Which welder for 1/4" steel?

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Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:Get yourself a good stick welder and a box of 3/32  7018 rods.Have fun.  

Example.https://www.airgas.com/p/ESA0700500070https://www.airgas.com/product/Weldi.../p/LINED032588
Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:What is your actual realistic budget?

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Reply:I started out about 15 yrs ago with a transformer-based AC/DC stick welder, and if given the choice again, I would do it the same way.They're fairly cheap on the used market, they're durable, they're fairly versatile (though you won't be welding auto body panels anytime soon), and they're a good way to learn welding in my opinion. Good luck with whatever you choose and welcome to the forum.Syncrowave 250DXMiller 330 A/BPMiller Big Blue 251D
Reply:There was a time I would have done that but today would likely go lunchbox dvi.  You can weld 3/32 lohy from 120v/20A and 1/8 from 30A/240.  I still use my DC buzzer in the shop but I already own it and its in a system.  This would be the cheapest but if I wanted to maintain and fab a little the first machine most guys should buy is a 190-210 class feeder running 030 solid. It would work for the smoker body and be a lot easier on the rest of the fittings and any gaps etc.   In the end those would be my 2 machines for home brew, handyman/hobby jobs. My neighbor is expert, seems to make it on his 175 Miller.   I got 10 machines, this is what I use for most things these days.

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Last edited by Sberry; 6 Days Ago at 07:25 PM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Lots of choices out there, really knowing how much you have to spend(invest) is the most important. You could by a used stick welding machine, transformer based machines are easily found on craiglist , facebook market, etc , in good working condition. Have them weld something in front of you before you buy. Very little goes wrong with them. If your only learning to make a smoker , you can often borrow one from your local rental yard.How much of that pipe do you have ?  I just cut 4 foot section of 4"x4"x1/4" out of a weighing tank frame to get at a 30HP motor and gearbox. That piece of tube had a little heft to it, just wondering  what a four foot section of that 20" weighs. Is this gonna be stationary ? Definitely doesn't sound portable.Airco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:

Originally Posted by albrightree

Lots of choices out there, really knowing how much you have to spend(invest) is the most important. You could by a used stick welding machine, transformer based machines are easily found on craiglist , facebook market, etc , in good working condition. Have them weld something in front of you before you buy. Very little goes wrong with them. If your only learning to make a smoker , you can often borrow one from your local rental yard.How much of that pipe do you have ?  I just cut 4 foot section of 4"x4"x1/4" out of a weighing tank frame to get at a 30HP motor and gearbox. That piece of tube had a little heft to it, just wondering  what a four foot section of that 20" weighs. Is this gonna be stationary ? Definitely doesn't sound portable.
Reply:It come down to how must you plan to spend and how plan to use the welder.Dave

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:So you've never welded, never had a welder, and want to build a smoker.  That's great, but don't put the cart ahead of the horse.  It's like saying, "I've never touched a piano before, and I want to buy a piano and play Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1."  Or "I've never sat in car before, and I want to buy a car and drive in the Indy 500."  You could probably stick the pieces of metal together and make something of a smoker, but the welds would look like bird poop.  I mean, you'd be embarrassed for anybody to see it.  I can personally promise you that a year from now, you'll look at it and want to do it over.If you insist, however: it would be a HUGE help if you could spend a little time with somebody who knows how to weld, to show you the basics - rod selection, angle, speed, arc lengths, amp settings.  If any one of these is incorrect, you'll just make a big mess. Then practice each weld a few times on some scrap with the same thickness and same joint position (horizontal, vertical, whatever) before doing it on the real deal. Don't "learn to weld" be doing your project.  There are two kinds of skills:The first kind: you learn the steps in doing something, and then you can do it.  E.g., dance steps, or baking a cake, or changing your oil.The second kind: you practice and practice, and gradually get better as you practice. E.g. playing golf, or playing a musical instrument.Welding is the second kind.One last thing....   when you're doing your practice welds and have issues or want feedback, post pictures here!  Please do!  There are lots of heavy-duty pro welders here that will be happy to give comments and advice.  Don't be bashful!-Ruark"Become one with the puddle, grasshopper" - Welding InstructorLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Lots of good information here. My voltage is 120. I don't have any experience with welding. This will be my start. A lot of information to learn. Thank you for the suggestions!My budget is around $500. I am certainly looking for a used welder. I have some friends more than eager to show me the ropes.I must specify that I am planning on spending many, many months practicing my welds before starting this project. It is certainly not something I am going to start working on this weekend!20" schedule 10 pipe weighs around 53#/ft. It will be a heavy smoker, and will have a final working space!Last edited by TooNew; 5 Days Ago at 12:27 PM.
Reply:There is a lot of good welders under $200.00. I would get welder that runs on 240 volt or  120/240 voltage.  The only 120 type is a pain 😪. Amazon has one for $140.?? That is 120/240 that looks great. I have a Harbor Freight Chicago 170 it works great but it is only 240 voltage but works great. Dave

