Beno
Senior Member
Posts: 1,310 
Likes: 1,433
Location: Northern Rivers
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Post by Beno on Apr 8, 2018 13:47:41 GMT 10
I'd go an arc welder for farm work particulalry if you won't need or use it much. you can weld fairly crusty metal and it takes nothing to set them up. Arc welding is probably a bit more difficult because as you weld your electode is consumed so you need to concentrate on push or pull of electrode as well as adjusting its length as electrode is consumed. stick welders are not as good for long continuous welds as you sometimes have to swap electroded mid weld.
MIGs require a bit of stuffing around getting it set up to your particuler type of work as different jobs and metals require more or less wire feed etc. you also can go through nozzels if you stuff up the settings and fill them with excessive spatter etc. MIGs make nice welds and can weld continuously for bigger jobs. I'd go gasless MIG for farm work so you don't have to lug a gas bottle whereever you go.
Lincoln seems to be the way to go but i don't own one so not really sure if the price justifies the cost but as you know you get what you pay for.
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Post by graynomad on Apr 12, 2018 21:48:53 GMT 10
I suggested a MIG but did state that I was biased because I can't stick weld to save myself.  However I went from no experience or training to building this  and this  Using the Lincoln 170 seen here in the background  It did all the welding on these projects except heavy stuff like the cross member shown in red in the above pic, that's 12mm steel (25mm in the middle IIRC) and too much for a small MIG, I had access to a 450A 3-phase unit for that. If I could stick weld I would probably have used that for this heavy work, but even this  Was OK for the small MIG. And for general fabrication of "stuff" like tool boxes  Or maybe gun safes  The MIG shines again. As I said to FB, "Any mug can MIG". I used gas for the trucks because that was indoors, but for a few years now I've used glassless, probably not quite as good but almost and anyway if you will be outside you have no choice. You may think that you won't use it much, but believe me once you can weld every project will be done with steel |
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ygidorp
Senior Member
Posts: 197
Likes: 282
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Post by ygidorp on Apr 13, 2018 11:33:14 GMT 10
Did you guys do any courses for welding? I'd love to learn how to weld, but the huge price tag and time required on welding courses has put me off.
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Post by graynomad on Apr 13, 2018 21:02:11 GMT 10
I didn't, as such I really just muddle through but so far nothing has broken.
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Post by Peter on Apr 14, 2018 14:36:04 GMT 10
Did you guys do any courses for welding? I'd love to learn how to weld, but the huge price tag and time required on welding courses has put me off. Is there a tech college nearby that does evening classes - for example this one in Thornlie (about 1/2 hour SE of Perth): www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/short-courses/welding-introduction |
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Post by spinifex on Apr 14, 2018 15:33:25 GMT 10
I didn't, as such I really just muddle through but so far nothing has broken. GN, based on the pics you posted of the truck ... you're an world class muddler. I wish I could muddle that well! |
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Post by graynomad on Apr 15, 2018 8:09:28 GMT 10
I didn't, as such I really just muddle through but so far nothing has broken. GN, based on the pics you posted of the truck ... you're an world class muddler. I wish I could muddle that well!  |
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qlder
Full Member
Posts: 83
Likes: 25
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Post by qlder on May 29, 2018 13:35:45 GMT 10
Mate honestly spend a tad more and get one capable of using 15kg rolls. And make sure that it uses a euro fitting handpiece. Steer away from anything with " synergic" controls. You just need volts (heat) and amps (wirespeed). Any reputable brand will do, just make sure you have the power to run it. 250 amps is plenty for nearly all home and farm jobs.
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