In Reply to: For you welders out there... posted by Jason (OR) on December 07, 2013 at 09:45:03:
I had one of the cheapo HF flux core welders (think I paid $75 on sale several years ago) that I was able to make some ugly welds with that did hold, at least). Part of the ugly was me, the other part the welder. The big problem with them, as mentioned by someone else, is the wire feeders that they use. Not terribly good at all!! Everything has to be exactly perfect (humidity, good wire, clean rollers, etc.) to get it to feed consistantly. Of course you can always buy the extended warranty and get a new one every time it stops working correctly!
I enrolled in a welding class at the local vo-tech (thanks to the VA and their soon-to-end VRAP program) and have learned to stick, MIG, flux core and now am learning TIG. Next is pipe welding. Not really interested in that but it is part of the program and watching the guys ahead of me it will definitely make you a better welder.
Two weeks after starting the course and using an oxy-acetylene rig for the first time, I ordered my own Victor outfit. About 2 months into the course I bought a Miller Multimatic 200 that does MIG/TIG/stick and runs off 120 or 240. I absolutely love it. It was a bit pricey after buying the TIG set and the spoolgun for MIG welding aluminum but I am partial to Miller. The local welding shop was only about $40 above the absolute best price I found online (less than the required local taxes) and I wanted to buy local for the ease of any necessary future support. And they got it in the store on the 2nd day after I ordered it. Was quite surprised when they GAVE me full argon and argon/CO2 bottles, a 10 lb spool of MIG wire, a 1 lb spool of aluminum wire for the spool gun, a box of 7018 electrodes and a package of TIG filler metal. And the guy offered to come out to the house and get me set up and welding!!
I have re-built my front bumper/brush guard (all I had left was the heavy center piece), a middle buster plow, a 6' tool bar with cultivator and hipper/bedder attachments, and converted an old bolt on trailer hitch to be used on the 3 point.
I would recommend checking into what the local school system has as far as training and then keep a close eye on craigslist, local papers, etc., to find something that will fit your needs in your price range. $200 isn't gonna get you much of a welding rig -- unless you stumble across just a great deal!! And, they are out there but more likely you will hear about those kinds of deals from a friend or family member than in an ad.....
Good luck!! Welding is great. I always wanted to learn how and finally, at 58, I am learning.....
Some online resources - weldingweb.com, gowelding.org, weldingtipsandtricks.com, chucke2009 on youtube.com (that I think you mentioned).
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