Originally Posted by TooNew

Lots of good information here. My voltage is 120. I don't have any experience with welding. This will be my start. A lot of information to learn. Thank you for the suggestions!My budget is around $500. I am certainly looking for a used welder. I have some friends more than eager to show me the ropes.
Reply:Welding is easy. Fabricating is the tricky part. We built a smoker out of a 1000gallon NH3 tank this past spring. It went pretty good.I use a lot of pipeline pipe for different projects. Some of that stuff has a lot of memory and really distorts when you start cutting on it. Just something to consider.Another thing with your $500 budget.... Does that include something to cut metal? All your PPE? Grinders etc? I've been fabricating for 35 and still don't have all the tools I want/need. :PGood luck on your project.
Reply:Most all these machines will weld it.  What is the right machine foir you is a slightly different question. Its something that if you have anything going on cept riding a couch that once you have it find other uses.  Both the machines I talk about are units I might want anyway even if I had every other one ever invented.  If a hobby guy is a one machine one wire type then very good odds a 200 class mig is the first machine he should get and a good possibility the only one he might need as evidenced by a couple things.   1 being Dave door here as it is what he has on the porch for retirement and second is the absolute HUGE picture of you as a poster child the welding companies have went to filling the niche with this machine and how many we now see in real welding shops.    I am a career welder,,,, I do some things that the hobby type never will but try not to let it completely influence what would be the "right" welder for a first timer.   I had poor advice starting out, got some machines should have been last first and first last. Today my7 perspective is a lot different and so are machine choices. They have got sooooo much better and cheaper, can do the same work for 1/4 todays dollars as it cost 25 years ago and even more if we look back 35.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Some of these other guys would be better picking specific models but I think for 95% + guys here a 200 class mig should be on the top of the list.  You can always get greater later, you can trade or sell not that I would ever sell one I have of that type but you can. I think 240 volt circuit is a wise investment, good news is that it doesnt have to be heavy like the days of old.  with sticks 1/4 can be welded well from 120v and not every weld on 1/4 needs to actually be 1/4, lots of stuff in a nuke with 3/16 weld on 1/2 plate and a lot of 1/2 plate welded to 1/4 wall tube with 3/32 lohy.   My bud says the big ole machines we used back in the day are now 150 Maxstars.   We used 400A machines to mini tig and run 95A stick.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:200,,, 030 solid, 1/4 plate.

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Reply:All 030 180-200 class/

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Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:Seems like one of the little lunchbox stick welders would be a good choice for a smoker build and they are reasonably priced.  Running on 120v the Hobart 160 ($450) puts out 80amps,  the HTP 160 ($499) is good to 125 amps. Even that Hobart and some 6011 should work.Last edited by El Greco; 5 Days Ago at 06:52 PM.
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Originally Posted by El Greco

the HTP 160 ($499) is good to 125 amps.
Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Lots of good information here. My voltage is 120. I don't have any experience with welding. This will be my start. A lot of information to learn. Thank you for the suggestions!My budget is around $500. I am certainly looking for a used welder. I have some friends more than eager to show me the ropes.I must specify that I am planning on spending many, many months practicing my welds before starting this project. It is certainly not something I am going to start working on this weekend!20" schedule 10 pipe weighs around 53#/ft. It will be a heavy smoker, and will have a final working space!
Reply:Try looking at the Amico MIG-130A flux-core welder. It looks good 👍 It is welder I was writing about in last post 📫 Dave

