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Beginner welding machine: mig, flux core, or stick?
Posted on 2/22/22 at 11:42 am
Posted on 2/22/22 at 11:42 am
Want to get a small welding machine to tinker around with projects around the house. I don’t have any experience but want to learn. Which process should I go with?
Minimal jobs like body work, maybe build a firewood rack, small thickness things.
Have both 220v and 120v available.
Minimal jobs like body work, maybe build a firewood rack, small thickness things.
Have both 220v and 120v available.
5
Posted on 2/22/22 at 12:15 pm to poochie
For the uses you describe, MIG would be the way to go IMO. Especially for thin metals.
You would need to buy some shielding gas but, the welds will be cleaner VS a flux core.
I use 75/25
You would need to buy some shielding gas but, the welds will be cleaner VS a flux core.
I use 75/25
This post was edited on 2/22/22 at 12:19 pm
Posted on 2/22/22 at 12:52 pm to poochie
quote:
body work
quote:
small thickness things
MIG
Posted on 2/22/22 at 12:54 pm to jake wade
How hard is it to get shielding gas?
Posted on 2/22/22 at 12:56 pm to poochie
quote:
How hard is it to get shielding gas?
Simple - Call Capitol Welding, get a tank.
Posted on 2/22/22 at 1:07 pm to poochie
Mig and Tig welding is difficult to say the least. Especially on "small thickness things".
Posted on 2/22/22 at 1:44 pm to Bearcat90
A mid priced multi process machine will let you play with all three and usually have the option for tig. It will not excel in either, but will do until you figure out what you really need/like. Just starting out, flux will drive you crazy so go with gas.
I learned on an old AC Lincoln buzz-box so I have a soft spot for stick. Most of the small hobby stuff I have built has pretty much been with my mig, and that is the first machine I purchased myself. It is also nice to have some long leads and a stick capable machine for "random driveway repairs" on friends/my trailers, etc.
Edit: I ended up buying my own tank filled off Amazon, TNT (downtown BR) fills it for me when needed. I usually drop it off on the way to work and pick it up later that afternoon. If you buy your own, make sure your local place will fill it or swap it when it is empty. Also make sure you get a new tank with a recent date stamp.
Check out Youtube, there are hours and hours and hours of welding videos, reviews, etc. I learned before the Youtubes, and got a book written by some guy who teaches welding and welds experimental aircraft frames/engine mounts. Can't think of his name or the book title though.
I learned on an old AC Lincoln buzz-box so I have a soft spot for stick. Most of the small hobby stuff I have built has pretty much been with my mig, and that is the first machine I purchased myself. It is also nice to have some long leads and a stick capable machine for "random driveway repairs" on friends/my trailers, etc.
Edit: I ended up buying my own tank filled off Amazon, TNT (downtown BR) fills it for me when needed. I usually drop it off on the way to work and pick it up later that afternoon. If you buy your own, make sure your local place will fill it or swap it when it is empty. Also make sure you get a new tank with a recent date stamp.
Check out Youtube, there are hours and hours and hours of welding videos, reviews, etc. I learned before the Youtubes, and got a book written by some guy who teaches welding and welds experimental aircraft frames/engine mounts. Can't think of his name or the book title though.
This post was edited on 2/22/22 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 2/22/22 at 2:28 pm to td1
Personally, I would not get a multi process welder. Get a solid MIG unit and you can always flux core when needed.
If you have access to 240, then 100% get a welder that will weld at 240. My MIG machine is a Hobart 210 MVP. It can weld at 120v or 240v and can weld up to 3/8" in one pass. Get a spool gun if you want to weld aluminum. I use standard 75/25 argon co2.
Then if you need to work on thicker than 3/8, buy a dedicated stick welder but chance are that you won't need to unless you're dealing with heavy machinery.
If you have access to 240, then 100% get a welder that will weld at 240. My MIG machine is a Hobart 210 MVP. It can weld at 120v or 240v and can weld up to 3/8" in one pass. Get a spool gun if you want to weld aluminum. I use standard 75/25 argon co2.
Then if you need to work on thicker than 3/8, buy a dedicated stick welder but chance are that you won't need to unless you're dealing with heavy machinery.
