's VERY limited in functionality, and can and will never produce anything 'sexy'. 
A low amp stick won't do very thick metal at all. My guess would be 1/8" - 3/16". And then, the welds will be very splattery and ugly. So yes, it will stick 2 pieces of thinner metal together, but it won't be pretty, and you'll outgrow it VERY fast. I could see this being a tool that you either resell or never use again.
Let's face it, there is no simple dirt cheap $100 solution to welding. In my opinion, in order to climb in to a proper welding setup, you are going to need to spend between $400-$500. That will include a decent welder, gas, a decent helmet, and supplies. You can find used 140A MIG welders under $300 fairly easily. Add in gas and supplies, and you'll be well on your way to GOOD and FUN welding.
Don't buy a crappy welder, it makes welding no fun!!!
A low amp stick won't do very thick metal at all. My guess would be 1/8" - 3/16". And then, the welds will be very splattery and ugly. So yes, it will stick 2 pieces of thinner metal together, but it won't be pretty, and you'll outgrow it VERY fast. I could see this being a tool that you either resell or never use again.
Let's face it, there is no simple dirt cheap $100 solution to welding. In my opinion, in order to climb in to a proper welding setup, you are going to need to spend between $400-$500. That will include a decent welder, gas, a decent helmet, and supplies. You can find used 140A MIG welders under $300 fairly easily. Add in gas and supplies, and you'll be well on your way to GOOD and FUN welding.
Don't buy a crappy welder, it makes welding no fun!!!
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,516
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I wouldn't recommend buying it either. They sell cheap mig welders in several places that will be easier to use and learn on. I weld for a living, and I wouldn't even try to weld with that thing. One this is its AC current, and for proper stick welding you need DC +. Save up and get you a cheap 110 volt mig welder and play around with it. If you want to practice on stuff for exhaust and stuff like that go to a home improvement store and buy EMT electrical conduit. Its cheap and you can cut it easily with a sawzall or hacksaw to creat multiple joints to weld. Its galvanized, so just clean that up with sandpaper on a grinder and go to town.
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like all above, a small 110 wire welder would get more use. I would imagine after getting irritated and F'n something up you'll never use it again. The only thing I ever use a stick welder for is when I weld Heavy duty crap, I-beams and such.
I'd stick with the 110v gas/flux core MIG. I was in the same boat so I bought an inexpensive Northern tool 110V MIG and have been welding purely with flux core for months and love it! the only thing I did to make it better was put some Teflon Pads behind the spool to it feeds the wire smoothly. I've made all kind of stuff and made all kinds of repairs with it..
Here is a pic of the welder all stickered up on the cart I scratch built for it..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_05.jpg
Older pic before the stickers on the cart I scratch built.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_10.jpg
Other stuff I've made..
low profile Jack pad.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_06.jpg
Hangars Using 1/4" and 5/16" steel rod bent on a metal bender.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_08.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_09.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_16.jpg
Exhaust stuff..
reducer..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_02.jpg
TD exhaust.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_07.jpg
Even repaired a steel bed frame, an old futon bed frame, a small trailer that took damage in an accident. an ironing board, Trans cooler brackets, small body repairs, Even welded in my subframe connectors after doing lots pf prep work on the "1/4 and 13/16" steel using .035 flux core wire (which is the absolute limit for a flux core 110v.) so I've welded all kinds of crap with it so its very flexible and I've not even started to weld with shielding gas yet.
so I'd pickup the most expensive quality gas/flux Core MIG (220v if possible) you can afford. I don't have access to a 220v so I'm stuck with 110v. If I could I would though I would have gotten a Miller 110v unit but being 2-3x the cost of the made in china units and not being sure I would even enjoy welding I could not justify the money (or had the money for a Miller welder either!)
Here is a pic of the welder all stickered up on the cart I scratch built for it..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_05.jpg
Older pic before the stickers on the cart I scratch built.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_10.jpg
Other stuff I've made..
low profile Jack pad.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_06.jpg
Hangars Using 1/4" and 5/16" steel rod bent on a metal bender.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_08.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_09.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_16.jpg
Exhaust stuff..
reducer..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_02.jpg
TD exhaust.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_07.jpg
Even repaired a steel bed frame, an old futon bed frame, a small trailer that took damage in an accident. an ironing board, Trans cooler brackets, small body repairs, Even welded in my subframe connectors after doing lots pf prep work on the "1/4 and 13/16" steel using .035 flux core wire (which is the absolute limit for a flux core 110v.) so I've welded all kinds of crap with it so its very flexible and I've not even started to weld with shielding gas yet.
so I'd pickup the most expensive quality gas/flux Core MIG (220v if possible) you can afford. I don't have access to a 220v so I'm stuck with 110v. If I could I would though I would have gotten a Miller 110v unit but being 2-3x the cost of the made in china units and not being sure I would even enjoy welding I could not justify the money (or had the money for a Miller welder either!)
Last edited by sixvi6-camaro; Aug 13, 2008 at 01:20 AM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
i think camaroholic said it perfectly. if you have never welded before and would like to start you should purchase a nice 110v unit. theyre cheap and easy to use, perfect for starting out. home depot sells a few lincoln 110v units...just be sure you purchase a name brand unit, lincoln, miller, hobart esab it will be much easier to find replacement parts, consumables etc.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
I'd stick with the 110v gas/flux core MIG. I was in the same boat so I bought an inexpensive Northern tool 110V MIG and have been welding purely with flux core for months and love it! the only thing I did to make it better was put some Teflon Pads behind the spool to it feeds the wire smoothly. I've made all kind of stuff and made all kinds of repairs with it..
