Thinking about getting a welder

[DrPizza]

And for those who don't have ready access to 220v in their garage, go to Lowes or your local electric supply and get some SO Cord and make a 220v extension cord with a dryer plug on one end and a socket for your welder on the other. Any "decent" electrical aisle worker at Lowes can help you determine the proper gauge, socket and sizing based on the distance you need.

If you REALLY don't know electrical stuff, ask your local electrical contractor about it. They can help and it should be a relatively inexpensive alternative to running a new circuit for 220v.

How about getting a relatively inexpensive generator? Wouldn't a $300-$500 generator do the trick? Plus, you'd have increased portability, and a generator to use if you ever lost power?

Any reason this wouldn't work?

 

[skyking]

takes a good 6000 watter to get 220v. I have one for the wellhouse.

 

[Gillbot]

How about getting a relatively inexpensive generator? Wouldn't a $300-$500 generator do the trick? Plus, you'd have increased portability, and a generator to use if you ever lost power?

Any reason this wouldn't work?

You could, but why not then just opt for a gas powered welder, many of which have an outlet or two on them anyway? On top of that, if you have $500 or so for a budget, it may be cheaper just to get a 220v circuit installed in the garage.

Then again, 30a at 220v is nearly 7000 watts. Not sure if you could score a generator that could handle that kind of demand reliably for under $500. Remember, most are rated at peak output and their design capacity may be as low as 50% of the "rated" value. Not to mention the surge current from starting a weld would likely be more than the peak the generator could handle. That's also why many recommend going very high in rating when attaching heavy demand items like AC units and refrigerators. I would suspect a welder would be even more demanding on the generator.

Most people have their garage semi-close to their home so the "dryer extension cord" works most of the time, and i've built quite a few in my day. I have also built many gas powered welders from 150+ amp alternators and old lawn mower/tractor engines.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1980-11-01/Build-a-20-Portable-DC-Arc-Welder.aspx
http://www.yachtwork.com/report-welder.htm

Google will yield MANY more home-built welder recipes.

 

[AMCRambler]

This is a great thread. Thanks for all the responses. 220v is going to be tough. I dont think we've got a 220v outlet near the garage. wasn't planning on spending that much for the dual voltage unit either. From what I'm hearing 110 will do what I need if I take my time. Still trying to talk the wife into letting me spend the money too hehe.

Quick question that vid link that was posted earlier said I could use a paintball co2 cylinder. I've got one so I guess I don't need a bottle for shielding gas. Will it screw right into the regulator that comes with a welder kit? Or will I need an adapter?

 

[Soccerman06]

This is a great thread. Thanks for all the responses. 220v is going to be tough. I dont think we've got a 220v outlet near the garage. wasn't planning on spending that much for the dual voltage unit either. From what I'm hearing 110 will do what I need if I take my time. Still trying to talk the wife into letting me spend the money too hehe.

Quick question that vid link that was posted earlier said I could use a paintball co2 cylinder. I've got one so I guess I don't need a bottle for shielding gas. Will it screw right into the regulator that comes with a welder kit? Or will I need an adapter?

I dont know, never used one, but calling a welding supply store would help. Remember, different wire may require different gas mixtures. Flux core may be the way to go for you just to avoid gas completely however it is a little more dirty and will require cleaning the surface prior to welding and cleaning the weld afterwards if you care for looks.

Edit: I can expand on the welder supply store, going to one of them you can find used equipment or get a discount with the seller for a combo purchase.

 

[Gillbot]

This is a great thread. Thanks for all the responses. 220v is going to be tough. I dont think we've got a 220v outlet near the garage. wasn't planning on spending that much for the dual voltage unit either. From what I'm hearing 110 will do what I need if I take my time. Still trying to talk the wife into letting me spend the money too hehe.

Quick question that vid link that was posted earlier said I could use a paintball co2 cylinder. I've got one so I guess I don't need a bottle for shielding gas. Will it screw right into the regulator that comes with a welder kit? Or will I need an adapter?

Don't try to cheap out too much. A rental cylinder isn't that much, will provide you with the gas you need and the proper equipment will readily work.

Also, if you have a clothes dryer and your house is somewhat near the garage, you have 220 available. I don't have 220 in my garage but my dryer is about ~50 feet away so I run my 220 cord out the laundry window and to my driveway in front of the garage for welding when I need it.

 

[JCH13]

220V isn't too hard to wire up from the circuit breaker box, you could probably manage it yourself if you wanted to. It also shouldn't cost much to get an electrician in there in install it.

 

[franksta]

Don't try to cheap out too much. A rental cylinder isn't that much, will provide you with the gas you need and the proper equipment will readily work.

I got my cylinder at Airgas. It's been a few years but they quoted me around $13 per month to rent the 80cubic feet sized cylinder (around 8" diameter, 36" or so tall). To purchase the same was $130 or so. It's not so much that I 'own' a specific cylinder. I take it back when it is empty and pay for the argon ($45) and they exchange it for a full one.

These inert gas cylinders have a CGA 580 fitting which your regulator will mate to. This is specific to inert gases. It's so you don't accidentally connect oxygen and set yourself on fire or connect helium to grandma's breathing tubes. I'm not familiar with paintball cylinders other than thinking they are not very large.

