Guidance Please

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Hello all.  I'm new here, Not a Welder and Retired.I've decided I need to learn how to Weld : Home projects only. Cannot decide what would be best to start out with.    Should I learn/use Tig, Mig, Arc, Gas ??.Not talking heavy duty requirements, maybe 1/4" angle once in while.Cost is important but not critical.Any advice greatly appreciated on method and equipment.  Thanks.
Reply:If cost is important, you may want to use stick.  Stick is harder to learn that MIG and in many cases can weld dirtier material which may be useful for home repairs.Gas welding is probably the cheapest but can be tough to learn.Most people doing home repairs get a little wirefeeder with some flux-core wire.  It'll do most of what you need to do for home projects and is relatively easy to learn and a brand new one can be as cheap as a couple hundred bucks.
Reply:I agree with "Welderboy"Stick is the cheapest besides Oxygen and acetylene, And stick welding isn't bothered by rust or paint. So i would vote for a stick welder¤If you got money, i've got time
Reply:As long as cost isn't the controlling factor, most of us home-hobby types would be tickled with one of the 180ish to 210ish amp GMAW/FCAW machines from any of the popular brands. This puts you into the $700.00 to $1600.00 area. All will do a very wide variety of tasks, stable 230 volt operation, lifetime machines.Stick is a little radical for the knick knack work, great for heavier duty, construction, farm and ag. O/A while recommended as a tool for heating, bending and cutting, isn't really recommended for modern welding applications.TIG is in more of a specialty group. You may find at a later date you would like to do TIG, buy one at that time.
Reply:Thanks for the fast response folks.  Sounds like I should look into "stick".OK, forgive in advance,---When you say "stick", are you referring to a unit which is sometimes called an Arc Welder ?I've seen the flux core wire units at Sears and HF , also "Arc Welders units.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyO/A while recommended as a tool for heating, bending and cutting, isn't really recommended for modern welding applications.
Reply:I would normally stress purchasing/learning with a good stick welder. BUT, with the info you've given I would recommend a MIG welder for you. The power would be dependant on whether you have a dedicated area you'll be using it in, strickly in the garage or around the house/property. For garage only get a good 230volt machine from any of the big three. For anything else I would recommend a good 120volt from any of the big three. A 120volt can be run by a portable generator set anywhere or extension cords if relatively close to a power source (100 foot or so). Nice thing about the 120volt is you can take them anywhere and most generally have an outlet that'll run them. The 120 will handle 1/4 without any problem once you learn what you're doing.One suggestion for you on wire choice, buy good name brand wire for starting out. You won't be able to tell the difference between cheap wire and bad habits in the begining so good wire elimnates one possible variable. There are a lot of other possible considerations but for starters that'll get you going. Just think Lincoln, Miller, Hobart when you go shopping and you'll be alright. There are a lot of other choices when buying a welder but those three are what welded this country together and I believe they deserve our respect and loyalty.  Enjoy your new hobby !!Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:I would look into a MIG with min 180amp output (GMAW/FCAW)It is good for the home hobbyist, and will allow you to weld smaller thicknesses than stick.PS.You will have the option of using gas or flux core wire, I would recommend you try both, you can rent a tank from you welding shop before you buy one.Last edited by Me!; 08-12-2007 at 02:39 PM.
Reply:retiredone,If I was just starting out, I'd probably be looking at a Mig machine in the 180 Amp range.  These units will require a 230V receptacle, but will give you a much better "range" of capabilities as your skill level advances.  As mentioned earlier, they can run either solid (with gas) or flux core wire.  They are very capable machines up to about 5/16" material.O/A (Gas Welding) is one of the oldest forms of welding and one of the most versatile, however, it does require a good deal of training.  Many will say it's the basis for all welding.  If you find that you are doing a lot of hobby stuff, you may later want to add an O/A rig for the capability to cut or shape the material you're working with.  Generally speaking, gas welding is much harder to learn than arc welding.The "stick welders" are probably the cheapest way to get into welding.  Once you buy the machine, it just comes down to how many electrodes you choose to burn.  They are very versatile machines but are difficult to master on thinner material (less than 1/8").One machine I would recommend you look at (and I'm not associated w/Hobart) is the Hobart 187 MIG.  They're available for around $650.00 and will do everything the average "hobby" welder will want to do.  Many consider this machine to be the "most bang for the buck" amonst the 180 class machines.I would also pick up a copy of welding fundamentals from your local big box store (Home Depot/Lowes/Northern).  That should also give some direction.Just my .02Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by Retiredone Home projects only.
