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Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: wr otis] #8448257
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
Joined: Mar 2023
WI
WI Outdoors Offline
trapper
WI Outdoors  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2023
WI
Originally Posted by wr otis
Welded a lot of trapping stuff with lincoln stick welder.

I have a hobart like that also.

If you're going to mig parts, they need to be clean bare metal. Stick you can tolerate some rust.

Depends on the rod. Different rods for different purposes.

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448289
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
Joined: Mar 2019
Southern NJ
maintenanceguy Offline
trapper
maintenanceguy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2019
Southern NJ
Hobart Handler 140. Miller or Lincoln make better welders at a much, much higher price. Harbor Freight makes junk at a lower price. Hobart is the Ford/Chevy that works for me. I have two different models of Hobart mig welders and both have been great. I have one set with a spool gun for aluminum and the other set up for mild or stainless. I keep four 90cf tanks of gas in my shop for different metals.

I have used flux core wire but welding with gas gives such a better weld. I did put both on harbor freight welding carts.

20250804_072733.jpg
Last edited by maintenanceguy; 14 hours ago.
Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: FL cracker in AK] #8448301
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
Joined: Jan 2012
Ohio
OhioBoy Offline
trapper
OhioBoy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2012
Ohio
x2

Buy a 211, it is dual 110v / 220v.
There are three diameters of weld wire, set the knob for the one you have.
There is a setting for the thinnest material you are welding, it comes with a thickness gage, so set the knob to material thickness.
Get a gas bottle, I rent and refill mine from the supply house.

Get a descent auto tint helmet, Watch Youtube videos on stacking dimes and get good and seeing the puddle and moving it around.

Then its just practice, but that's literally all it takes.

It'd be easy to have $2,500 wrapped up in equipment, hard to justify for trap tuning, but then you can mig up to 3/8" of any steel material you needed to weld from then forward for you or anyone else.

$2500 / $50 = 50 $50 weld jobs to pay for the equipment... maybe 25 jobs would pay for half the equipment and the other half is moding your traps.

Welders need grinders for flap wheels and wire brushes. Clean material = good welds.

Anyway, that 211 is a good machine and easy enough to learn that I've taught myself to weld (with it) decently.

Good luck.


Originally Posted by FL cracker in AK
My Millermatic 211 has been an excellent machine, doesn't break the bank.

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448320
13 hours ago
13 hours ago
Joined: Jan 2023
Tennessee
S
Square Offline
trapper
Square  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2023
Tennessee
Another vote for the Millermatic 211

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448343
12 hours ago
12 hours ago
Joined: Feb 2016
Kentucky
ky_coyote_hunter Offline
trapper
ky_coyote_hunter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2016
Kentucky
Like my Hobart Handler190....220V is the way to go, IMO.


Member - FTA
Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: FL cracker in AK] #8448348
12 hours ago
12 hours ago
Joined: Jan 2019
Northern IN USA
Flipper 56 Offline
trapper
Flipper 56  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2019
Northern IN USA
Originally Posted by FL cracker in AK
My Millermatic 211 has been an excellent machine, doesn't break the bank.

X2, love mine with gas


"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: maintenanceguy] #8448368
11 hours ago
11 hours ago
Joined: May 2010
alabama
BandB Offline
trapper
BandB  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2010
alabama
Originally Posted by maintenanceguy
Hobart Handler 140. Miller or Lincoln make better welders at a much, much higher price. Harbor Freight makes junk at a lower price. Hobart is the Ford/Chevy that works for me. I have two different models of Hobart mig welders and both have been great. I have one set with a spool gun for aluminum and the other set up for mild or stainless. I keep four 90cf tanks of gas in my shop for different metals.

I have used flux core wire but welding with gas gives such a better weld. I did put both on harbor freight welding carts.


Just curious if you've actually used a Titanium welder or not?

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: ky_coyote_hunter] #8448412
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
Joined: Jun 2010
Iowa
~ADC~ Online content
The Count
~ADC~  Online Content
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Iowa
Originally Posted by ky_coyote_hunter
Like my Hobart Handler190....220V is the way to go, IMO.

This is what I use, but for a guy starting out the 140 is plenty until he figures out if he even will use it IMO.

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: BandB] #8448508
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
Joined: Mar 2019
Southern NJ
maintenanceguy Offline
trapper
maintenanceguy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2019
Southern NJ
No. I have used a harbor freight mig welder but it was probably an older line of welders before they branded them titanium

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448595
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
Joined: May 2010
alabama
BandB Offline
trapper
BandB  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2010
alabama
I had an earlier Chicago Electric welder myself. The Titanium is much better. They are about to put the 125 flux core on sale for 129.99. I have one of those and it does a pretty good job. I'm by no means a welder, but have pretty good success with it. I also have a Dekopro 160 that I bought off of Amazon a couple of years ago that works well. It is a stick. It only cost $99.

I imagine the Hobart and Miller's are better quality, but for occasional light welding, these have been more than sufficient my needs.

Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448597
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
Joined: Dec 2006
St. Louis Co, Mo
B
BigBob Offline
trapper
BigBob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
St. Louis Co, Mo
Over 50 yrs a machinist, and most machine shops I've worked in had a Lincoln 225 as the only welder.


Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.

Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.

Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
Re: Welder for a beginner? [Re: Big Sam] #8448680
3 hours ago
3 hours ago
Joined: Aug 2012
Blackduck Minnesota
B
Big Sam Online content OP
trapper
Big Sam  Online Content OP
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2012
Blackduck Minnesota
You folks sure don't disappoint! Thank you for all your thoughts and opinions, I appreciate it.

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