Metal Fabrication

[CPTMULLET]

I'm not a fan of multiprocess machines. It's a chore to switch so you end up never switching anyhow. I'd start with a dedicated mig and the money you save can go towards a Tig or plasma later.

fair, is it safe to assume I can't go that wrong with any of the mainstream brands dedicated mig machines? miller/Lincoln/esab/etc

 

[Ramathorn15]

fair, is it safe to assume I can't go that wrong with any of the mainstream brands dedicated mig machines? miller/Lincoln/esab/etc

Miller would be my choice if I were going mainstream. The millermatic 211 will be something I buy pretty soon. My HF 215 is basically an exact copy of it, but I like knowing I can get replacement parts when something eventually breaks.

I've never had good luck with Lincoln and esab is nice.

 

[Dick Dale]

is that one of the p100 canister filters?

True, it would be nice to get into welding for a lot less money, the only thing really stopping me from buying one at HF is the fact that they seem to be out of stock everywhere.

Yeah, it's this one


As far as I can tell it's the same as the one Miller sells, just a diff branding.

 

[Ramathorn15]

fair, is it safe to assume I can't go that wrong with any of the mainstream brands dedicated mig machines? miller/Lincoln/esab/etc

The Hobart from tractor supply isn't bad either. Comparable to the HF machines, but might be on sale/in stock.

 

[Dick Dale]

I'm not a fan of multiprocess machines. It's a chore to switch so you end up never switching anyhow. I'd start with a dedicated mig and the money you save can go towards a Tig or plasma later.

As a total noob with zero experience I'm just gonna chip in and say I agree.

This little fluxcore lincoln is getting the job done and I am learning an absolute fuckton with it. I know if and whenever I can upgrade to even a proper MIG set up, I will be lightyears ahead and actually able to take advantage of them, that's my general mantra. Everyone wants to drive the Ferrari but you gotta learn to drive first.

 

[Ramathorn15]

Everlast is a good brand too. I've had a couple of those and they've all been super solid.

 

[CPTMULLET]

As a total noob with zero experience I'm just gonna chip in and say I agree.

This little fluxcore lincoln is getting the job done and I am learning an absolute fuckton with it. I know if and whenever I can upgrade to even a proper MIG set up, I will be lightyears ahead and actually able to take advantage of them, that's my general mantra. Everyone wants to drive the Ferrari but you gotta learn to drive first.

I really like nice tools, I'd just hate to buy a welder and then a month later already want to upgrade it

 

[deegan]

I really like nice tools, I'd just hate to buy a welder and then a month later already want to upgrade it

My thought would be more along the lines of will you use it, if you’re gonna learn and use it then just go that step up, if it’s something you aren’t going to use much then stick to something that gets the job done and isn’t costing a lot.

 

[Dick Dale]

I really like nice tools, I'd just hate to buy a welder and then a month later already want to upgrade it

I'm the same way so I completely understand

Don't forget to factor in the cost of everything ELSE too. Your gas/wire, mask, gloves, respirator, clamps of various types (vice, magnetic, even just hunks of metal for weight, a table if you want one), a comfortable stool, chipping hammer, wire brushes, an angle grinder, maybe two (I'm already fucking sick of switching discs I want a second), different wheels, squares, scribes, soapstone, calipers, divider, gages etc etc etc..

If you like really nice tools you could sink yourself just buying clamps. Be smart about it is all I'm saying.

 

[CPTMULLET]

My thought would be more along the lines of will you use it, if you’re gonna learn and use it then just go that step up, if it’s something you aren’t going to use much then stick to something that gets the job done and isn’t costing a lot.

If I knew more about welders I'd probably buy one second hand, but worst case scenario is really that I sell it used and lose some money on the deal, life goes on.

 

[deegan]

If I knew more about welders I'd probably buy one second hand, but worst case scenario is really that I sell it used and lose some money on the deal, life goes on.

You want a good duty cycle, I’d say that would be the most prominent.. so it can run @ 100% for 6mins out of 10mins continuously.. which would be 60% duty cycle. Something that covers all ranges mig/stick/tig.. yeah all in one machines aren’t as good as a straight up mig or tig but for home they are fine.. and parts are accessible easily

 

[whatever]

im of the opinion you can get a great start machine that is not red or blue

 

[whatever]

You want a good duty cycle, I’d say that would be the most prominent.. so it can run @ 100% for 6mins out of 10mins continuously.. which would be 60% duty cycle. Something that covers all ranges mig/stick/tig.. yeah all in one machines aren’t as good as a straight up mig or tig but for home they are fine.. and parts are accessible easily

for home user a 20% duty cycle is prolly enough

 

[Dick Dale]

