What type of welder for 1/8" stainless wire? Rolling Ball Sculpture.

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HelloI am new to the forum and new to welding. I have 0 experience in welding, but have some experience soldering circuit boards. I am very interested in building rolling ball sculptures as a hobby. I have been doing a lot of reading about MIG vs. TIG, inert gas and flux core wire and I am completely lost. Unfortunately there is not a guide that says - "this is what you need to weld rolling ball sculptures".I would prefer not to spend an arm and a leg, but I want to be sure that I purchase a machine that enables me to do what I want. I can do either 110 or 220v in my garage.So my question is, what welder would be ideal for this type of a project?For those of you that aren't quite sure what I'm talking about, here is a nice sample of what I'm talking about - http://www.rollingballsculpture.com/.../desktop14.jpgThanks for your help and adviceCharlie
Reply:I vote for the GTAW process.
Reply:I'm a TIG fan (since I have one), but O/A would also be good (which I also have, and learned on).TIG $$$ May be safer, if you drop it, it goes out.O/A $  Lit flame, if you drop it, trouble. I once lit my sweatshirt on fire with my O/A, and I don't mean smoldering.  My first thought was "DON'T drop the torch!! Turn it OFF!!" 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Charlie; Home Depot has welding books. Not saying your soldering skills aren't great, but soldering a circuit board or sweating pipe together is nothing like welding. Also Lincolns web site has down loadable information on welding. And you could use Mig or Tig on something like that ( looks like a bunch of tack welds is all you would need). The HF Tig is a cheap machine for the tig end. And Home Depot has the Lincoln Migs reasonable.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:RBSs are my hobby. My first four I did with OA - brazing, not welding. The fifth one I have just finished using TIG... Of the two, I prefer TIG.
Reply:They can be soldered using silver solder. The technique is a little different from soldering circuit boards, but can be easily done with a bernz-o-matic torch. It is certainly the least expensive way to get started. If you just have to weld it I myself would go with GTAW, but get prepared for a shock when you see the setup cost. Not to mention the cost of consumables.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Charlieaf92,Now that you've got a number of answers from those in the know - welcome to the forum!MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Thanks a lot for all of the info guys - I really appreciate it.I've been looking over the harbor freight site, along with Lincoln and a few others and still having trouble picking out a machine. They range in price drastically. What type of amps/features should I look for? I read on one website to look for one with a high frequency start so that you avoid bumping parts while welding - does this make sense?If you don't mind, link me to some examples of specific models you would recommend so I can look over the descriptions.Thanks againCharlie
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerThey can be soldered using silver solder. The technique is a little different from soldering circuit boards, but can be easily done with a bernz-o-matic torch. It is certainly the least expensive way to get started. If you just have to weld it I myself would go with GTAW, but get prepared for a shock when you see the setup cost. Not to mention the cost of consumables.
Reply:another RBShttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...t=rolling+ballHow much is your budget?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Actually, you could do this with pretty much any old CC/DC welder, and a tig-torch with a push-button gas valve in the handle.  Scratch-start, no remote amp control, nothing fancy, just takes a little practice.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1another RBShttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...t=rolling+ballHow much is your budget?
Reply:Where are you located?Perhaps there is something on Craig's ListEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Where are you located?Perhaps there is something on Craig's List
Reply:HF tig 200.00 HF has the regulators as well less than 100.00 then airgas for tank. I don't think that should eat the rest of your 1000.00 up. And the HF tig also stick welds, comes with the stinger too.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by Charlieaf92Thanks a lot for all of the info guys - I really appreciate it.I've been looking over the harbor freight site, along with Lincoln and a few others and still having trouble picking out a machine. They range in price drastically. What type of amps/features should I look for? I read on one website to look for one with a high frequency start so that you avoid bumping parts while welding - does this make sense?If you don't mind, link me to some examples of specific models you would recommend so I can look over the descriptions.Thanks againCharlie
Reply:Originally Posted by Charlieaf92Located in Cincinnati, Ohio. I've been looking through Craigs list, and there are quite a few options available - but I don't know enough about them to know if they are a good deal and/or they will work for what I'm trying to do.Charlie
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonummm...Roger--'normal' silver solder needs OA torch, to get hot enough....like 1300-1500˚F or so,IMHO.     Are you referring to some special, low temp 'silver solder'?