Reply:Once again folks, thanks for ALL the input. Hate to think how long it would have taken me to to gather all this info. you've all shared with me.69 chevy:,  you're pretty close on the anticipated use and your comment on thin steel was appreciated.  Sure the Kids are are gonna find something to get welded up.  I'm off to do some reading !.  Thanks again all.
Reply:Northern Tool has a good price on the Hobart and FREE SHIPPING http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...-Search%20Page
Reply:DC stick units are becoming cheaper and cheaper. plus the also have the tig capability should you want to learn tig at a later date. dc stick is also very easy to use.http://datingsidorsingel.com/
Reply:Retiredone, stay away from the non-name brand stuff.  I bought from Sears in 1987 and cannot get parts for anything anymore.  Bought and Arc Welder and Oxy/Acetylene rig.  Just had to replace both regulators because the diaphragms were leaking and the parts line wanted to sell me parts from a regulator "that looked like it".  Told 'em I'd take it if the would install and test it!!I just bought a Lincoln SP170 (MIG) used with a gas bottle and wire for $250.00 used.  This and a good AC/DC Arc welder from Lincoln or Miller would be a great home set up.  Look around on the used market.  Wire a dedicated 50 amp and a 30 amp 230v circuit into your garage and make a 50' extension cord (#8) and you will be able to do about anything.Have fun.  You will find all sorts of things.  My overhead garage door broke the arm that attaches to the chain drive opener this morning.  Fixed it in an hour with the MIG.  Better than new and saved me $1k garage door.  My wife would have used that as an excuse to buy the one she wants!!!  She doesn't even know it broke!!Rob PageMiller Bobcat 250Lincoln SP170-T
Reply:All welding methods take some practice.  Its not like using a hot glue gun.  Some methods take more practice than others but in any case it is well worth the investment of your time.  The ability to weld will greatly increase the range of projects you can do in your garage and you will likely kick yourself for not having bought a welder 10 years ago - I know I did.Stick welders are very good value for the money and very versatile but they take a fair amount of technique and are best suited for 1/8" and up.  Forget about welding sheet metal unless you are very good.Mig welders are probably the easiest to use and can weld anything from 24ga sheet metal to 1/4" or heavier depending on the size of the welder.  Mig welding uses a wire fed thru the welding gun and a gas shield.  The wire is held on a spool and the gas supply is a compressed gas tank.A step down from Mig is flux cored wire feed.  There is no shielding gas needed since the wire has flux in it.  It will not weld quite as thin as MIG and the welds are a bit messier but they are very easy to use and there is no gas bottle to schlep around with the welder.  They are also quite abit cheaper than MIG units.  For home/hobby work I recommend one of the little 110v wire feed units.  They are a very cheap way to get into welding - about $250. Steer clear of the cheap brands.  Go with one of the big names in welding - Lincoln , Hobart Miller etc. They are very easy to use and, at the lower settings will happily run on a standard 15amp household outlet.  A unit like that will easily handle the kinds of projects you have mentioned.  And if you decide later to upgrade to something heavier or more sophisticated you will still find the little wirefeed unit useful because of its convenience.Whatever you go with, plan on practicing with it until you get satisfactory beads.  15 mins every evening of running beads on scrap metal and practice joints will pay off big time.355# Hay Budden3# Hofi HammerPropane ForgeIdealarc TIG 300/300AllStates Oxy Propane torchSmith Little Torch