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welders, come here
"You get what you pay for" definitely applies when it comes to welders.
I bought a cheap 110v Campbell Hausfield MIG welder from Lowes a couple years ago. I think it was somewhere around $300. I've done a number of useful things with it. Replaced a floorpan, several iterations of boost tubes and exhausts, various brackets, and other things.
But I've *never* been able to get a good enough weld that I would even think about attempting to do anything my life would depend on. It was rare for me to accomplish anything without needing to grind the hell out of it just to avoid embarrassment. And many welds had less-than-great penetration. For a long time I just thought I must really suck at welding. I never took a class...just read books and practiced.
I finally decided that I can't possibly be THAT bad, and talking with some knowledgable friends confirmed it could just be a cheap welder. I borrowed a PowCon SM200 from a friend, and will probably buy it from him. This thing is an industrial quality inverter that can handle several different processes with the right attachments. It is currently setup for stick, DC TIG, and MIG. I just installed the 230v circuit last week to run it, and I've only laid down a couple practice beads so far, but hey Ma, I can weld!! So far, it looks like I really was having problems due to the cheap welder more than anything. I'm actually going to do another custom exhaust this afternoon, so we'll see what happens. The only bummer is that I can't do aluminum with DC TIG (need AC inverter) but as far as I know it should do great with stainless, and the previous owner says he has done some good things with aluminum using the MIG. I'm really looking forward to learning TIG, and the stick process will be awesome for some heavier stuff like building a tire rack for the car trailer or those shelves I've been needing in the garage.
So here's the bottom line: The cheap off-brand 110v boxes might be OK for real simple projects and learning but I've been told several times that even the nice 110v welders will struggle sometimes, so at least try hard to come up with the money for a good brand like Miller or Lincoln which will probably cost you at least another $100. If you can afford it, step up to a good 230v welder. Keep an eye out for a used one if you know it is in good condition.
Neal
----- Original Message ----
From: Julie Macfarlane <juliemac57@hotmail.com>
To: rocco_phil@yahoo.com; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 09:17:50
Subject: Re: welders, come here
If you can solder you can weld. Principle is ALMOST the same.
Mig welders you can get from walmart (Not suggested) for a low/high current
welder. Spring the extra for the variable current model. I wish I had.
Julie Macfarlane
"Its not just a car! Its an adventure!"
DSM4 entry: "Masochism: See Scirocco"
1981 MKI 2L 16v w 2Y
1985 MKII 1.8L 8v w 9A Wolfsburg
Amsterdam NY
>From: Phil Boeye <rocco_phil@yahoo.com>
>To: Scirocco List <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>Subject: Re: welders, come here
>Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 05:36:23 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>Wot a PITA - the only classes I can find around here
>are entire semester classes at the local community
>colleges or trade schools. No weekend workshops or
>anything. Hey, I just want to be able to do a few
>things, not be an ironworker. WTF? Seems it would be
>better to fab what I need up to the point of welding
>and then take it to a machine shop or something...
>
>-RP
>'87 stock 8v beater = "The Faithful One"
>'84.5 2L 8v + 2H = "Baby Fatass"
>
>"..slave to the disease..."
>
>
>
>
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