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| Thread ID: 145580 | 2017-12-08 21:47:00 | Arc Welding - What to Buy | kahawai chaser (3545) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1443102 | 2017-12-08 21:47:00 | Any welders here? I want to try it. I have fixed/restored many metal/engine items, e.g. cars, mowers, weed eaters,, etc using grinders, drills, sockets, wrenches, blow torch etc. But never welded, I know I can just replace parts, but sometimes a weld could easily fix that part, e.g. simple steel crack.or broken metal tag piece. Or to fabricate a simple template or jig. I want to do simple welds, e.g. metal cracks, fusing together plates, bolts, rods, angle iron, threads, re-bar, chains, etc. Example in this DIY Hack YT Vid (www.youtube.com)(about 45 secs in).. Also want to know what kind of portable or mini arc welder (and weld rod sizes, accessories, etc) to buy, and suitable specs. Prices seem to vary a lot. Maybe up to 350 dollars may suit me. Would I need a larger welder to patch up medium size rust holes/cracks, say in steel body lawn mower, than say welding a small steel ridge (of which a mower starter coil spring hooks on to). Thanks... |
kahawai chaser (3545) | ||
| 1443103 | 2017-12-08 23:05:00 | Buy a gasless MIG. | prefect (6291) | ||
| 1443104 | 2017-12-09 03:47:00 | I’d agree with prefect on this one, but your problem will be the $350 tops for a new one, let alone a good one. However, they are available on Trade Me but you take your chances as with all second hand goods. Other than that, I think a small gas-less MIG would be perfectly adequate for what you want it for. Another thing to consider is, as you're new to welding, see if you can get into a course somewhere. There is a lot more to welding than covering a joint with Birdshit. ;) |
B.M. (505) | ||
| 1443105 | 2017-12-09 04:27:00 | What I have done is get quality brands ie Italian or US made MIGs from trademe requiring repair and get them fixed at Auckland Welder repairs he is now on Rosebank rd, he was over East Coast bays. The advantage of the MIG is you can do welding down to 1mm, arc vapurizes thin ****. Gasless MIG welding looks horrible but hey a few swipes with a disk grinder a spray with CRC black or silver zinc no **** would know its still strong. I have a Young (NZ made) arc welder its older than me and I use on thick stuff like tow bars. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 1443106 | 2017-12-09 04:54:00 | Plenty of options out there,depends how much you want to get involved Have a Weldwell 230 Mig for my job and run plain wire and use Co'2 as the shielding gas (2 bottles 7kg/4kg),refill 1 as I use the other Did use to use Flux Cored wire but was expensive(7kg) Rolls and it's highly toxic if breathing the fumes What I would get if you want to do occasional welding is a Mig, plain wire(small roll) and a small bottle of Co'2($60) which are throw aways Next option a Mig/Tig(argon mix gas) which would also can be used for stainless with the appropriate Wire with the Mig Torch Been asked quite a few times to stainless weld but would have to change the shielding gas to a Argon mix also regulator So decide what you want be careful on what you buy,look at reviews if possible and as BM mentioned it takes practice but there is lots of YT vids out there |
Lawrence (2987) | ||
| 1443107 | 2017-12-09 05:55:00 | Maybe the first thing to get is a course on welding, at least you will have some idea of what does which and what you can do. Possibly the most versatile welder you can get is an oxyacetylene set. |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1443108 | 2017-12-09 07:08:00 | Whatever happened to hydrogen welding? I did some research about 20 years ago for an entrepreneur looking to import the equipment from South Korea. At the time it seemed God's gift/ sliced bread stuff for welders, converting the hydrogen in water (the H of H2O) into, voila! welding temp flame. Advantages were no inflammable gases storage and an infinite supply as long as there was water around. In the end, the Koreans seemed a bit dodgy, and that was the end of that chapter. |
WalOne (4202) | ||
| 1443109 | 2017-12-09 08:31:00 | Plenty of options out there,depends how much you want to get involved Have a Weldwell 230 Mig for my job and run plain wire and use Co'2 as the shielding gas (2 bottles 7kg/4kg),refill 1 as I use the other Did use to use Flux Cored wire but was expensive(7kg) Rolls and it's highly toxic if breathing the fumes What I would get if you want to do occasional welding is a Mig, plain wire(small roll) and a small bottle of Co'2($60) which are throw aways Next option a Mig/Tig(argon mix gas) which would also can be used for stainless with the appropriate Wire with the Mig Torch Been asked quite a few times to stainless weld but would have to change the shielding gas to a Argon mix also regulator So decide what you want be careful on what you buy,look at reviews if possible and as BM mentioned it takes practice but there is lots of YT vids out there How long do the CO2 bottles last Lawrence? |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 1443110 | 2017-12-09 09:22:00 | How long do the CO2 bottles last Lawrence? Depends on workload have had them refilled twice each in a year Own both bottles |
Lawrence (2987) | ||
| 1443111 | 2017-12-09 19:30:00 | Maybe the first thing to get is a course on welding, at least you will have some idea of what does which and what you can do. Possibly the most versatile welder you can get is an oxyacetylene set. You could certainly make a very good case for a oxyacetylene set-up. I would recommend an old carbide acetylene generator to start with, although you would probably never be able to afford the safety gear that OSH would insist on you, and everyone within a 2 mile radius, wearing. :D One of these for those who have never risked life and limb using one. :) 8491 |
B.M. (505) | ||
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