From: "Todd Archer" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:49:00 -0900
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To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Welding Equipment Recomendations
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If you're looking to stick a couple pieces of angle iron thickness 
together or tack things together for the trip to the finish welder, two 
of the processes are basically one step: stick (arc) and MIG (or 
flux-core wire feed). On the other hand, gas: several adjustments and 
coordination, and TIG: a couple steps and coordination.

With stick, you simply need to have enough amps for good penetration and 
strike an arc.  Also, stick is the cheapest to get up and going, no gas 
to keep up.
Conventional transformer arc (stick) welders with as much current as 
you'll ever need and will last forever:
     Lincoln tombstone 225A 
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/tls/5425483553.html
     Craftsman 220A https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/tls/5406990014.html
     Hobart https://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/tls/5431083864.html

Suitcase inverter arc welders mentioned are great, though sometimes a 
little more expensive.

You could get the Craftsman, swing by any hardware store for electrodes, 
grab a $40 shield from HF, and you can weld up an oil derrick in your 
backyard before dinner.  Then gain proficiency, take a shot at MIG or 
gas as your interest leads.

Even if you pick up something else, you will find yourself going back to 
it when you want a quick (and dirty) weld in the next 5 min.  In my 
opinion, stick takes the least proficiency, time, equipment, and cost to 
make <1/4" metal stick together.

If you want the just-in-case-I-want-more setup, this is a good price on 
a TIG welder that will allow you to build bridges or space shuttle parts:
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/tls/5422527720.html

Todd


On 2/2/2016 10:06 AM, David Leonard wrote:
> 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 anythng with aluminum.  I am thinking
> that Arc or Flux Core would be easiest.  I tried to weld with
> auto-feed MIG and I just couldnt 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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