Author Topic: Welder buying guide? (Read 9870 times)

Turbinepowered · « **on:** January 27, 2009, 12:14:30 pm »

So. I do my taxes (I like to get on them immediately, especially since I'll be applying for financial aid this year) and I come to find out I'm getting ~2/3 of my paid out taxes back this year. Since I'm presently living without any kind of major debts ($55/month cell bill and $300 a month rent and I'm good.

) I figure I'll be using part of this refund to pick up a welder and some other tools.

All I know is stick, and a little gas. I've no experience with MIG, and my only TIG experience has told me to get better with filler control on gas before I try that again! :lol:

They gave us a good rundown of the different companies when I took my course, but that was three years ago and things might have changed. Help me out, folks, make suggestions. Brands, models, I'm looking to you guys to get me quality.

Most of the garage circuits are 110v, but the panel itself is in the garage and adding a 220v circuit would be cake. Most of my work is going to be light grade stuff, 3/8" at most as I work on brackets. First project is going to be an AC and alternator bracket for the Fox, since I'm striking out on finding a no-AC bracket for it. Small projects are going to be more frequent than big ones, no trailer building for me in the foreseeable future, though once the Fox diesel is on the road there will be welding to build a biodiesel processor.

Budget's somewhere in the $500-750 range, but I can go up as high as a thousand I suppose. Stick is necessary, ideally with the capacity to upgrade to a moderate duty TIG rig when I finally get off my butt and learn to control that.

So how about it, folks? Steer me right, please

Op-Ivy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2009, 04:30:47 pm »

I suppose this is a little off topic but... You said you are applying for financial aid this year and you are considering spending up to $1000 on a welder?

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2009, 07:40:25 pm »

Quote from: "Op-Ivy"

I suppose this is a little off topic but... You said you are applying for financial aid this year and you are considering spending up to $1000 on a welder?

My one big purchase for the year. I could save every single penny and throw it into school, to the point of not being able to afford to eat, and still not pay tuition plus bills.

I make $20k a year if I work full time 40+ per week. Tuition is now $17k per year for the nearest university.

I've been out of school and saving up to pay for books and incidental fees, but I need to get at least a good chunk of that tuition covered or I quite simply will never get to my last two and a half years of school. The tuition increases are hitting double digit percentages each year recently, which is very rapidly outstripping my ability to save up and pay for it at a later date.

Should see some of the kids already in that school. Full ride scholarships via "need based grants" and they're driving around a fresh Mercedes or Lexus paid for by their parents... I'm in a $800 VW only five years younger than I am. :roll:

Op-Ivy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:47:50 pm »

Just thought I would ask.

I go here for welding questions. They are usually pretty good for helping with welding questions.

http://weldingweb.com/

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2009, 04:02:11 am »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

Quote from: "Op-Ivy"
I suppose this is a little off topic but... You said you are applying for financial aid this year and you are considering spending up to $1000 on a welder?

My one big purchase for the year. I could save every single penny and throw it into school, to the point of not being able to afford to eat, and still not pay tuition plus bills.

I make $20k a year if I work full time 40+ per week. Tuition is now $17k per year for the nearest university.

I've been out of school and saving up to pay for books and incidental fees, but I need to get at least a good chunk of that tuition covered or I quite simply will never get to my last two and a half years of school. The tuition increases are hitting double digit percentages each year recently, which is very rapidly outstripping my ability to save up and pay for it at a later date.

Should see some of the kids already in that school. Full ride scholarships via "need based grants" and they're driving around a fresh Mercedes or Lexus paid for by their parents... I'm in a $800 VW only five years younger than I am. :roll:

jesus thats insane increase.

There is a university around where i live that is re known for students getting loans from the gov't claiming they are independent and they need it to pay for school and they end up getting like a $40,000 loan and buying a new mercedez/bmw (what ever) with it and their parents are actually paying for their school... so they have like a lease sort of speak with no interest...

turborabbit · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2009, 03:14:11 pm »

I started with stick in the 60's, coveted a "bobcat or ranger' for years 'til I discoverd the Ready Welder II. For about $5C it can weld steel, aluminum, stainless..... Runs off car batteries (the ones in my Dodge or I carry a spare in my caddy-can change metals in less than a minute and can weld upto half-inch plate steel or three-quarter-inch aluminum. They are on the internet-by the way I installed my first one in a cordless drill case and I carrry it behind the passenger seat of my caddy. Needless to say-I love it!!. Good welding-warren

blkboostedtruck · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:30:00 pm »

I'll sell you my stick/tig for 900bucks thats cheap and it has a 100% duty cycle!
i still have that other one thats just a stick welder! 350bucks
Duane

commuter boy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2009, 08:43:38 pm »

Stick (ha!) with the big names. Miller, Lincoln, etc. Check around auction sites, sometimes you can come across real bargains these days, used is fine.

