What do you weld with, and why?

[jackdaw]

Alright, I have narrowed it down to either an arc welder or a flux core wire welder. I have decided to go with a cheap rig 'cause I don't know how much I'm going to be using it.

I know you can get nice welds with either, I think getting a nice looking weld with a stick welder is more difficult. But I saw a tutorial at Atomic Zombie and that guy got some nice welds with an arc welder.


So, what are the advantages of arc versus wire feed?

Thanks

[Uncle Stretch]

This question comes up all the time. Buy a cheap wire welder , practice enough to get decent
with it and build you some stuff. If its not what you want , you only have a couple hundred
invested and you can sell it on Cl and try something else. Welding machines are cheap and there are probably several on your local Craigslist at any given time. They come in steps with the price.....junk....fair.....good ...and real dang expensive. All will let you learn how to weld. If you get good with practice you can weld good with even a junk machine.

[outskirtscustoms]

I weld with a harbor freight wire feed flux core welder, it's okay for the money but get the extended warranty!!! The wire feed system can wear out then you're stuck. As far as welding with it I haven't had too much trouble at all but I have had to replace it once already due to the wire feed mechanism slipping. My advice would be find a used wire feed welder like a Miller or Lincoln on craigslist and have at it.

[ozzmonaut]

oz, at low , turn the speed feed UP, and work a tad faster.. Even on my Miller at work,I was welding 1/16" diamond plate down on a floor, and had the heat set darn near on the highest., Ya just increase your speed of the wire, and get cracking! JMHO

Speed is up to 10. 60A is still a tad high for bike frames. I think 40A would be better. That's what my old arc welder worked best at. It works fine for 1/16" when it is flat pieces that fit together nicely, but a lot of bike parts don't go together as well so that is part of the problem. I just like the idea of having better heat control.

[ozzmonaut]

As far as jackdaws last question, keep this in mind. With a wire-feed, you get your speed and heat right, and just zip along with the tip of the controller. With an arc, you account for the speed since you move the rod into the weld, but you have to constantly account for the loss of material from the welding rod, giving you a shorter tip as the job progresses. My friend has the harbor freight wire welder. He got it a few years ago on sale for $97, and he has used it quite a bit with no issues. But an extended warranty is never a bad thing to have. I think mine is a Century brand wire-feed, and I've had it for 3 years and burned over 80 lbs of wire in it so far with no issues. I've only hit the duty cycle once. It was 95 dgs out and I was welding 7/8" rebar for a long time.

[jackdaw]

I'm leaning towards this 80 amp inverter arc welder, that ozzmonaut showed. Seems like good value. And versatile.

http://www.harborfreight.com/80-amp-inv ... 91110.html

Got plenty o' projects in mind

Thanks guys!

[Budeebro1]

Eastwood has a 135 wire welder on sale for 299.99. Here is a link,http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-110vac-135a-output.html I got one for Fathers Day/ Birthday and chose it because of the reveiws and the infinite amp adjustment. The name brand welders like it only have four amp settings and this one gives you a lot more control. They also sell parts for them too.If you go this route buy it from ebay 'cause it has free shipping.