Welding help

[LODI QUACKER]

Several questions.

I am wanting to buy a small mig welder. I would like to be able to weld mild steel as well as aluminum. What would be the most cost effective route for these two applications?
My projects will typically be very lightweight material. Has anyone used the 120 volt machines for AL?
Must I buy a spoon gun for the AL wire or is it possible to use the regular wire feeder?

Must you purchase or can you rent the small Ar tanks? Which is the better option for ocassional use? Are disposable Ar tanks available?

If anyone has this type setup what do you have? WHat would you buy if you had to do it again?

Does anyone have one they would like to get rid of?

Prochate it!

[LAWAYNE]

Any of the package welders offered by Lincoln, Hobart or Miller work just fine. My youngest brother is a welder by trade and he just replaced his old Hobart with a Lincoln from Home Depot. The Lincoln rep told him the guts of the machine are basically the same as the professional machine and since he only uses the small machine for occasional repairs and to build deer stands it would be more than adequate (He has a suitcase wire machine that runs of his big diesel machine for heavier use). The tanks are available for rent at most welding suppliers and you may still be able to buy your tank ( I haven't bought or rented one since I can go get on out of the rack and use it). To run Aluminum in one of these machines you will need a liner and feed roller kit available at a welding supply store (no need to buy a spool gun unless you just want to). Make sure when you buy a machine to get one with the gas kit (regulator and hose to run argon and co2/argon mix). Hope this helps some.

[LODI QUACKER]

Did he get the 115 volt or one of the 220 volt machines?

[LAWAYNE]

Sorry about that, 115 volt.

[rustypjr]

Go to a welding supply store and get you a lincloln 125. You can get the different wire to do what you need. Do not buy one from walmart or lowes or a dept store. Go to your local welding supply. That way when something tears up they will hellp you fix it or get what you need instead of telling yo to try home depot. From my experience they are not as good quality. I myself would get a Lincoln 220 with wirefeeder and all buitl in. Man I will have that at my house on day instead of all this nice crap at work and small crap at home. We usr the 3 phase big lincoln machines at work.

[MudHog]

Like rusty mentioned, go to your a local welding supply house or start there and then look used. I would stay away from the chain store machines.

You need a different wire and a different gas for aluminum. Welding alumunum isn't as easy as welding steel though. Practice, practice, practice is all I can say. 240v single phase units are nice if you can afford them and have power available. If not, the little 120v models will work good for small stuff. Something else you can consider, look at the engine driven Millers. You can weld stick or hook up a spool gun to them. In the event of a power outage, it doubles as a small generator (usually around the 6-8kw range). Then you also have a portable welder IF you ever need one.

[LODI QUACKER]

Thats exactly what I would like to d Mudhog but I dont have the cash flow for that right now.!!

Just hate to keep paying someone to do the little stuff I need done.

[MudHog]

Depending on your cashflow, there are good deals out there. May be worth it to continue paying someone here and there, but still work to saving up money. If you can save yourself about $1000-$1500, you can find you a good uses engine driven welder. A buddy of mine just sold his Red-d-arc GX300 for $1500. Gas engine driven and had a 9500w capacity along with the welder. You may be able to find something for $800, just have to be on the lookout.

Or buy you a cheaper 120v model and then save for an engine driven unit. As you need something done, pay yourself and that will accumulate money for another welder.

[LODI QUACKER]

TRUE, I dont know exactly what I am going to do right now, keep your eyes open for me on.