I am buying a welder next week...need input

[Barry Donovan]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

gifts on birthdays ?? hahahahaha
terry changed clips on his olds 88 with oxy/acetylene and coat hangers

years ago I was working on installing a duct system (welded) in a nightclub.... ran out of welding wire.... towards the end of the project, I overheard the manager of the club telling the coat check personnel to watch the hangers as most of the hangers had turned up missing ;D I almost complained about them, as they were coated and it was a mother getting the coating off so I could weld the duct together......

first weld I ever saw was a home made something or other... coat hanger, old steel ones. I knew never ever fall for the dumb sales...

the sheet metal can be welded flux core... and if in tight spots, unseens, channels to be closed... keep the gas, I do not need radon 12v escaping 3 years afterwards melting my brain... or an explosion...or catalyst half life. As some may know.. all crazy chemistry is carried in inert gasses on earth. Even nuclear is prolonged...


I have been smashing j-tin with a mig for a couple of years....the gas is for making pretty. you want it to work, let the imperfections burn out in realtime, grind later without the gas. Gas also hides chemicals. I can't even find an argument FOR gas but more for against. It is great looking weld surrounded by death.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

Allright guys...

I went to a local welding shop and spoke with the owner who has been in the business over 30 years, he told me that I can not go wrong with this machine and the price...he will sell me a full bottle of shielding gas for 100 bucks...so for less that 4 bills I should be able to do what I need to do....

What do you think

http://tucson.craigslist.org/tls/1835473311.html

I might pick this up today...will have to wait til the 15th for the gas...man am I excited...

[milner351]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

Looks good to me!

You won't regret having a real MIG.

Flux core works in a pinch, but it's nothing like cookin with gas baby! ;D

[JOES66FURY]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

I found a welding car for 30 bucks on CL too...

[milner351]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

ROCK ON!

I do envy the smaller package set ups like that occasionally - my SP200 is HUGE! literally the size of a big block engine crate, and damned near as heavy!

[Scott Liggett]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

I just found this one. Looks ready to rock. Are Craftsman's any good?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/tls/1875279310.html

[67prostreet]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

Not a bad price. The tank can cost around $80-100.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

I just found this one. Looks ready to rock. Are Craftsman's any good?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/tls/1875279310.html

Century, lincon and craftsman...according to the gentleman I spoke with are all essentialy the same internally, infact if I am not mistake he said they are all made by the same company...

That is a smoking deal for that set up Scott...tank, helmet and welder and cart.....thats an easy 800 bucks new....

[milkovich]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

There are definitely two grades of entry level boxes by lincoln.

The home depot/lowes/sears units are different then the stuff at welding shops I believe.

I have an SP135-t that's been a beast for years and I use flux core on thick stuff and mig on the sheet metal. If you can swing for the gas, it really is a night and day difference.

Hopefully the unit you got has instructions and a graph with heat/wire speed settings. They're great for a baseline and I rarely ever have to mess with the dials.

[DanStokes]

Re: I am buying a welder next week...need input

The Century should do well for you. I have Lincoln SP 100 - the Daddy of the 135. Mine lacks the poop for roll cages - but not by much. I'd love to have that extra 35 amps!

Dan