I need a welder on the cheap...

[MrSalvage]

I have all kinds of junk sitting around here. I would like to do some farmhacks. What in the minimum i can get away with. I think all I have is 15amp breakers for the 110v. I do have two outlets for 220v.

I really do need to start welding some of my hacks so what can i get away with for home use?

[Worth1]

MIG TIG or stick.
Your best bet would be a stick welder that will do AC and DC.
How much do you want to spend?
Stay away from cheap 120 volt MIG wire welders they are junk and you will burn it up in less than a year.
Consider an engine driven one too, the reason why is when you see the electric bill.

Worth

[MrSalvage]

Would 200.00 get me something that is useful worth?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by MrSalvage

Would 200.00 get me something that is useful worth?

Not unless you are very lucky even the cheap ones are more than that.
The best you can do for anything close to that is a used Lincoln 220 volt AC stick welder.
New ones are around $ 329 or so.
If you go used by all means look for an AC DC welder.
Can you weld?

Worth

[Worth1]

I want to add I learned how to weld on a Lincoln AC cracker box stick welder.
At the time they cost $98.00 in the 70's.
I made the highest grade in the class with my welding test 99%.
The reason the teacher didn't give me 100% is because I could weld better than him.
The class said this not me.
When I first welded with DC I thought I had died and went to heaven.

Stick welders will let you weld outside MIG make you buy gas flux core wire feed is okay but good ones are expensive and they will run MIG too.

TIG is out of the question expensive mine a Miller was $1,800 16 years ago but I can stick weld with it too.

[shatbox]

I like stick because there is nothing like the satisfaction of a beautiful bead. Like Worth said MIG/TIG is better in shop environments (cylinders and the like for MIG/TIG; though fluxcore, like stick, can be done anywhere). Anything you will want to build heavy duty you will want to do with stick. See duty cycle note below.

If I were just starting out, I would go with a Harbor Freight MIG/Fluxcore w/ a 20% off coupon. You may know this but for those new, it comes down how well the machine spools and the duty rating (Rule of thumb, 20% duty rating means it can run continuously for 20 min out of an hour). Point is: no one wants to fuss with wire kinking, breaking on its way to the gun and no one likes making three tacks and waiting a half hour to do one pass.

Everlast has some bomb multiprocess machines. Not American made but well built.

[Worth1]

Problem with the duty cycle is it is in minutes on welders.
As in 10 minutes on welders.
A twenty percent duty cycle is weld 2 minutes let cool for 8 minutes.
Far better off to get one that welds at 100% duty cycle at an amperage you commonly weld at and lower.
Mine I think is 100% at 90 amps.
It has a square wave form on AC and is I think 40%+ 60%- or the other way around for welding aluminum.
MIG welders have voltage and feed settings, most of the guys you see on TV dont know how to use them or set them up.
They are fantastic for thin metal speed and tacking.
A friend of mine ran one at a Caterpillar plant that was huge they brought the spools in on a lift or crane.
Ran off Co2.

[MrSalvage]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Not unless you are very lucky even the cheap ones are more than that.
The best you can do for anything close to that is a used Lincoln 220 volt AC stick welder.
New ones are around $ 329 or so.
If you go used by all means look for an AC DC welder.
Can you weld?

Worth

I went to welding school when I was a young man. I got a certificate from them when i passed the class. That was a long time ago tho...

So you think a new Lincoln from Lowes would be my best bet for here around house then? I guess I could switch my dryer outlet and the dryer cord too, so it would match the welder.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by MrSalvage

I went to welding school when I was a young man. I got a certificate from them when i passed the class. That was a long time ago tho...

So you think a new Lincoln from Lowes would be my best bet for here around house then? I guess I could switch my dryer outlet and the dryer cord too, so it would match the welder.

Which ever way is easiest for you.

[Worth1]

A friend of mine gave me this book many years ago and I think it is out of print but it is one heck of a good book.
Covers everything including underwater welding.
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...DHAQ8wIIhQMwAQ

[Worth1]

I want to add if you get an AC/DC welder you can easily set it up to weld TIG later and you will be able to weld darn near anything.

I highly recommend an AC/DC welder over the AC welder.
How I got mine was I set up an account at Air Gas and paid it off.

[loulac]

I suggest visiting http://weldingweb.com/
Giving precise information is difficult as we don't know exacxtly what you intend to weld (steel I suppose) and thickness. MIG is dangerous for unqualified welders as they can't know if penetration is OK. TIG is a must for thin metal (less than 2 millimeters) but expensive with argon. A good training is necessary.Stick is I think the best choice as long as you avoid the cheapest equipment. Check the duty cycle, see Worth's post above. It should be at least 60%. 150 amps would be a nice power.
Modern equipment is full of electronics that will die in the first months of use if it has to, so be sure to buy it in a place that can service it and not in Shangai.

[MrSalvage]

I ended up buying a cheap little MIG-130 Flux Core Wire Welder. MIG is just the name and it should be enough to do small stuff around here. Ended up being $70.40 shipped with the coupon they offer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MIG-130-Flux...item4ab668e468

I like it better than the cheap one on harbor freight as it had two more settings.

Hopefully after I get my feet wet again. I would like to get a nice DC Arc welder as i want to build some trailers for a smoker along with a nice car trailer to name a few things. I already have a nice scrap pile outback and a few trailers for axles and such.

[MrSalvage]

Thanks for the links guys... I found a Tuber that's just a kid and he has a great attitude. I have been reviewing all of his content/vids. He is doing so well for himself, it seems every welding company around seems to want him to review their products. Of course he gets to keep the product!

Anyway this is the section I am reviewing now.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EOyEq7bHN_YdCI

Man oh man does this kid has some welding machines! I wonder if he has to pay tax on all that stuff? Smart kid...

[Worth1]

Now go pick up some nozzle jelly.
I hope it works for you.
I bet he does have to pay tax.
Some people thought they could get away from tax by the barter system they still have to pay tax.

Worth