Speaking of Welders......

[dustybumpers]

Nothing like holding that stick in your hand


Boy I bet that will be a quote some where in one of your demented siggys

[fatherdoug]

I would use it but I'm quoted out.

[smokey]

Mig welders are nice versatile machines. Depends what I'm welding I use a stick welder for thicker metals and might for the light stuff.
The ladies like a stick welder they say the rod gives deeper penetration.

[fatherdoug]

[CowboyBilly9Mile]

Originally Posted by dustybumpers

Learn with the gas, it will give you a better weld, and be easier

Flux has to have a CLEAN surface, and is very unforgiving. Welds will not stick, and that is frustrating when just starting out

Must be near the top of the list of reasons why the (forever in business) liquidation store here has a BIG mountain of those $100 Harbor Freight welders every time walk in, despite the low 4-star reviews.

[mrxlh]

Best bang for the buck out there is the Hobart Ironman 230. Simple as it gets and no expensive boards or electronics. It is what the Millermatic 250 used to be. https://www.hobartwelders.com/produc...ed/ironman230/

[mrxlh]

Speaking of welders, I finally got my syncrowave going the other day, as well as my torch.

[fatherdoug]

Originally Posted by mrxlh

Best bang for the buck out there is the Hobart Ironman 230. Simple as it gets and no expensive boards or electronics. It is what the Millermatic 250 used to be. https://www.hobartwelders.com/produc...ed/ironman230/

Thank you, Ryan. I'm waffling.

[mrxlh]

If you were just doing sheet metal/body repair, the 110V units are pretty good. If you want to do heavier stuff or have a duty cycle long enough to make a complete weld, go for a 220 machine. Stay far far far far far (is that enough far's?) away from inverters, when (not if) they break, they are extremely expensive to fix. If you can find a good used Millermatic 35 (150 amp machine) for a good price ($200-$600) snap it up, especially if you can weld under power with it before purchasing. They were the best "home shop" welder on the market and were around from 1973 until 1992, again an all analog transformer welder with simple and cheap replacement parts.

[fatherdoug]

Good info. The uranium mill I worked at in 1977ish all had Miller gas welders mounted on the back of the mechanics trucks. When they shut the mill down in 1986, all those welders were buried for radioactive reasons.