|
|
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
--
Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
Archive and UnSub: http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
.
|
|