Since you are asking this question I am assuming you are not an experienced welder. In that case I would recommend MIG. It has a very short learning curve.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."
1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
I've got both, but if I had to have only one welder, it would be a MIG. Between my $250 Hobart MIG ( lucky deal) and my $2,200 Lincoln TIG, the MIG is my go-to. Cheaper,quicker, less heat introduced in to the metal and much easier to operate in awkward positions.
If you are considering a TIG then I assume you don't mind paying a little extra and getting a 220v MIG that will use gas, vs a 120v flux core machine. But if you do decide to go flux core do some research first. Some machines can be setup to work really,really well with flux core wire, whereas other machines just can't seem to ever produce a decent weld with flux core. Youtube has a lot of good info regarding setting up the polarity to weld correctly with flux core.
When someone is thinking about spending hard earned money to start tooling up for metal working I always give the same advice: start with a torch. MIG's are great and easy to weld with. TIG's are fun, but very rarely ever needed in a home/hobby situation. But a nice oxy acetylene torch is a do-it-all tool. It heats (think frozen fasteners), it heats to allow bending thick metal, cuts just as well as a plasma cutter ( just introduces a little extra heat in to the metal), it welds, it brazes and you can use it to heat to harden metal. No other welder can do all those things. A good torch with a few correctly sized tips is soooo versatile.
I saw a MIG at Harbor Freight that has 5 star reviews and is pretty cheap. I have a small torch I use for busting stuff loose, shaping, etc. Since I'm spending the cash I'd like to take the next step instead of just upgrading. You said you can weld with torches? isn't it more brazing than welding?
It's only illegal if you get caught.
If at first you don't succeed, use more lighter fluid
95% of Harley Davidsons ever made are still on the road... The other 5% made it home.
New Baltimore, Va '82 CB900c, 1980 CB985F/K 'Mutt"
Welding with acetylene is almost exactly like welding with a TIG. You actually use the tip of your torch (the flame at it hottest/blue tip) to melt the parent metal, then add your filler rod to complete the weld. Exact same motions as a TIG, it's just fuel creating the heat vs electricity. And on the flip side, you can use the heat created by a TIG to braze with as well. A torch and a TIG create their heat/energy differently, but the act of welding with them is nearly identical.
But if you've already got a nice torch then I'd say MIG. It's by far the easiest machine to weld with.
gets great reviews, don't need to worry about a 220 circuit and is cheap. Looking through the reviews the only complaint is the wire that comes with it.
It's only illegal if you get caught.
If at first you don't succeed, use more lighter fluid
95% of Harley Davidsons ever made are still on the road... The other 5% made it home.
New Baltimore, Va '82 CB900c, 1980 CB985F/K 'Mutt"
My son in law has that welder. It will weld, but it is far from pretty.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."
1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
That's the main complaint in all the reviews I read. they say if you get better welding wire and play with the settings it cleans up well, the rest of the cleanup I can get with a grinder.
It's only illegal if you get caught.
If at first you don't succeed, use more lighter fluid
95% of Harley Davidsons ever made are still on the road... The other 5% made it home.
New Baltimore, Va '82 CB900c, 1980 CB985F/K 'Mutt"
On farm equipment it doesn't matter, but if you are welding on something that should look nice (motorcycle,) you should invest in a bottle of gas.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."
1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
I've got a 90 amp 120v Lincoln here at the house. It hasn't come off the shelf in about 10 years. I put it there about 3 months after I bought it. Granted, 120v welder technology has come a long way since then. But, to be honest, I have seen a 120v welder that was worth the savings over a 220v unit yet.
As far as the cost of a 220v circuit. You're looking at about $8-10 for a circuit breaker, $6 for a receptacle, and roughly $0.50/ft for wire. Just saying. ;)
I saw a guy on YouTube that had a smaller 120v unit trust was producing amazingly clean and smooth welds. But he was fiddling with the polarity to make it happen. I'll see if I can find that video when I get in.
But, as usual, I'm with Tools. Gas is king IMO. And 220 makes a huge difference. I always hate to see someone save money on their first welder by buying a gas-less welder, then a few months later they are spending again for a bigger machine. :(
... the rest of the cleanup I can get with a grinder.
I kinda dread saying this, but here goes. The problem with an ugly or dirty weld is not that it's unattractive. It's weak. The dirt bubbles and porosity that make it ugly are the same factors that allow it to fail and break. And all due respect, but that's something a grinder can clean (the internal area of the weld).
Oh I know that part. There will be lots of practice and tweaking before I try anything my but will be riding on. I know I have a lot to learn and have no intention on starting off with modding the frame or something equally as crazy.
It's only illegal if you get caught.
If at first you don't succeed, use more lighter fluid
95% of Harley Davidsons ever made are still on the road... The other 5% made it home.
New Baltimore, Va '82 CB900c, 1980 CB985F/K 'Mutt"
This isn't the video I wanted to find, but I like this guy. He's young and usually it's running about 100mph, but he knows what he's talking about and he's down to earth. You'll probably find a lot of good info in his videos.
Locked
