welder questions

[93dime1513]

so I want to buy a welder and found one on craigslist and I don't really know what questions I need to ask to see if it's worth it or not. I know alot of you guys are partial to Miller, Lincoln, and Hobart and I would love to go that route but I don't have $500+ to spend on one right now. all the ad said was Craftsman mig welder with a full tank of argon for $250, so can anyone let me know are Craftsman welders worth it and what I should ask the seller?

[DJDAudio]

ask for a model number then google it

[93dime1513]

after I get that info what do I need to look for?

[jwillie000]

well what are you trying to do with it

[AssDragginSdime]

my experience with craftsman welders is that they are for like home repairs and nothing more. i had a 60a flux core model that worked fine for basic metal repair. But really anyhting on a truck and it was nothing more than a burden. this perticular machine had a switch for the heat setting instead of a POT, made it VERY had to dial in the machine. The other part of this machine that sucks is that the trigger only activates the wire feeder. Your wire is always charged. So if you are trying to line up your wire for a tack weld, and you get too close.. it will arc, and you will lose your sight for a few seconds. .

A friend of mine had another craftsman welder which was an actual mig welder. We used it Breifly for building a 1st gen. It was junk. My friend had borrowed it from his boss, and i beleive we were doing bodywork, (tail light fillers, or a cali combo or something) and it just sucked. He brought it back to his boss and bought a small hobart.

When it comes down to it, Like everything else in this world, You get what you pay for..

the craftsman 60a machine i had was ok to learn on, But ill be honest a better machine Probably would have been alot easier.

[93dime1513]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwillie000

well what are you trying to do with it

Body and frame

[93dime1513]

Quote: Originally Posted by AssDragginSdime

my experience with craftsman welders is that they are for like home repairs and nothing more. i had a 60a flux core model that worked fine for basic metal repair. But really anyhting on a truck and it was nothing more than a burden. this perticular machine had a switch for the heat setting instead of a POT, made it VERY had to dial in the machine. The other part of this machine that sucks is that the trigger only activates the wire feeder. Your wire is always charged. So if you are trying to line up your wire for a tack weld, and you get too close.. it will arc, and you will lose your sight for a few seconds. .

A friend of mine had another craftsman welder which was an actual mig welder. We used it Breifly for building a 1st gen. It was junk. My friend had borrowed it from his boss, and i beleive we were doing bodywork, (tail light fillers, or a cali combo or something) and it just sucked. He brought it back to his boss and bought a small hobart.

When it comes down to it, Like everything else in this world, You get what you pay for..

the craftsman 60a machine i had was ok to learn on, But ill be honest a better machine Probably would have been alot easier.

cool man, that's the info I was lookin for, think I'm just gonna save my cash and wait til I can get something better, thanks guys

[layinlow88]

Man, I found one of my Lincoln 110v fluxcore welders for about 150 bux brand new from Home Depot. More than pleased with it. In fact, bagged my truck with it. And yes, it does get the penetration needed for strength and safety. It does take some practice to get used to fluxcore if you've never done it. But stick with it and you'll get it down

[93dime1513]

sweet man, I'm gonna have to look a little harder

[detroitboy27]

for frame work i would recommend a 220v. Miller and lincoln make a great product. I found a NIB lincoln 180 for $400 on craigslist.I t retails for 750 at homedepot. My advice is save your cash and find a deal.

[93dime1513]

Quote: Originally Posted by detroitboy27

for frame work i would recommend a 220v. Miller and lincoln make a great product. I found a NIB lincoln 180 for $400 on craigslist.I t retails for 750 at homedepot. My advice is save your cash and find a deal.

thanks for the info, I have a 220v outlet in my garage already so that would work out nicely.

[dirty_drew]

We have an old Lincoln 220 stick welder. You can pick those up all day for around $100-$200. Of course, youd then have to relearn how to weld

[AssDragginSdime]

I would stick weld a frame if i didnt have a mig... some 7018s and a chipping hammer and good to go.. i actually like stick welding better than mig. its just faster to use a mig.

[dirty_drew]

Quote: Originally Posted by AssDragginSdime

I would stick weld a frame if i didnt have a mig... some 7018s and a chipping hammer and good to go.. i actually like stick welding better than mig. its just faster to use a mig.

I like it better too, always a strong weld, although compared to a mig not as pretty. Its also a bitch to weld tubing with it.

[AssDragginSdime]

ya if you are doing small tubing it can be a bit of a pain in the ass. Ive been known to burn rods down to half length and save them for such an occasion, where i need a shorter rod for a tight space. If your good at stick welding tho, you can make a weld thats just as nice as mig or tig. just gotta know how to work the particular rod your using.

[slamed96]

i like to stick weld better but i also had to practice every day to get my certs but for body work ive always use a 110 and frame and thick shit use a stick welder

[mccord]

i have a question..when welding a frame like SFBD would u tig it?

[slamed96]

sfbd?

[mccord]

stock floor body drop

[AssDragginSdime]

Yea if you are confident in your tig welds, Its one of the better routes to take on a stock floor. As with any weld on structural tubing tho make sure you get a good bevel on your edges, and put shear load gussets over all your joints. You can mig, or stick weld it if you want..

[93dime1513]

I haven't welded since high school and that was on a stick welder so I need to take a welding class or something to get my skills up to par

[mccord]

next semester ima take a welding course cuz i do wanna learn how to weld