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Post by StepfordRenegade on Nov 26, 2014 16:31:35 GMT 10
I am looking at getting hubby a welder for Christmas, I know he's mentioned the type he'd like ages ago but I can't remember...
So as you guys are now my brains trust for this sort of thing and I know we've got a whole bunch of home handypeople here - what's a good welder I can get for less than $200 that'll be good for tinkering as well as the more heavy duty protects around the house?
I'd also like it to be generator friendly so it's still useful if the power goes out.
What sort of things should I look for? What should I avoid?
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Post by Peter on Nov 26, 2014 17:18:03 GMT 10
Do you know what type of things he'd like to make/repair?
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Post by pheniox17 on Nov 26, 2014 18:38:44 GMT 10
For the $$ your looking at a arc welder... (You may stumble on a gasless mig)
If you look into the second hand market, I have never seen a old style arc welder die, cables and the rod holder (don't know the techie term) i have seen go
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 26, 2014 19:03:02 GMT 10
I have always had an arc welder. You can do brilliant things with an arc, even very fine work if you use the right electrode and have a delicate touch. There are a few posts about that cover welding with car batteries, essentially this is arc welding.
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Post by Paul on Nov 26, 2014 20:17:24 GMT 10
Hey Stepford,You will not getmuch for $200. You might be better off saving up a little and getting something a bit better. does he want stick or mig, had he welded before or is this just for starting off with. If he hasent used a mig before, you welcome to bring around to my place and I will let him have ago of mine to see if he likes it.
Paul
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 26, 2014 22:33:02 GMT 10
I'd like to learn to weld. This has reminded me to do that. ..
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Post by graynomad on Nov 27, 2014 0:26:46 GMT 10
After giving my last MIG away years ago I decided to buy another one last year. I found one on Gumtree for $200 but TBH at that price the ones I've seen are toys with bugger all controls. I eventually bought one for $700 new from BOC and it's a beauty. It's gas/gasless, I used to hate gasless but this does a great job and with gasless you can work outside in the wind so that's a big plus to me as I don't have a workshop. OTOH if you go stick then I think you could get something decent for that price and they are smaller and lighter. FWIW I think welding is just about the most useful DIY skill you can have, there is very little that can't be built with steel and a small welder.
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Post by jimb1972 on Nov 27, 2014 6:21:46 GMT 10
I used a cheap flux core MIG I borrowed from a buddy to build a smoker last year. I would not recommend one, you would be a lot better off saving the money and buying a $400-$600 Mig that is gas capable and has more than a High/Low switch for temperature control and more than four wire speeds. The welder I borrowed got the job done, but it was not pretty. Arc welders will do most anything except very thin gauge sheet metal, but most of them draw an awful lot of amps to be run off anything but a big generator
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Post by Paul on Nov 27, 2014 10:34:21 GMT 10
I think I payed about $700 for mine but that was about 15 years ago and it is still going strong. It has stop a few time for me but thats because I run out of wire.(haha) It is gas or gas less, most of my welding done these days is gas less as I don't like to pay for rent on a bottle. here is a pic.
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Post by StepfordRenegade on Nov 28, 2014 8:24:47 GMT 10
Thanks heaps for the advice guys! I might have to leave off getting one this year and save up for his birthday instead so I can get a good one. He has suggested he make an arc welder out of an old microwave - any idea if that's even doable? I could find him all the bits and pieces and pretend that's his present
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 28, 2014 8:53:10 GMT 10
Thanks heaps for the advice guys! I might have to leave off getting one this year and save up for his birthday instead so I can get a good one. He has suggested he make an arc welder out of an old microwave - any idea if that's even doable? I could find him all the bits and pieces and pretend that's his present It is. I hope he understands electricity though. I have watched the YouTube vid, the guy also makes a spot welder out of one among many other things. I would look up the post on these forums about making one from car batteries as I do believe this is the same thing with the microwave.
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Post by graynomad on Nov 28, 2014 19:15:37 GMT 10
You can certainly weld using a couple of car batteries, that's an old FWD trick.
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