Welding - What do I need?

[Bolvangar]

I want to start welding and dont know much about it. Can anyone make any reccomendations as to what all I need/should get for a good starters kit? Dont want to spend more than 200 for everything.

thanks!

 

[Eli]

You need a welder, a welding helmet, some leather gloves and some long-sleeve flannel shirts.

Good luck with your budget... lol

 

[Kalvin00]

Yeah, $200 is quite a tall order. You'd be hard pressed to find a used stick welder and accessories for that price.

 

[Ness]

You need more money for starters.

You'd be lucky to pick up a beginner's kit type thing at that price.

 

[bmacd]

WHAT are you welding? There are different types of welders for different types of metal, like a TIG or MIG.

Read this:

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=106693

-=bmacd=-

 

[CFster]

Don't look at the light.

 

[Bolvangar]

I'm not looking to weld anything thick, just something to practice on to get the hang of it. I saw some of the electric welders at lowe's for about a 100. They wont weld anything more than like 1/4 an inch thick, but i dont think i need anything more than that for my purposes.

 

[rival]

i suggest taking a class, might find one at a community college

 

[Isshinryu]

Training...I'm working in a sheet metal/pipe fabrication shop this summer, and those guys are amazing...without training, very good luck.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Contact your local Lincoln Electric Sales office directly, not one of their suppliers.
They have In Facility 'Demo' units that they can sell to students at a discount.
The retail outlets try to buy them up at the discount prices and sell them as
'Refurbs' but they are still making a $ 100 over what they get them from Lincoln for.
Call and ask for the District Manager, introduce yourself and ask questions.
They even offer 'On site' training assistance and the sales people will be quite helpful.

They have some really nice wire feed MIG units that are portable and work on 115V
and can direct you to a reliable and economical source for the shield gas and bottle.

Lincoln Electric

SP135T MIG Portable
AC225C Stick Portable

Try this as a starting point:

1180 Spring Centre South Blvd.
Suite 100
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Phone: 407-788-8557
Fax: 407-788-7705

 

[kaizersose]

Originally posted by: rival
i suggest taking a class, might find one at a community college

if you dont know what you are doing, it would be quite easy to do serious bodily harm if not kill yourself. the best way to learn is by having an experienced pro show you how.

 

[Brutuskend]

Pros and con of different types of welding.

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Can weld aluminum. Is SPENDY. Uses a sharpened Tungsten rod mounted in a handle which is hollow, Inert gas comes out of the hollow part of the handle (This gas keeps O2 from contaminating the weld.) MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark! Also takes two hands, One hand holds the welder handle and the other holds your feed rod (The material you're filling with)

MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding) Can weld aluminum. Equipment is cheaper than TIG. Is wire feed, so you have one hand free. (To spank it. ) MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark!

ARC Can't weld aluminum. Is MESSY AS HELL. MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark! Only takes one hand. (Spanking it again.. )Equipment is CHEAP!

Oxyacetylene welding. Can't weld aluminum. Is VERY CLEAN. You don't have to wear as dark a face shield! Is FAIRLY CHEAP. Produces more heat then some other types of welding (MIG) so it's not so good for welding thin large surfaces (Car body panels ect..)

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
Pros and con of different types of welding.

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Can weld aluminum. Is SPENDY. Uses a sharpened Tungsten rod mounted in a handle which is hollow, Inert gas comes out of the hollow part of the handle (This gas keeps O2 from contaminating the weld.) MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark! Also takes two hands, One hand holds the welder handle and the other holds your feed rod (The material you're filling with)

MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding) Can weld aluminum. Equipment is cheaper than TIG. Is wire feed, so you have one hand free. (To spank it. ) MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark!

ARC Can't weld aluminum. Is MESSY AS HELL. MUST USE VERY DARK FACE SHIELD which makes it a bit harder to learn on since you can't see SH!T until you strike a spark! Only takes one hand. (Spanking it again.. )Equipment is CHEAP!

Oxyacetylene welding. Can't weld aluminum. Is VERY CLEAN. You don't have to wear as dark a face shield! Is FAIRLY CHEAP. Produces more heat then some other types of welding (MIG) so it's not so good for welding thin large surfaces (Car body panels ect..)

and if im not mistaking:
ARC: cheapest (what i will learn on sometime this summer, because that is what we have)
MIG: cheap
Oxy: moderatly expensive due to having oxygen and acetylene tanks necessary
Tig: most expensive, but when you know what you are doing, you can make the best welds.

but if your just learning, you wont be doing anything that requires to be seen 24x7 so ARC would prolly be the best bet, just get one of the masks that will darken the second you start welding, that way you can see right until you start so you dont miss to bad.

MIKE

 

[spidey07]

you need to not stand in a puddle and grab the metal.

geez, I still get a tingle from that one.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I started out my first trade as a welder. Fortunately for me my father was a master of the trade. When the day came for him to teach me he tossed me a helmet and gloves, showed me where the start switch was on the 400 amp welder and told me to start practicing. That was it. I taught myself arc, MIG, TIG and oxy/acetylene welding. I got sick of it after about 10 years and became a mechanic.

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: spidey07
you need to not stand in a puddle and grab the metal.

geez, I still get a tingle from that one.

LOL... that why you went Cisco??

 

[CrabAss]

You can pick up a 120V MIG machine from the likes of Home Depot or Lowes. Run fluxcore wire though it and you are set. No need for gas.

These are great machines for light work, such as auto body work. You can also run bare wire through them using a small bottle of argon for your purge. This way is cleaner.

Pick up a welding hood from a local supply house for about $30. You will also need some welding gloves.

Here are a few online shops to get an idea of prices.

http://www.weldingdepot.com/
http://www.weldingsupply.com


You really should take a class or two to learn the basics. Once you get the feel of it and know what to look at, you'll be on your way.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: CrabAss
You can pick up a 120V MIG machine from the likes of Home Depot or Lowes. Run fluxcore wire though it and you are set. No need for gas.

These are great machines for light work, such as auto body work. You can also run bare wire through them using a small bottle of argon for your purge. This way is cleaner.

Pick up a welding hood from a local supply house for about $30. You will also need some welding gloves.

Here are a few online shops to get an idea of prices.

http://www.weldingdepot.com/
http://www.weldingsupply.com


You really should take a class or two to learn the basics. Once you get the feel of it and know what to look at, you'll be on your way.

Yup, MIG is what I would recommend.
Thats what I'm getting soon.

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Thread from last week....http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1318216&highlight_key=y

 

[TitanDiddly]

That budget is a bit low. Take a welding course at a technical school. MIG.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: blakeatwork

Originally posted by: spidey07
you need to not stand in a puddle and grab the metal.

geez, I still get a tingle from that one.

LOL... that why you went Cisco??

meh, I'm bidding the whole thing out to all of them.

anyhoo...that was quite a tingle IIRC. Uncle had to give me a swift kick to knock me off.

and then a firm swat for "WTF are you doing fool!!!???"

 

[lobadobadingdong]

hire a welder if that's all you have to invest, you might get a small grill welded for that.

 

[Bolvangar]

what would be the point in hiring a welder if I want to learn to weld?

Thanks for the info everyone!