Oh man, if gas is the easiest to learn then I am in big big trouble.
I once watched a set of videos on gas welding 4130 then spent a day
practicing.  I never so much as joined to molicules of iron.  Someone
told me that gas was the hardest and I should try his MIG machine.
After 4 hours of practice I got enough wire tacked down to be able to
limp the opject into a professional, who gave me a discount because it
was the best laugh he had in a long time.  In fairness I was outside
in windy conditions, but weld integrity was the least of my concerns.

I am pretty sure I will never be good enough to actually trust any of
my welds and anything of significance will have to go to my guy after
I tack it.  So thank you every one for the great opinions and leads to
get me going.  I guess I should also rephrase my question.  What is
the easiest system to learn to do acceptable tack welds?  When you say
'stick welding' is that the same as some of the machines I see labeled
as 'arc'?  I think that Lynn is right (he always is) that I should go
take a class.

BTW, I cant spraypaint either.

Thanks again
David Leonard

On 2/2/16, kenpowell <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

I have to agree with Lynn here (no surprise) - o xy-acetylene is the easiest
to master. I have an old Lincoln 225 AC stick machine that actually works
pretty good with an easy-to-use 6013 rod. I also have a Hobart 140 mig that
I have just never been able to conquer - I end up firing up the o
xy-acetylene if the weld matters. Lastly, I love my o xy-acetylene torches.
You can create the puddle and control it with either hand speed or flame
distance from the puddle. Very easy to learn and to use. The biggest
downside is welding gets to be really HOT in the summer months! I still want
a set of torches from the Tinman: https://www.tinmantech.com/

Ken Powell

----- Original Message -----

From: "Lehanover" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 1:46:02 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations

Try to take a course at a local trade school. Best option. I have gas
(Oxyacetylene) and a 600 amp Hobart
TIG machine. I only use Argon as a shielding gas. I sold my wire welder
years ago. Good for building trailers tacking on quarter panels and similar.
I like gas welding. Slow and easy. Also brazing and shaping and bending
steel parts. Gas welding is the most versatile of all forms. My mother could
weld aluminum with paste flux and blue glasses.
Wire feeders are difficult to master when starting from scratch. If it runs
on 110 volts it is just about a toy welder. Thin steels nearly horizontal
only. Takes lots of practice to even get some spot welds going. A stick
welder is actually easier to learn the basics on. Use match tip 6013 sticks
and build your first trailer.
The key is to get an instructor to teach you the many welding systems and
how each has its good and bad points. The end game is a big TIG machine
where any metal, any thickness can be done. The same machine will also do
stick welding AC or DC. Straight or reverse polarity. And the most critical
aircraft work.
The heat is controlled by a foot pedal and it is a joy to use. Much welding
training on the Internet.
Lynn E. Hanover
In a message dated 2/2/2016 2:06:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
flyrotary@lancaironline.net writes:


I have a number of small welding projects around the home and hangar
that are starting to accumulate. I am thinking about getting one of
those $100 welders from Harbor Freight but I have almost no welding
experience. There is plenty of info on the web but I thought I would
put the question to my rotary friends.

Given that I just want to be able to do occasional projects around the
home and airplane, what type of welding equipment would be best for me
and what do you consider the minimum power level that is acceptable?
I will skip the desire to do anything with aluminum. I am thinking
that Arc or Flux Core would be easiest. I tried to weld with
auto-feed MIG and I just couldn't keep up with the wire. Also, most of
the airplane projects are too difficult to keep any gas bubble in
place.

Thoughts?

David Leonard

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