Getting started welding...HF? BORG? other?

[Photojosh]

I'd like to start learning a little welding. Nothing fancy, just the ability to make some shop brackets, hangers, etc. I have 220 in my shop as well as 120.

I guess arc or MIG is probably what I'm looking at, if I understand correctly. TIG for aluminium would be cool at some point, but in all honesty, that's not something I really have a regular use for. And I do have a friend with a TIF welder who can help me out when I do need some Al welded.

Anyone have any advice on this sort of thing? Lots of cheap welders at HF and the BORGs. But I really have no clue where to start as far as buying. I've got a couple of friends who can teach me the basics and/or there is a local tech school that offers a basic welding class starting in Jan. Of course I just missed the fall class starting.

[Tom Slick]

MIG is the easiest to start with and will do most of what a hobbyist needs. I recommend that you use your friends' welders and see what you think. Taking a class is great because you get to try out different welders before you purchase one. MIG will do thinner materials that Stick will not.

I don't care for any of the "cheap" welders. They tend to have very short duty cycles and don't produce nice welds from my experience. At a minimum buy one with gas, (as opposed to flux-core only) I recommend that you seriously consider a 220v 185A MIG Hobart, Miller, Lincoln or similar. Find the local welding supply (i.e. Airgas) and talk to them.

[dbhost]

I second the recommendation for taking a welding class. Like the woodworking supply houses frequently offer classes on this that or the other thing, welding supply shops, at least around here, offer classes. If you have an adult education program at your local community college you might find welding classes there as well...

I honestly do not like welding, so I leave it to friends that enjoy it. (I have no problem cutting, threading or whatnot with metals, just welding gives me the heebie jeebies...)

The guys that I know that have their own welders all own Lincoln MIG welders.

[stocktr8er]

Keep an eye on Craigslist. Out here in West Texas, I see a decent welder posted weekly. You can find one for a couple hundred about every three weeks or so.

[Photojosh]

Yeah, like I said, there is a class at the tech college in my town. But of course I have missed the fall class by a few weeks. So the next one starts after the new year. Which is probably fine, as I 've got more than enough projects to keep me busy.

[LinuxRandal]

At a minimum buy one with gas, (as opposed to flux-core only) I recommend that you seriously consider a 220v 185A MIG Hobart, Miller, Lincoln or similar.

All of what he said, but ESPECIALLY this part. (however, if I remember correctly the 185a Hobart, is marked as the 170 model, so that can be confusing).

If you were stuck with 110 only, then I would say go the 140 model. Miller will be your local welding supply place, Lincoln are carried by the borgs, and Hobart, is what my local tractor supply carries, to give you comparison places.

[Tom Slick]

Just FYI, Hobart and Miller are owned by the same company. With their models like Hobart's Handler series they are the same or nearly the same as Miller and the price difference isn't much. My Handler 175 (now called a 187) came with a Miller gun.

[unknown poster]

Avoid the cheap welders sold at HF. Welding is an art that can be difficult to master, a crappy welder will frustrate you.

Check with your local welding supply shops. They'll have good quality welders, and the other supplies you'll need like gas and wire. Try to swing a deal where they throw in some of the supplies, like the gas tank or the first gas fill.

[Pappy]

I have a cheap flux core wire welder. While it has served its purpose, I wouldn't recommend getting one. Settings are limited to wire feed speed and hi/low settings.

Go with a decent MIG set up. Even the 110V set ups work well.