 

[mooseracing]

From what I'm hearing 110 will do what I need if I take my time.

110 will be fine. Use flux core if you get to a spot you are pushing the limits of your welder since it usually burns hotter. My exo-cage, snow-plow, tillling plow on the tractor, brush hog, etc have all been welded with a std Miller Mig in 110. My exo cage has been bounced off of trees.

If you need more amperage infrequently, I would look at a stick setup as you can get it pretty cheap.

 

[AMCRambler]

Actually my pops has a stick welder and I could always borrow that if I need to weld something thicker than 1/4" steel. That thing leaves a shit ton of slag and is nearly impossible to weld thinner gauge steel. He did some exhaust work with it in the past and good lord what a mess.

 

[Gillbot]

Actually my pops has a stick welder and I could always borrow that if I need to weld something thicker than 1/4" steel. That thing leaves a shit ton of slag and is nearly impossible to weld thinner gauge steel. He did some exhaust work with it in the past and good lord what a mess.

I do my exhaust work with a stick usually. It's not bad if you got the hang of it, use the right settings and rods.

 

[AMCRambler]

Well I pulled the trigger. Picked up a Lincoln 140 mig at Lowes today. Also bought a Kobalt auto dark helmet. I had. 10% off coupon so it costs me about $630. Then I stopped off and picked up a full bottle of shielding gas. I'm ready to go. I've got some scrap exhaust pipe so I'll start learning on that.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Well I pulled the trigger. Picked up a Lincoln 140 mig at Lowes today. Also bought a Kobalt auto dark helmet. I had. 10% off coupon so it costs me about $630. Then I stopped off and picked up a full bottle of shielding gas. I'm ready to go. I've got some scrap exhaust pipe so I'll start learning on that.

nicely done. I have the same machine and it works well. Remember to run it off of a 120amp breaker. 115 will blow out. Shouldnt be to much of a change to cause any problems.

Its an easy machine to operate. Just make sure that you run the cables in the right polarity (you need to switch them around when doing flux vs mig), and the settings on the machine usually work fairly good. If you find it spitting alot and the surface is very clean, try slowing down or speeding up the wire by half a setting. This machine works great for thin sheet metal with .023 wire.

Another thing to mention. Clean up surfaces before welding. As in buy a coarse wire brush on a drill and scrape off all paint before welding. Some paints will release a gas called manganese which has VERY nasty side effects when inhaled. Id recommend buying a good respirator to prevent it. I use one almost all the time.
My buddy is a welder by trade and had early onset of manganism. He just didnt take care of himself (has the "i dont care" attitude). He was sick for quite a while (shakes, moody, always tired).

Post a pic of some of your first welds to earn a Gold Star on your Mancard.

 

[Gillbot]

:thumbsup:

Sometimes you can go to exhaust shops and they'll give you scraps.

 

[AMCRambler]

Well I ordered up a universal exhaust kit for my Rambler from Summit. Ordered a 2.5" exhaust kit and like a moron didn't measure the headers to see what the car actually had on it. The oem exhaust was something closer to 2". Rather than send back the 2.5" exhaust, I went and got some reducer pieces at Autozone and I've been working on welding up the header connection. Picked up some Walker 2 bolt flanges as well.

I'm going with duals with no crossover pipe at this point. It will be easier to hang and weld up with out screwing around with an x pipe or trying to weld my own Y connection. I've got the passenger side down pipe from the header pretty much welded up now. I'll do the drivers side next. Its a tight fit so I've been taking my time trying to get it right. The welds are getting better each time I do one. I've been working with lower voltage since its fairly thin exhaust tubing. Didn't want to burn holes through it. Here's some pics of the piece:

Had to notch the flange when I tried to slip it on and found it was hitting the transmission bell housing.

So do I get my gold start on my man card?

 

[RU482]

fabrication...be it building with wood, bending or welding metal, designing and assembling electronics, dirt moving equipment....geez, I'm drooling just typing this. Love this stuff

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

well done, amc. well done.

 

[Colt45]

Well, keep practising :awe:

Been a few years since I've done any welding now... going to have to do a bunch on the bug this summer, though.

 

[skyking]

I have to weld a fuel filler this morning. Similar thin stuff.
Keep it up and have some fun.

 

[AMCRambler]

Thanks for the kudos. Ill post more pics when I get more done.

 

[Ronstang]

I don't intend to be critical but it looks like you are welding too cold. Don't be afraid of the heat. If you blow a hole you can easily fill it up. People new to welding almost always err on not using enough amperage until they learn enough to know what they can actually do.

 

[skyking]

yep, turn up the heat and keep moving

 

[AMCRambler]

Thanks for the feed back ill give it a try.

 

[AMCRambler]

Tried out the higher voltage per your recommendations and the welds have improved. I dare say there might be a couple of dimes stacked in there.

I completed the second header flange for the drivers side and I'm now working on the exhaust on that side. I've got it run almost to the axle now. Here's pics of everything so far.

Also got the mufflers in. Cherry Bombs!

The welder

 

[skyking]

Fun times!
You have only made one mistake so far as I can see.
First project is a nice cart for welder and bottle, big wheels so it will go anywhere