This post was edited on 2/22/22 at 2:29 pm
Posted on 2/22/22 at 2:43 pm to El Segundo Guy
Know that most of the time I'm "welding", I'm not welding at all. More time is spent cutting and grinding, etc as actually burning metal. Hell, I'm soaking some metal in Muriatic Acid right now to remove zinc.
Before you think about getting a welder, become very comfortable with cutting and grinding. If you don't have a quality angle grinder and possibly a chop saw, there's not much you can accomplish. IMO, if you need an angle grinder, get a nice Makita with SJS.
Before you think about getting a welder, become very comfortable with cutting and grinding. If you don't have a quality angle grinder and possibly a chop saw, there's not much you can accomplish. IMO, if you need an angle grinder, get a nice Makita with SJS.
This post was edited on 2/22/22 at 2:44 pm
Posted on 2/22/22 at 2:57 pm to td1
quote:
Check out Youtube, there are hours and hours and hours of welding videos, reviews, etc. I learned before the Youtubes, and got a book written by some guy who teaches welding and welds experimental aircraft frames/engine mounts. Can't think of his name or the book title though.
I'm not sure who you're talking about, but there are a lot of resources. The best beginner book I've seen is Learn to Weld: Beginning MIG Welding and Metal Fabrication Basics
by Stephen Christena. Its 15 bucks on Amazon. I ordered it for my brother and he loved it and it got him up and running.
Posted on 2/23/22 at 6:30 am to poochie
Posted on 2/23/22 at 8:19 am to td1
quote:
A mid priced multi process machine will let you play with all three and usually have the option for tig. It will not excel in either, but will do until you figure out what you really need/like. Just starting out, flux will drive you crazy so go with gas.
I learned on an old AC Lincoln buzz-box so I have a soft spot for stick. Most of the small hobby stuff I have built has pretty much been with my mig, and that is the first machine I purchased myself. It is also nice to have some long leads and a stick capable machine for "random driveway repairs" on friends/my trailers, etc.
Edit: I ended up buying my own tank filled off Amazon, TNT (downtown BR) fills it for me when needed. I usually drop it off on the way to work and pick it up later that afternoon. If you buy your own, make sure your local place will fill it or swap it when it is empty. Also make sure you get a new tank with a recent date stamp.
Check out Youtube, there are hours and hours and hours of welding videos, reviews, etc. I learned before the Youtubes, and got a book written by some guy who teaches welding and welds experimental aircraft frames/engine mounts. Can't think of his name or the book title though.
my welding history is spot on to this. i picked up a used Miller 180 on craigslist that is a 240 volt. Bought a tank locally had have it filled at airgas. I can run solid wire for flux core. it will do pretty much anything i need. get some scrap metal and clean up where you want to weld and practice. it is a fun hobby. i do not think you need a TIG.
Posted on 2/23/22 at 8:58 am to poochie
MIG if you’re going to be in a shop. MIG works best inside, outside and the wind will blow the gas shield away and you won’t get a good weld.
MIG is easiest to learn. Stick isn’t hard, but takes more practice. Advantage to stick is being able to use it outside, and on metals that may be rusty or needing to fill a gap. Stick is the “off road” of welding options
MIG is easiest to learn. Stick isn’t hard, but takes more practice. Advantage to stick is being able to use it outside, and on metals that may be rusty or needing to fill a gap. Stick is the “off road” of welding options
Posted on 2/23/22 at 10:20 am to td1
quote:
Edit: I ended up buying my own tank filled off Amazon, TNT (downtown BR) fills it for me when needed. I usually drop it off on the way to work and pick it up later that afternoon. If you buy your own, make sure your local place will fill it or swap it when it is empty. Also make sure you get a new tank with a recent date stamp.
I don't recommend this. Just buy a tank from your local welding supply store. When you need a refill, they will usually let you trade the empty tank for a filled one, saving you a trip to pick up a refilled tank.
As to the welder, look at welders that your local welding store will service. You can run into issues with welders from any brand, but ones that you can just drop off locally for any repair are the way to go. As a bonus, they are also likely going to be the most dependable ones, have standard connections and be the easiest to get parts, consumables and accessories for.
Finally, for thin sheet, a multiprocess machine that can do pulsed TIG can be very handy, especially if you ever want to work with stainless.
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