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My general rule of thumb for stick vs. mig. If you intend to do sheet metal work, say anything less then 3/16" I would advise the mig welder. If you are doing fabrication work where you are either using clean steel or can easily clean your work up well before fitting parts mig will be more advantageous. For repair work, and thicker steel (1/2"+) I would recommend stick.
I have had good luck welding down. I found I could control the puddle better. Much depends on the rod, AC vs DC (DC!!!) as well as the technic.
What’s the duty cycle on that stick welder?
Quote from: JR on October 24, 2017, 02:56:00 PMI have had good luck welding down. I found I could control the puddle better. Much depends on the rod, AC vs DC (DC!!!) as well as the technic.JR, many dead welding instructors just rolled over in their graves.......
Quote from: stlaser on October 24, 2017, 06:48:09 PMQuote from: JR on October 24, 2017, 02:56:00 PMI have had good luck welding down. I found I could control the puddle better. Much depends on the rod, AC vs DC (DC!!!) as well as the technic.JR, many dead welding instructors just rolled over in their graves.......Well, they are dead,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Welderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=46145151http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=46145151lincoln welderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50047720http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50047720Millermatic 140 MiG Welderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50087577http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50087577Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Bigdave_185 on October 24, 2017, 11:54:44 PMWelderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=46145151http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=46145151lincoln welderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50047720http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50047720Millermatic 140 MiG Welderhttp://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50087577http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=50087577Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkBoth stick welders show duty cycle of 20%So how that plays out is that you can run that welder at full tilt for 2 mins & then you need to wait 8 mins before you start welding again. Here is essentially that unit brand new, find a 10% off coupon to Lowe’s etc.....https://m.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric-240-Volt-Stick-Welder/1115275?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-ToolsAndHardware-_-Welding-_-1115275:Lincoln_Electric&CAWELAID=&kpid=1115275&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=220&k_clickID=1f13a2e0-c4e3-1368-fbd0-000002fae39a&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7d2dz-CL1wIVDweGCh2Q3As6EAQYASABEgI5RvD_BwEThen the bottom is a miller mig unit, as stated I’ve welded with smaller. If it were me I would try to find a Hobart 187 mig. Keep your eye out, they are really good machines for the price point. I welded up a buddies tube chassis 4x4 buggy with one entirely & we abused it afterward with no issues. The other option is to find a good old large used stick welder. Keep your eye open for shop & farm sales & always look at duty cycle. I’d rather have something in neighborhood of 60-100% duty cycle. And for the record normally you can run past the 20% for a bit but at some point you will smoke the internals doing so. Same goes for mig welders, even the high end units can have their circuit boards get fried etc which is costly to get repaired. Just my 2 cents....
20% is at full tilt. Rarely do you run them maxed out for more than a few minutes.Those are solid units and have been around for a long time. The one I was used to was a old Lincoln gas unit on a ranch we had on a pallet.
I've been thinking lately I'd like to update my generator from a little 3500 watt unit to a bigger one, more like 10KW is what I'm after. Coincidentally enough I've been wanting a stick welder that can do DC. Does anyone here have any experience with something like a Miller Bobcat 250? Looking to hear some thoughts on it both used as welder and as a generator. Always seemed to me it might be a nice mix, as it would see semi-regular use for welding, and therefore should be maintained (ie. less neglected) better than something that's only a generator and can sit for many months at a time without being turned on.
Quote from: rcampbell on October 25, 2017, 12:37:32 PMI've been thinking lately I'd like to update my generator from a little 3500 watt unit to a bigger one, more like 10KW is what I'm after. Coincidentally enough I've been wanting a stick welder that can do DC. Does anyone here have any experience with something like a Miller Bobcat 250? Looking to hear some thoughts on it both used as welder and as a generator. Always seemed to me it might be a nice mix, as it would see semi-regular use for welding, and therefore should be maintained (ie. less neglected) better than something that's only a generator and can sit for many months at a time without being turned on.This is what I had for backup power on the farm. I rarely used the welder although it worked fine. Biggest issue was keeping fresh fuel in it. It always was very reliable & started right up. I had even considered converting it over to propane as I had the parts for it. Biggest issue is moving it around, trailer might be handy but everyone can drag that away so I just used skidloader or tractor front end loader to set in back of truck.
I usually reference metalsdeopt for material sizes. I find I can generally find steel about 25% less then there listed prices.
Dave, another easy idea. Go to HD, buy unistrut or that angle iron with holes already in it (they use it for garage door opener mounts) & buy some nuts to fit ubolts. Drill holes in unistrut for one side of ubolt then push it thru & nut on top & bottom. Fasten unistrut to wall, same idea with angle with holes in it.
Quote from: stlaser on April 07, 2018, 10:01:53 PMDave, another easy idea. Go to HD, buy unistrut or that angle iron with holes already in it (they use it for garage door opener mounts) & buy some nuts to fit ubolts. Drill holes in unistrut for one side of ubolt then push it thru & nut on top & bottom. Fasten unistrut to wall, same idea with angle with holes in it.That’s not a bad idea. Only downside I see is it’s nuts n bolts vs me playing with the welder that’s been in my garage for six months. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You planning on building another Eiffel tower or something? 1/4x6" would do it. :pokeDave
Did some looking for you wealthy guys E track attachments Holley molley. $19 bucks for one shovel holder? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know what they cost. Didn’t buy one on purpose, the weight steal vs alum isn’t that much to justify almost double the cost, is was $7800 for 28 feet of trailer and 5k axles. The same in alum was $12000 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk