So as I posted in the post I just posted about chain length, etc., I'm a newbie trapper. And one of the things I've noticed amongst some in the trapping community is the desire to modify traps. Which brings me to questions about welders.......two lines of questions actually..........

Line 'o' questioning #1.........recommend a welder for trap modification. 110v or 220v?

Line 'o' questioning #2.........should I save the money that I would spend on a welder and just by better traps? There's definitely pricing differences between say a Duke #2 and an MB-550 but to my untrained eye the MB-550 doesn't need to be modified whereas the Duke #2 could probably be.

We're talking coyote traps. And I am definitely a newbie hobby trapper....I'm just hoping to catch a few this coming fall, then see where the hobby takes me. (I think the answer to #2 is found in that last line........or I need to figure out what else to do with a welder).

Thanks!

If you buy a welder you can do more than just weld traps. You can build
Rebar Stakes
Chain stakes
Drags
Sifters
Hammers
Fix the neighbors plow...
The list goes on and on and on.

My best piece of advice is to buy a bigger welder than what you think you need right now, and definitely get one with a gas bottle.

I use an Everlast 255ext, and an Everlast 275p mig welder.
They are both great welders for the price with better duty cycles than the red and blue industrial machines.

All welders should be 220-240.( I speak as a welder), however I have a little shoulder carry century 110 stick welder and I can run 3/32 6011 rods and weld up a lot of stuff with it.

So for modifications if your gonna go mig your gonna have to have a good 220, but if you run stick you could get away with a 110 for under 150$.

And a good welder will pay for itself time and time again.
More traps is always a great thing.
I would recommend Bridger #2, or #3 dogless or even dogon, these traps need very little mods and can be ready with a little file work and a wax job.

Hope this helps

x2!

If need be, I can do a trap mod with my old Lincoln 225 stick welder. And fairly ugly too .

I bought a 110 volt Hobart wire feed welder to weld Aluminum for work. I have been also using it for traps on weekends. Works great but- I'm with the other guys in the sense that you should buy a bigger one than what you need.

I do all manner of trap mods and all I use is a lil $100 harbor freight flux core welder and a grinder. That being said I'm up grading ASAP. If you can afford it get you a nice like might welder. The gas makes a nicer weld and causes alot less grinding. It's also more adjustable if you want to do a cast jaw or seamless style lamination.

But as some have mentioned you don't have to us your welder just for trapping.mine paid for it's self after a few tack welds on some farm equipment and some cattle pannel tomato cages.

I would Google for some results. As Ken said, his little $150 stick welder will due more than some people think. You can get all kinds of reviews (some will be posted by welders) on quite a few choices.

Figure in the cost of the mods needed and add that figure to the cost of the traps per dozen. Then decide if you want a trap that needs mods or a trap that doesn't, for very close to the same total cost..

Thanks all for the advice on welders! Anyone else out there with an opinion I'd love to here it, especially on make/model.

Thanks!

This is what I have, with gas. I have used it for ALL kinds of trap mods, and it has WAY more oomph than you need for that application.

I have also used it for all kinds of welding projects around the shop...welding up to 1/4" steel, and built dozens of 1/2" stakes as well. Totally disagree about a bigger model to do trap mods.

But...to answer your question from the top...if it is only to do trap mods, buy the best trap you can, and forget about spending all that extra time and money working on cheaper ones.

Now, if you have a bunch of extra time and money, and really WANT to do it, then a 110 Hobart mig welder with an argon tank will do anything you want with traps, and be rewarding as well.

Millermatic 211.

My little 110 Hobart is one of the best “trapping” related purchases I’ve ever made.

I find myself using it several times a season to quick fix something. Anchor drivers, anchor pullers, etc etc. No more trying to hunt down a welder at a stupid hour to fix something.

Use it for a lot of stuff. Handy to have around.

Go with the everlast powermts 221sti they are running a special $700 off the price on there website its a AC/DC Mig tig and stick all in one unit first of its kind. You will love it i can promise u this

40 + years a machinist, and most shops use a Lincoln 225 unless they do a lot of fab work.

I have Miller thunder bolt Stick welder. I see them on sale for around #400.00

I would never go back to a 110 welder. That said the Hobart 140 is a fine choice for casual use and will work great with gas.

If youre just going to modiify traps a good 110v wire feed would be good, no need for gas. An arc welder would be difficult just for trap modifying.

In the long run gas is cheaper than buying Flux core wire and grinding disks.

^^^^^ this

Or maybe some dual shield flux...

Not sure I agree with that. I can do any type of mods with a stick welder and do a real nice job. A box of 6010 or even some 7018 will get It done.

But I've spent about 50 years under the hood.

Plenty of good advice above. I have a Hobart 140 that I got for trap mods. Used flux core for a while, then switched to gas which makes me look like a pro. I've used it for all sorts of stuff and love coming up with new welding projects. With good technique (YouTube is your friend!) and multi-pass you can use it for virtually everything you'll ever need as a casual welder. I welded up new spring hangers on my beefy utility/wood hauling trailer and it hasn't broken yet after a lot of hard use.

If you get into it and decide you need more then you can invest in a bigger one.

For trap mods and other “stuff” around the house that needs fixing, my Lincoln 140 I got from Lowes is perfect. Cost was doable and the little machine performs. Sure you might not start a welding repair shop with it but you can do anything on a trap that needs to be done. And get the gas.

Get the biggest and best in your budget
You will use it on many different projects than planned after you get it
and a quality machine will last a lifetime

220 V is a plus (thicker material)
Gas is plus (cleaner welds)
Name brands are a plus

OP here.........

So what's the best way to learn to weld?

I have some welding experience from way back in the 80's when I was putting up metal buildings. We had a big ol' Lincoln stick welder on a trailer that I learned to stick a couple of pieces of metal together by trial and error, and some guidance from a couple of certified welders along the way.

But that was a looooonnngggg time ago!

I live in the Boise area and there is a welder/sculptor/artist in downtown Boise that teaches a two-day, 12-hour class for $225.00. Here is a description of her basic welding class:

"Through discussion, demonstration and hands-on application, you will learn the fundamentals of oxy/acetylene and MIG welding, plasma arc and torch cutting, heat bending, the peripheral metal working tools and we will discuss safety throughout. You will acquire a working knowledge of welding that can be immediately applied. All in an easy, open, fun environment!

All safety equipment, tools and scrap steel will be provided."

Granted, this is for artistic work, but for a basic, start-sticking-pieces-of-metal-together, class, does this sound worth the money and time?

Any other suggestions? Granted, enrolling in a full-blown community college welding course would be the ticket to produce top quality work, but the time it would take, not to mention the money, isn't in the cards for me at this time.

As always, any advice is appreciated.

Take that 225 and buy some scrap, wire and gas. It’s really not brain surgery.
It will come back to you in a short amount of time.

X2∆∆
No reason to pay anyone to learn mig welding.
Scrap and a couoke boxes of rod, along with YouTube and you will be making professional welds in no time.

Look it Jody on YouTube, his site is called welding tips and tricks.

Weldingtipsandtricks.com
He has a YouTube under that same name, and he has 100s of very well made and informative videos on very specific processes and situations.
Literally any weld you would think about making he has a video on.

Miller 252 is what I use from traps to building truck beds. Works good for me.

Millermatic 211, Mig machine