You want a good duty cycle, I’d say that would be the most prominent.. so it can run @ 100% for 6mins out of 10mins continuously.. which would be 60% duty cycle. Something that covers all ranges mig/stick/tig.. yeah all in one machines aren’t as good as a straight up mig or tig but for home they are fine.. and parts are accessible easily

It's stuff like this that I have absolutely no idea about or how it'd affect me, and I already feel like there are 10000 variables I need to keep in check already. And it feels like every day I discover more just in technique and prep

 

[deegan]

for home user a 20% duty cycle is prolly enough

I was explaining duty cycle, not telling him what duty cycle to get.. that all depends on the kind of work the machine will be doing

 

[CPTMULLET]

I was explaining duty cycle, not telling him what duty cycle to get.. that all depends on the kind of work the machine will be doing

probably holding beers up while I hide from reality in the garage

I'd be shocked if I hit 60% duty cycle, building one of those flat pack car bumpers is about the most intense thing I foresee doing

 

[deegan]

It's stuff like this that I have absolutely no idea about or how it'd affect me, and I already feel like there are 10000 variables I need to keep in check already. And it feels like every day I discover more just in technique and prep

You can over think in any job, I’m not a welder so I don’t know much at all about weld procedures etc, other than what the WPS tells me if I bother to look at it, and basics like clean plate etc.. but I can pick up a welder and know how to weld and be confident that they’ll hold.

I also have a lot of diff terminology than you guys so I don’t say too much, like what you call fluxcore isn’t fluxcore to me, that’s just called straight up gasless. Yes it is technically fluxcore, but fluxcore to me uses gas and isn’t a home job welding wire because it’s like $300 a roll lol

 

[Dick Dale]

probably holding beers up while I hide from reality in the garage

I'd be shocked if I hit 60% duty cycle, building one of those flat pack car bumpers is about the most intense thing I foresee doing

Then go buy a wallyworld fluxcore mig special and have at er. You're gonna grind away the welds and sand and paint anyway so don't drop crazy cash on a rig you can do 40h of production with a week

 

[deegan]

probably holding beers up while I hide from reality in the garage

I'd be shocked if I hit 60% duty cycle, building one of those flat pack car bumpers is about the most intense thing I foresee doing

Depends what you’re welding, what amps your machine is etc.

I had a 200amp tig and that thing on steel was great, Aluminium, I’d punch the duty cycle every 5mins

 

[Dick Dale]

You can over think in any job, I’m not a welder so I don’t know much at all about weld procedures etc, other than what the WPS tells me, and basics like clean plate etc.. but I can pick up a welder and know how to weld and be confident that they’ll hold.

I also have a lot of diff terminology than you guys so I don’t say too much, like what you call fluxcore isn’t fluxcore to me, that’s just called straight up gasless. Yes it is technically fluxcore, but fluxcore to me uses gas and isn’t a home job welding wire because it’s like $300 a roll lol

Yeah I seen that there are fluxcore wires that still require shielding gas. What purpose is that exactly? I know the whole point of fluxcore is basically the 'do anywhere' aspect of it where gas would get blown away outside for instance

 

[Dick Dale]

Depends what you’re welding, what amps your machine is etc.

I had a 200amp tig and that thing on steel was great, Aluminium, I’d punch the duty cycle every 5mins

What do you mean by punch the duty cycle?

 

[CPTMULLET]

You can over think in any job, I’m not a welder so I don’t know much at all about weld procedures etc, other than what the WPS tells me if I bother to look at it, and basics like clean plate etc.. but I can pick up a welder and know how to weld and be confident that they’ll hold.

I also have a lot of diff terminology than you guys so I don’t say too much, like what you call fluxcore isn’t fluxcore to me, that’s just called straight up gasless. Yes it is technically fluxcore, but fluxcore to me uses gas and isn’t a home job welding wire because it’s like $300 a roll lol

I thought you were a welder? or are you just around heavy machinery and I conflated the two

 

[CPTMULLET]

What do you mean by punch the duty cycle?

prob worth googling welder duty cycle, but basically a given machine can run for xx% of the time or say 5 minutes straight before it gets too hot in some capacity and needs to cool down

 

[deegan]

Yeah I seen that there are fluxcore wires that still require shielding gas. What purpose is that exactly? I know the whole point of fluxcore is basically the 'do anywhere' aspect of it where gas would get blown away outside for instance

The flux isn’t actually a shielding flux like gasless which shields the weld away from the atmosphere. Fluxcore with gas is a dual shield.. so on its own the flux isn’t protecting the weld, but with the gas it helps give a better weld penetration/characteristic while the gas is shielding it from the atmosphere

 

[deegan]

What do you mean by punch the duty cycle?

I hit the duty cycle (think punch the throttle)