Stick welding

[Andy Collins]

Now as far as things go I know absolutely sweet f a about welding, but I'm thinking of getting a cheapy stick welder for tacking bits of metal back together when they fall apart. Is there anything I should know/look for/avoid as far as these things go? All major repairs are farmed out to a good welder, so structural integrity is not an issue for me, just basic stuff.

[ukminch]

If I were you I'd be tempted by a gasless mig welder, don't need to worry about gas and is pretty compact, and I reckon easier to learn than an arc welder, or at least easier to get ok results from in a short space of time. Depends what thickness your looking to weld up though.

 

R

[treefeller]

hi, clarke(machine mart) do average cheap welders .try to get one with a fan built in ,as it will assit with cooling when doing heavier welds amp range 60-180 amps would be useful.

[Rupe]

Doesn't gasles mig require a special copper wire which is mor expensive etc?

 

A small stick welder is better than a small cheap mig IMO but I am no expert, in fact I own neither so I'll keep out of it. Thanks.......

[Johny Walker]

i bought a 150amp 1, thinking the same !!! , its been in the garage for a yr now ,only used it to try it out the wife keeps asking have you used that welder thing yet !!!

[County4x4]

Yep you'd need special wire for a gasless MIG - it produces it's own shroud of gas as it burns. If you're not going to be using it a lot you may find the wire will rust - it will do this in just a damp atmosphere - it doesn't actually need to get wet to start corroding.

 

I reckon a stick may be better and keep the rods inside somewhere warm and dry when not in use.

 

Andy

 

PS - there's a very good welding forum that might be worth a visit:thumbup1:

[Dean Lofthouse]

Stick welding is fairly easy on flat thick steel, a bit trickier on vertical welds and very difficult on thin inverted or vertical steel

 

Mig is ok and easy but the metal has to be rust free and mig is good on thin stuff. But as has been mentioned, it needs to be in a damp free enviroment so the wire doesn't rust and can be expensive in maintainance for tips, linings, wire and gas.

 

Go for stick if you are mainly welding thicker stuff like chassis profile on trailers etc

[mixedangased]

dont bother with cheep ,a waste of money in my opion,better off with a inverter welder(stick/tig)/or a decent mig with gas,u can use pub co2,or just farm ur welding out.a good mig u wont be able to lift by yourself a cheep one u will,have a chat to a local gas welding supplier before u buy will save you some money in the long run

[Mesterh]

Buy a mig, they are a hell of a lot easier to use.

[mpb]

I've got a stick welder & a 170 Mig. Tend to use the mig more as my welds are tidier. Make sure you get a fan assisted one (turbo on some models.)

 

I keep my welding rod's in the airing cupboard.

 

If you go the mig route the small bottles of gas can work out quite expensive. I went to see a friendly landlord & got a big bottle of CO2, works out far cheaper.

 

Have a look at ebay & buy a good secondhand machine.

 

An auto darkening face shield is a good investment, means you get both hands free.

 

Also have a look on here MIG Welding Forum

 

Hope that helps

 

Martin