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310Actually, you could do this with pretty much any old CC/DC welder, and a tig-torch with a push-button gas valve in the handle.  Scratch-start, no remote amp control, nothing fancy, just takes a little practice.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonummm...Roger--'normal' silver solder needs OA torch, to get hot enough....like 1300-1500˚F or so,IMHO.     Are you referring to some special, low temp 'silver solder'?
Reply:Thanks again for the feedback everyone. I am going to call about the miller TIG later tonight, although that is on the high end of what I wanted to spend.Based on all the comments I am gathering that just about any type of welder should work for this application? What about the flux-core MIG welders? They appeal to me because of price, and convenience (no gas to buy). Like this one for example - http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&sName=WeldersThanks againCharlie
Reply:I think maybe you misunderstood me,,,,   I believe TIG is the best process for this type of job, what people forget is you don't necessarily need a "TIG" welder to do TIG.   Any CC/DC power source, can do SS or mild steel tig .....   especially in an application like this, essentially just repeated tack welds.   You don't need a remote control here, you don't need any of the bells and whistles that normally come on a "TIG" welder, all you need is sparks.   There are tig torches available, that have a push-button gas valve in the handle, start the gas, strike the arc, fuse the joint, shut the gas off.  With or without filler metal.If you're on a budget, this by far would be the cheapest way to go.   And then, if and when you ever do upgrade, you'll have no problem whatsoever handling the newer machines, your skills will already be there.Last edited by mark8310; 08-28-2008 at 08:23 PM.
Reply:Mark is right. I've built several powerplants where the majority of the pipe required at least a tig root and hotpass. No special machines were used just Miller 8 banks and six packs. Tig torches had a lug the stinger clamped on and a gas hose from the bottle. The torch had a gas valve. Open the valve weld, close the valve. I have the same setup for my XMT and a salvaged gas solenoid from a dead synchrowave that I am going to use to set it up for my water cooled torch. Stainless is so easy to weld you don't really need any bells and whistles.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Thanks for all of the answers guys. I picked up a cheap TIG (harbor freight, with 20% off coupon), a bottle of argon, gloves, auto darkening helmet, and some steel rods. I fired everything up last night and managed to weld a few of the rods together, it resembled what I was going for - so I'm really happy - now its time to practice.Charlie
Reply:My Latest...Originally Posted by Craig in DenverI'm a TIG fan (since I have one), but O/A would also be good (which I also have, and learned on).TIG $$$ May be safer, if you drop it, it goes out.O/A $  Lit flame, if you drop it, trouble. I once lit my sweatshirt on fire with my O/A, and I don't mean smoldering.  My first thought was "DON'T drop the torch!! Turn it OFF!!"
Reply:Originally Posted by Charlieaf92Possibly not enough from what I've seen. I would like to get everything I need for under 1,000 - but I can't tell if that is even going to be possible.
Reply:I am just about done with my first real RBS. It is rough as I am just learning to weld, but I am satisfied with the outcome for my first try (I silenced a lot of friends and family that told me I couldn't do it). I still need to finish up the last section and then tweak a few other areas. I found there is quite a bit of variation from marble to marble, the one that I had been using to test runs through perfect but others fly off the track in certain areas. Attached Images
Reply:Just finished my second RBS... Here is a pic. Attached Images
Reply:Where do you buy stainless wire like that?
Reply:Originally Posted by kb9nvhWhere do you buy stainless wire like that?
Reply:Ok, well now that I think of it, ace hardware gave me a spool of steel wire (not sure that its used for in general) but I welded it as ribs on a halloween prop I made and it hasn'e rusted so maybe it was stainless??
Reply:Number 3... Attached Images