Best way to learn to tig is on someone else's dime. Community college courses are great for that. Or the old school european type apprenticeships like I did. I didn't even get to touch the welder for the first six months except to clean it......

jackbombay · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2009, 11:04:14 pm »

110v MIG with gas and a spooler gun for aluminum. Will weld up to 5/16" and is small, easily portable and easy to use. Lincoln, or Miller if you want the real cat's pajamas of welders.

$.02

jtanguay · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2009, 04:18:04 am »

Quote from: "Smokey Eddy"

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"
Quote from: "Op-Ivy"
I suppose this is a little off topic but... You said you are applying for financial aid this year and you are considering spending up to $1000 on a welder?

My one big purchase for the year. I could save every single penny and throw it into school, to the point of not being able to afford to eat, and still not pay tuition plus bills.

I make $20k a year if I work full time 40+ per week. Tuition is now $17k per year for the nearest university.

I've been out of school and saving up to pay for books and incidental fees, but I need to get at least a good chunk of that tuition covered or I quite simply will never get to my last two and a half years of school. The tuition increases are hitting double digit percentages each year recently, which is very rapidly outstripping my ability to save up and pay for it at a later date.

Should see some of the kids already in that school. Full ride scholarships via "need based grants" and they're driving around a fresh Mercedes or Lexus paid for by their parents... I'm in a $800 VW only five years younger than I am. :roll:

jesus thats insane increase.

There is a university around where i live that is re known for students getting loans from the gov't claiming they are independent and they need it to pay for school and they end up getting like a $40,000 loan and buying a new mercedez/bmw (what ever) with it and their parents are actually paying for their school... so they have like a lease sort of speak with no interest...

i see my tax dollars are being put to good use :roll: :lol:

lord_verminaard · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2009, 11:36:13 am »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

I make $20k a year if I work full time 40+ per week. Tuition is now $17k per year for the nearest university.

I've been out of school and saving up to pay for books and incidental fees, but I need to get at least a good chunk of that tuition covered or I quite simply will never get to my last two and a half years of school. The tuition increases are hitting double digit percentages each year recently, which is very rapidly outstripping my ability to save up and pay for it at a later date.

I feel your pain. I just paid off my student loans last year, and I've been graduated for 10 years now. :evil:

Brendan

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:47:28 am »

Quote from: "blkboostedtruck"

I'll sell you my stick/tig for 900bucks thats cheap and it has a 100% duty cycle!
i still have that other one thats just a stick welder! 350bucks

Duane, I'd have already snatched that TIG/stick rig of yours from you if you weren't a sixteen hour drive away.

Muy unhappy.

I've been cruising CL and the local classifieds paper lately... I'm getting distinct vibes of sketch from most of these ads. "Hot" welders, if you would...

blkboostedtruck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:55:19 am »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

Quote from: "blkboostedtruck"
I'll sell you my stick/tig for 900bucks thats cheap and it has a 100% duty cycle!
i still have that other one thats just a stick welder! 350bucks

Duane, I'd have already snatched that TIG/stick rig of yours from you if you weren't a sixteen hour drive away. Muy unhappy.

I've been cruising CL and the local classifieds paper lately... I'm getting distinct vibes of sketch from most of these ads. "Hot" welders, if you would...

well the Tig/Stick welder that one could be shipped it's not as heavy as the older Stick welder i have! prolly around 40lbs compared 90lbs of that older one!

what do you mean (Hot)! stolen ?
Duane

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:20:59 am »

Quote from: "blkboostedtruck"

well the Tig/Stick welder that one could be shipped it's not as heavy as the older Stick welder i have! prolly around 40lbs compared 90lbs of that older one!

what do you mean (Hot)! stolen ?
Duane

Hmmmm... mind looking into the shipping cost for me? I'd love to buy from another forum member, at least then I would know it hasn't been stolen!

And yeah, hot as in stolen. South Carolina's unemployment fund is running out due to, um, "irregularities" and a lot of folks have been on it for so long they're finally being cut off. Theft is on the rise, fairly sharply in the last month or so.

blkboostedtruck · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2009, 09:00:06 am »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

Quote from: "blkboostedtruck"

well the Tig/Stick welder that one could be shipped it's not as heavy as the older Stick welder i have! prolly around 40lbs compared 90lbs of that older one!

what do you mean (Hot)! stolen ?
Duane

Hmmmm... mind looking into the shipping cost for me? I'd love to buy from another forum member, at least then I would know it hasn't been stolen!

And yeah, hot as in stolen. South Carolina's unemployment fund is running out due to, um, "irregularities" and a lot of folks have been on it for so long they're finally being cut off. Theft is on the rise, fairly sharply in the last month or so.

sure P.M. me your addy! I'll ship the connectors but not the cable! it's heavy!
i suggest buying cable locally! cable weighs about 120lbs and not worth shipping
Duane

i looked up it's weight and says the unit it self weighs 32lbs.
so prolly 45lbs. with total with the connectors and in box?