Any welders here?

[DieYoungStrong]

yep, welded using different kind of wires and rods from 0.45 flux core to 3/32, 232 (nasty shit) xlh nickel, 7018, 6011, p5. Full pen, partial pen, fillet, sub arcs dual tandem and single. Structual steel is my pedigree though, and fabrication. Worked on alot of big projects from hospitals, high rises and alot of hotel/casinos in Vegas. Wish i would of learned TIG when i had the chance.

Nice. I was mostly on raising gangs myself, but my welding is ok. Connecting was my main racket. I'm def not the first guy called in the weld moments on a W24x184 though.

Now i spend most of my time standing on the ground or Derrick level telling guys to hurry the fuk up.

 

[shortz]

My wife is going to kill me.

So I was really torn on what welder to get. The 140 amp looked good, but everyone keeps saying go big. My other issue is that I don't have any 220s in my house, other than what my deep freezer is hooked up to in the garage. I just could not make up my mind. So, I came across the Lincoln 180 Dual MIG, which has a 140 on 110, and a 180 on 220, all in one unit. It changes depending on what you have it hooked up to. It has a 30% duty cycle on 220 at 180 amps too, which is pretty nice as well. So, down the road this will give me the option to bump plugs in my house and still give me the flexibility to transport it to other places.

That said, it was also $950. The good news is, until the end of this month, Lincoln has mail in rebates of either $100 cash back, or $250 worth of welding supplies. That's a hell of a deal, considering what welding supplies can cost. I can get a cart and a tank for that. I am going to see how long it takes the wifey to realize I blew almost $1,000. :/

 

[Geisha]

I wouldn't waste money on a cheap welder. Weld integrity is very dependent on wire feed and gas consistency, as well as wire and output quality of the machine. This as much as skill. I would buy the autoset 180, that'll likely do whatever you're looking to do.

Been years since I welded ( structural welder) but if I took anything away from it this ^^^^^would be it. Wire feed is prob #1 tho.

 

[Gstacker]

A trip to Home Depot and 100.00 should get the supplies to ad a 220v circuit as long a there's room in ur panel..
maybe a welding cart could be the first project??? Buy a nice self darkening helmet while you have the credit card out.

 

[shortz]

So space is limited at our new house. Trying to figure out how to make a work space. At our other house, I had an entire shop to myself, but here, just a garage filled with law stuff and two cars. Think I might get some welding curtains to either hang on hooks or on a rolling frame that can be pushed out of the way when not being used. Hanging hooks would probably be easier.

But yes, I def need a cart too. I also found a great welding supply shop in my area where I can buy tanks and argon.

 

[RAIDEN]

Go down to the local Goodwill/thrift store to buy some long sleeve clothing, so u dont burn up your good clothes or even house clothes. Or buy the long green slip on sleeves, should be no more than 10$

 

[shortz]

I got a Miller flame retardant welding jacket. After I bought it, I read that I should probably have a leather bib for welding, so I'll buy one later. This should be alright for now.

This is the helmet I got...

The welder

The jacket...

 

[shortz]

This is the bib I will get eventually.

 

[oldnslow]

Auto darkening helmets are one of the greatest inventions ever. Only us old guys remember the "how it used to be".

 

[shortz]

Auto darkening helmets are one of the greatest inventions ever. Only us old guys remember the "how it used to be".

My first welding experience was without one as well. I remember having to flip the helmet up, line up, then put the helmet down and hope to hit it right.

 

[DieYoungStrong]

Welding deck with the old helmets was the best (sarcasm). I used to just hold my shield in my hand when welding deck instead of making a puddle weld, flipping up my shield, moving up a foot and hitting it again. It gets old when you're making what feels like a 1000 deck welds a day.

 

[RAIDEN]

Welding deck with the old helmets was the best (sarcasm). I used to just hold my shield in my hand when welding deck instead of making a puddle weld, flipping up my shield, moving up a foot and hitting it again. It gets old when you're making what feels like a 1000 deck welds a day.

Give me the old school hoods any day with the flip up lense. Automatics are know to go out and not darken when u strike a arc. Nothing like waking up at 2am rubbing your eyes because it feels like u have sand in them and it hurts...good old flash burn.