Here is a pic of the welder all stickered up on the cart I scratch built for it..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_05.jpg
Older pic before the stickers on the cart I scratch built.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_10.jpg
Other stuff I've made..
low profile Jack pad.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_06.jpg
Hangars Using 1/4" and 5/16" steel rod bent on a metal bender.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_08.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_09.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_16.jpg
Exhaust stuff..
reducer..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_02.jpg
TD exhaust.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_07.jpg
Even repaired a steel bed frame, an old futon bed frame, a small trailer that took damage in an accident. an ironing board, Trans cooler brackets, small body repairs, Even welded in my subframe connectors after doing lots pf prep work on the "1/4 and 13/16" steel using .035 flux core wire (which is the absolute limit for a flux core 110v.) so I've welded all kinds of crap with it so its very flexible and I've not even started to weld with shielding gas yet.
so I'd pickup the most expensive quality gas/flux Core MIG (220v if possible) you can afford. I don't have access to a 220v so I'm stuck with 110v. If I could I would though I would have gotten a Miller 110v unit but being 2-3x the cost of the made in china units and not being sure I would even enjoy welding I could not justify the money (or had the money for a Miller welder either!)
Here is a pic of the welder all stickered up on the cart I scratch built for it..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_05.jpg
Older pic before the stickers on the cart I scratch built.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_10.jpg
Other stuff I've made..
low profile Jack pad.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_06.jpg
Hangars Using 1/4" and 5/16" steel rod bent on a metal bender.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_08.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_09.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_16.jpg
Exhaust stuff..
reducer..
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/welding_02.jpg
TD exhaust.
http://home.comcast.net/~pewter_camaro/TDs_07.jpg
Even repaired a steel bed frame, an old futon bed frame, a small trailer that took damage in an accident. an ironing board, Trans cooler brackets, small body repairs, Even welded in my subframe connectors after doing lots pf prep work on the "1/4 and 13/16" steel using .035 flux core wire (which is the absolute limit for a flux core 110v.) so I've welded all kinds of crap with it so its very flexible and I've not even started to weld with shielding gas yet.
so I'd pickup the most expensive quality gas/flux Core MIG (220v if possible) you can afford. I don't have access to a 220v so I'm stuck with 110v. If I could I would though I would have gotten a Miller 110v unit but being 2-3x the cost of the made in china units and not being sure I would even enjoy welding I could not justify the money (or had the money for a Miller welder either!)
nice work bro, i remember doing the same things when i first started welding, i dont know whats better melting metal together or getting tattoos
heres a few things to tickle your fancy
I wouldn't get a stick welder for "hobby" type welding. Most of your cheaper 110v mig welders can run solid or flux cored wire. If you just want to try out welding you can use flux cored wire at first since you don't have the added cost of gas to see if it's something you want to stick with. But if you do decide to stick with it, your better off with solid wire and gas as it makes a much cleaner weld. I use a lincoln 3200 for work that I got for 300 or 400 bucks at Home Depot. I've used it almost everyday for the last four years while getting beat to hell in the back of my truck and it still works great!
Just saw this on Craigslist. Thought you guys would get a laugh. Apparently this guy is done with his.
Arc Welder - $25 (Leander)
Reply to: sale-xxxx@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-14, 11:46AM CDT
Used but in condition, Cambell Hausfeld 70 amp arc welder....call now xxx-xxxx
Reply to: sale-xxxx@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-14, 11:46AM CDT
Used but in condition, Cambell Hausfeld 70 amp arc welder....call now xxx-xxxx
get yourself a lincoln mig welder. you can get one for afew hundred and itll weld real nice. dont bother with a flux cord because the argon really helps insulate the weld and keep the splatter to a minimum.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
Yeah, the flux core without gas does weld like chicken ****. Get the mig mix of argon and CO2. Those couple hundred dollar mig welders work really nice for a beginner. When you get one just ask some questions on here and us welders will be more than happy to help you with any problems you are having. I dont consider someone that runs a mig gun all day a "real" welder, but they do weld. LOL.
Yeah, the flux core without gas does weld like chicken ****. Get the mig mix of argon and CO2. Those couple hundred dollar mig welders work really nice for a beginner. When you get one just ask some questions on here and us welders will be more than happy to help you with any problems you are having. I dont consider someone that runs a mig gun all day a "real" welder, but they do weld. LOL.
The question was about a $100 dollar WalMart welder so cost is obviously a concern. If he starts out with fluxcore and decides welding may not be something he wants to do then all he is out is the cost of the welder and a $10 small spool of fluxcore wire instead of the extra $100+ for a bottle of Co2/Argon. Even if he does stick with it and decides to switch to using gas (which I recommended) it's still a good idea to keep a small spool of fluxcore around incase he has to do some repairs outdoors.
And by the way, I never claimed to be a "real" welder, whatever a "real" welder is, and I never said I run a mig gun all day. I carry a small Lincoln Mig/Fluxcore on my truck that I use once or twice a day when I'm out doing service calls. It's small and doesn't take up alot of space for my other tools, easy to carry and durable.
The question wasn't about being a professional welder. Nothing wrong with other hobbyist giving advice to someone asking about welding as a hobby.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
thats cool man, chill out. I understand what your saying about the flux core being less expensive, but he might give up on something that he can do using that set up. Personally I dont like to mig weld anything. I would rather stick weld than mig weld. I would really prefer to tig weld everything, but in my work that isn't possible. It would take quite a while to weld up a 30" schedule 80 or 160 pipe with a tig rig. Even with 5/32tig wire.