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Welding ???

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From the experts out there, what sort of use would one ordinarily make of a welder? Can you list a number of items?

You see, I'll need to make a case to the wife. I've learned that my presentations must be predominantly truthful.

The only use I can think of right now, would be a tight weld of the oil pan to the engine block.
 
Mkutz said:
I just got a Hobart 140 from Northern Tool. They were and still running a special for $459 which includes the welding cart (a needed accessory in my opinion, which runs about $75 otherwise). I've just played around with it, no real work yet, but from what I see it is a good little unit.
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Thats a great deal! Now all you need is the argon/co2 setup so you can run the solid wire as well as the flux cored.

Some information: For those whom don`t know, using a gas shield with flux cored wire is called dual shield. Dual shield is a industry standard way of welding some materials.
 
Kentvillehound:
I certainly would hope that you wouldn`t try to weld your oil pan to the block. In the first place welding steel {the oil pan}to cast iron {the engine block} is a feat in itself!

Many many "Home projects" can be done using the welder from reparing body panels on an auto restoration to building a sturdy mailbox or grabage can retainment enclosure. making gates. well you get the idea, anything you can think to build out of light guage steel. With the right welder you could even build you own auto transport trailer. ATV trailers and sell them or just small utility trailers. ETC> ETC> ETC>
 
What about the aluminum rods for an arc welder, can that work with any success? does AC or DC make a difference?
 
Larry- I know nothing of welding, but will need to learn too as well. I'd be careful about picking lower rated models, I think the one you linked to (Model 125)is lighter duty than has been quoted. I have no idea if it is good enough, but the folks that know here should be able to wade in.

While we're on this topic, and since I have a set of inner/outer sills that will need fitting - does a spot welder have any use or can that be replaced with a good Mig?

Thanks!
Randy
 
SCguy
The same welder on the Hobart website is much more! over $600.00 but includes some necessary accessories. Compare the two and if the Northern offer icludes everything that Hobart does then yes it`s a good deal. Never the less, Shop around for the best deal you can find!
 
TR4nut said:
Larry- I know nothing of welding, but will need to learn too as well. I'd be careful about picking lower rated models, I think the one you linked to (Model 125)is lighter duty than has been quoted. I have no idea if it is good enough, but the folks that know here should be able to wade in.

While we're on this topic, and since I have a set of inner/outer sills that will need fitting - does a spot welder have any use or can that be replaced with a good Mig?

Thanks!
Randy
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Randy:
Spot welders have thier place and thats where both sides of the material to be welded is accessable having said that, M.I.G. welders can spot weld and do a really nice job. It`s called plug welding. Where one side of the material cannot be accesed for normal spotwelding you would drill a small hole in the piece to be added {like a door sill} then clamp the sill to the body, using the M.I.G. you would fill the hole in the door sill. In affect welding it to the body tub.


A good M.I.G. can do everything a spot welder can and then some!
 
ALLAN said:
What about the aluminum rods for an arc welder, can that work with any success? does AC or DC make a difference?
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Allan:
aluminum arc welding rods can be used sucessfully for repair jobs, however thin material is generaly out of the question when arc welding aluminum. you are basically limited to thicker materials. these rods usualy run on dc reverse current. You would have to have a pretty good quality welder [most "low end" welders are not capable of attaining dc current. there are Oxy/acetylene aluminum rods that are very good for repairing thin to medium thick guage aluminum.
 
I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but if you can get a MIG welder that can use shielding gas, or at least can have it added on later, you will be way ahead. I used flux core wire with a MIG welder for quite a while and had pretty decent results on just about everything I welded. When I first got it, I was welding everything in site,. In fact, I couldn't believe how many things actually needed welding!!!
After a while, I finally got gas,(shielding gas that is)hooked up, and it REALLY makes a big difference in the weld quality. There is almost no weld splatter either. So if you can, get gas!!!
Mikey
 
svtmikey said:
I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but if you can get a MIG welder that can use shielding gas, or at least can have it added on later, you will be way ahead. I used flux core wire with a MIG welder for quite a while and had pretty decent results on just about everything I welded. When I first got it, I was welding everything in site,. In fact, I couldn't believe how many things actually needed welding!!!
After a while, I finally got gas,(shielding gas that is)hooked up, and it REALLY makes a big difference in the weld quality. There is almost no weld splatter either. So if you can, get gas!!!
Mikey
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Just don't forget to change the polarity. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif
 
SCguy said:
So is this the deal/welder that we're talking about? No free cart, but free shipping. I suppose it's still a very good deal.


https://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200306073_200306073
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Hi Larry,

Yes, that's the same welder I got. Note that it comes with the regulators included, so to add gas you just need to buy the pre-filled bottle of your choice locally and hook it up.

It looks like they aren't currently offering a kit with the cart, like I bought it a year or two ago. Some sort of cart is really helpful, almost mandatory if you are using a gas bottle with it. I see Northern Tool has the Hobart cart available separately, but it costs over $90 and there's shipping on top of that (only the 140 kit has free shipping). There might be a universal cart available elsewhere for less.

The kit I got was reasonably complete, even a small roll of flux core/gasless steel wire was included, .035" if I recall correctly. I bought a better welding helmet at the same time as the welder, the thing that came with the kit was next to worthless (it's not a helmet, more like a screen you have to hold in one hand... and you seldom have a spare hand to do that when welding).

If one of your main intentions is auto body work, i.e. sheet metal, a thinner wire will be quite important: .020 to .024". That will also be solid wire, requiring shielding gas.

If I had 220-230V handy, and thought I would consistently in the future, I'd probably have stepped up to the next Hobart model. I think it's now called the Handler 187. The additional power and longer duty cycle would come in handy for a number of things. It is larger and a cart is even more important. It's a lot more money, though.

Doesn't hurt to have a 110-115V unit anyway, more portable for jobs onsite and outdoors, for one thing. By the way, out of doors when a breeze is blowing is one place where flux core wire is prefereable to solid, gas shielded wire.

In addition to what's in the kit you will need spare tips, perhaps some anti-splatter spray (esp. with flux core/gasless wire... buy it locally), a wire brush/slag hammer tool, tip cleaning pliers and a good long pair of gloves to protect your arms and hands. By the way, a fire extinguisher is also a very good accessory to have handy (don't ask how I know!)

How to justify the cost of a welder? Well, you might be surprised all the uses you'll find once you have one. I've got a old wheelbarrow repair project that needs attention this week. Working on cars there are myriad things that can be welded, or even fabricated with a welder.

I also have the oxy/acetylene outfit that not only welds, but allows me to do a lot more: bending things, auto body leadwork, brazing, etc. Oxy/acetylene is very useful, too, and not expensive to get set up initially. A MIG has less heat spread and is less likely to warp a thin car body panel, but oxy/acetylene is better for hammer welding and some other techniques.

I mentioned already that I'll be getting a setup to do gas aluminum welding soon (proper eye protection is extremely important, requires a special goggle lens... the special flux used puts off an intense light). I also will be adding a TIG welder eventually, it's slower but the result is super neat welds, plus it sounds to be more usable with aluminum. Maybe I'll get the TIG instead of a MIG w/spool gun, based upon the previous responses.
 
C'mon guys!! You've got the welder, what better practice than to build your own cart! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
When I bought my last welder, they asked me if I wanted the cart too. I told them "Of course not. I can build my own for ten bucks!"
Jeff
 
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