Noob welding

[Brett]

really want to get my first welder and get some odds and ends done round the yard with the aim of eventually being able to do repairs to vans, trailers etc. after a bit more experience.

 

Aldi have an arc welder for sale at the moment for 40 buck, seems too cheap no?

always had in my head that i would want a mig, what i've used (twice) before, am i right in thinking that a mig is better for doing more delicate work like panels on motors etc?

[fergusonforestry]

aye migs what you want for thin stuff, built a trike frame with a £30 arc welder before ok for small jobs but they do tend to trip a lot when they get hot on bigger jobs

[Hodge]

Migs for thinner stuff, arc will do thicker stuff, I have both and they are are handy to have around. It's worth learning to weld properly so not just bird shitting.

 

 

Sent from Hodge's eye phone using the new fancy Arbtalk Mobile App:)

[treequip]

Mig will go thinner than MMA

 

Avoid stick welder if you want to do thin stuff, if you go mig avoid gasless

[Stubby]

really want to get my first welder and get some odds and ends done round the yard with the aim of eventually being able to do repairs to vans, trailers etc. after a bit more experience.

 

Aldi have an arc welder for sale at the moment for 40 buck, seems too cheap no?

always had in my head that i would want a mig, what i've used (twice) before, am i right in thinking that a mig is better for doing more delicate work like panels on motors etc?

 

Was trained in the distant ( very distant ) past with a stick welder and ok with that . Got my own mig and it mostly comes out like bird muck! which is strange cos I was good at tig ! and mig .....

[Robert_S]

Make sure the wee arc is fan assisted to keep it cool to save it tripping so much, arc is better if you are welding outside. At £40 buy and stick bits of steel together, weldings fun I have mig,arc and a gas welding set up.

[mrstumpy]

It depends on your budget. I have had a 250 Amp Clark Stick for 16 years which has been fine for most things, I would strongly recommend one with an internal cooling fan.

 

IF you can afford it then I would go straight in with the mig, they are much more forgiving to use (provided the material you are welding is CLEAN). There are only two choices as far as I am concerned and they are Migatronic and Murex. I have had a Murex for years and it is fantastic. it welds the thin stuff (coke can) and I have regularly welded 1/2" plate with no probs .

 

I rarely use the stick welder, and when I do, it is usually just to keep my hand in with it. The only major problem with the mig is the size and weight, they are not really greatly portable, the tiny mig welders should be left alone, they almost weld - on full power.

[Brett]

my mate was a pro welder and used to do bits for me, he gave me a couple of lessons, made me weld two long bars together full length repeatedly so i could get a feel for the way it 'flows', was mig. might just get the arc, at 40 quid cant loose as long as it works, and just fool around with it.

[Stubby]

So no one el;se has done TIG ??

[treequip]

So no one el;se has done TIG ??

 

Yes thanks but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone here, particularly a beginner. Its not suitable for tree surgeon DIY for many reasons.