Bought my first Stick Welder

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Found a Lincoln AC 225 and picked it up Monday night for $120. Cleaned it up last night and now I just have to buy some wire, a breaker and an outlet so I can use it.Dave
Reply:No wire needed for a stick welder. You need some stick electrodes. since it is an ac only machine, start with 6011, 6013 or 7014. Those are good learner rods for a newbie stick welder with an ac machine. You also need a chipping hammer and wire brush for dealing with slag.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Welcome have no fear ac buzz boxes make sparks so you fit in here just fine. Have fun and hope you learn lots cause the guys here have taught me lots. REAR READ READ and burn rod.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeNo wire needed for a stick welder. You need some stick electrodes. since it is an ac only machine, start with 6011, 6013 or 7014. Those are good learner rods for a newbie stick welder with an ac machine. You also need a chipping hammer and wire brush for dealing with slag.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpWelcome have no fear ac buzz boxes make sparks so you fit in here just fine. Have fun and hope you learn lots cause the guys here have taught me lots. REAR READ READ and burn rod.
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeNo wire needed for a stick welder. You need some stick electrodes. since it is an ac only machine, start with 6011, 6013 or 7014.
Reply:Try some AC 7018 rod.  It is a sweet running rod on the flat, it has great penetration and it looks like a pro applied it.
Reply:Originally Posted by suntreemcanicTry some AC 7018 rod.  It is a sweet running rod on the flat, it has great penetration and it looks like a pro applied it.
Reply:Got the breaker installed in the electrical panel yesterday and wired up a receptacle. Bought some rod, now just need some time to try it out!Dave
Reply:Originally Posted by TeamchevyThanks Jason! I have a chipping hammer, brush and helmut. I was going to buy some 1/8" 7014 and start with that. I hoping to get it wired this weekend and start some sparking!Dave
Reply:Originally Posted by TeamchevyGot the breaker installed in the electrical panel yesterday and wired up a receptacle. Bought some rod, now just need some time to try it out!Dave
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpWell if it's all set up and ready what are ya doin on the computer????? Go burn rod
Reply:TeamChevy looking good.Actually being more in the home hobby mode, you might want to go down to lite stuff, costs less, easy to do.I got the sort of same welder you do, Lincoln AC / DC had it for over 30 years, my welding instructor helped me pick it out. Love the thing, bought it new, zero problems ever. Mostly I do smaller stuff, rarely do anything needing a 1/8" rod. Lot of what I do use 1/16" rods.The smaller rods are easy to use. You get to sort of dial in your methods. Get the ones that say Quick Strike, Easy Strike, Auto Strike or something to that effect. They start very easy, run smoother. Great for a beginner or old timer. Something about the flux is different. More foregiving.The best small rods are Campbell Hausfeld. Walmart used to carry them. I ain't got a local cheap source anymore. Want to find them local if possible. Think I paid like $5-6 for a pak of 60 back when. Out of them now.http://www.wayfair.com/Campbell-Haus...0-CHP1676.htmlNext is Sears, only some Sears stores carry welding rods, but again it should say Quick or Easy strike. Box of like 60 rods is ~$10 for the small guys. 1/16" or 3/32".Next is HF. They carry a Quick Strike version, get only that.Then how you store the left over rods. Get some rubber gasket sealed tube holders. Maybe throw some desicant bags in. To be honest, it doesn't seem to matter, those Quick Strike don't seem to care. Sometimes I heat them in the oven for a bit before using but I can't really tell any difference.Good auto dark helmet, depending on the light, I will use a a bright light bulb to light up the area. Helps me see the puppy better. But you should be able to run good looking beads after a bit. Lot less smoke, sparks, etc, you get to concentrate of what is going on. Try welding pretty lite metals, learn not to burn thru, should make some decent bead in the process.And maybe some good various wire brushes for a battery powered drill. They are faster than all those hand brushes. Gets in the crannies better. Grinder and maybe a belt sander is nice. Chop saw after a while. Must have is eye protection at all times. Goggles, safety glasses, face mask shield, whatever.You don't have to go real big time to get started, there is a small World out there. Lots of the home hobby stuff falls into that category.Congrats, think you will have fun.
Reply:Ive noticed that fellows who weld for a living dont use auto dark helmets.I wonder why?I use a standard helmet. gold lens with a lift type lens.Tried a big window, takes too much tension to hold it up.
Reply:Make sure the fan comes up to full speed when you use it.I take out my lincoln for the tough jobs.Most of my welding is done with an old Weldmaster.The Lincoln  is easier to use.The fan motor needs a little oil on its bushings.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmer37Ive noticed that fellows who weld for a living dont use auto dark helmets.I wonder why?I use a standard helmet. gold lens with a lift type lens.Tried a big window, takes too much tension to hold it up.
Reply:the pros i know that wear them like them because  they eliminate lots of hood up hood down during the course of the day..visually ive never seen one that gives me as good a view of the puddle as my $35 huntsman with a gold #9...but i need all tghe  help i can get and those guys can weld with their eyes closed better than i do...
Reply:Originally Posted by TeamchevyFound a Lincoln AC 225 and picked it up Monday night for $120.
Reply:Hi Rick,It was one of several I saw on Kijiji, I found this one locally. I haven't tried it lately as I've been busy at work. I'm going on afternoons this week, so I want to get some practice in. Hoping to get some practice in over the next few weeks. I'll try to do what you say and see how it works out.Dave
Reply:Well, I was cleaning up the garage this morning and I thought I'd take a 1/2 hr to practice. I picked up some Lincoln Electric E7018 AC 3/32" to try.I tried tunning a couple of beads with it and found it was easier to start and control than the other rod I was using, running at 75 Amps:Then I got carried away and tried to weld a tube to a plate.Cleaned up the parts:Positioned them:Welded:I think I'll go back to welding beads and practicing more. Maybe move to 1/8" of the same rod?? Need to re-read my notes from my class a couple of years ago.Dave
Reply:Dave, you are long arcing; get have to get the rod tip right down in there!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:I'll see if I can try again tomorrow. Should I bump the current up to 90 Amps as well?? Maybe I'll switch to reading glasses or a cheater lens, progressive are hard to use.Dave