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello everyone, I am new to welding. Brand new. My goal is to make my own bbq smoker out of 20" diameter carbon steel pipe that has a wall thickness of 1/4". With that being said, which welder do you recommend for the task? I have a dedicated 30 amp circuit, but have the option of rewiring it to 60.I am sorry this is a very basic (and perhaps overasked question- the search wasn't working for me). I have just been getting confused when one welder says up to 5/16 with multiple passes (flux) or 1/4" single pass (stick). I understand what they mean, but I don't understand what I need for my little garage project!I am not looking to spend a crazy amount of money on a welder, as this is the only project I have planned. I simply want to build a smoker how I like it!Thank you for all of your help.
Reply:I ended up picking up a Lincoln AC/DC at a price I couldn't pass up. I'm sure it's more welder than I'll ever need, but the price was right!
Reply:They are not "more than you need". Its just right. They are very good.

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www.urkafarms.comMan, that looks heavy.



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Reply:It portable welder with wheelsThe men back in day could lift that welder with cart. Today the limit is 60 pounds in my shop the limit was over 150 pounds. I told the crew it was only 50poundsDave

Originally Posted by Oscar

Man, that looks heavy.


Reply:By the way, be SURE your breakers aren't arc fault breakers, or you'll be poppin'em.-Ruark"Become one with the puddle, grasshopper" - Welding InstructorLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:

Originally Posted by Ruark

By the way, be SURE your breakers aren't arc fault breakers, or you'll be poppin'em.
Reply:Good find, Great welder.I blow mine out and drop a little light machine oil into the fan every now and then, they're real champs.One easy modification is to upgrade the work/ground clamp (the harbor freight "berger" ground clamp is cheap and good).  Upgrading cables never hurts, but on a low budget the money is often better spent on materials/tools.A less easy (still easy though) and very convenient modification is to add dinse quick connectors, makes it easier to store/move.  Also if you have multiple machines you can keep one set of grounds/leeds between them.  Keeps weight, cost, and clutter down.
Reply:As you can see in last pic on page 1 i have connectors on mine.  I have a Y on the stinger and a chunk that reaches the building common bond. I have an extension from grounded bench with a clamp. Its actually qc too and set of lead and work to reach out on floors or out the door.

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Last edited by Sberry; 2 Days Ago at 10:13 AM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:I have the tig, the dc buzzer and plasma work lead are common.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:

Originally Posted by SlowBlues

One easy modification is to upgrade the work/ground clamp (the harbor freight "berger" ground clamp is cheap and good).
Reply:The first thing I would spend more money on, if you don't already have these things, are a shield, some stick welding gloves, 3/32" and 1/8" rods, chipping hammer, nomex welding shirt, a couple of angle grinders and the grinding wheels, cutting wheels and wire cup/wire wheel to fit them. You're gonna need all these things fairly fast. After that, I'd probably get a Portaband or decent cutoff saw. The list goes on. Best of luck with it, and be careful.
Reply:Well, since he originally told us he only had 120, the first thing he's going to need is some new 240 wiring, a plug in/breaker and hopefully enough panel to back it up.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
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Originally Posted by whtbaron

Well, since he originally told us he only had 120, the first thing he's going to need is some new 240 wiring, a plug in/breaker and hopefully enough panel to back it up.
Reply:

Originally Posted by John T


I assumed he meant 240/30 amp
Reply:

Originally Posted by whtbaron

Well, since he originally told us he only had 120, the first thing he's going to need is some new 240 wiring, a plug in/breaker and hopefully enough panel to back it up.
Reply:He's already got another thread on the plugin...The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

The first thing I would spend more money on, if you don't already have these things, are a shield, some stick welding gloves, 3/32" and 1/8" rods, chipping hammer, nomex welding shirt, a couple of angle grinders and the grinding wheels, cutting wheels and wire cup/wire wheel to fit them. You're gonna need all these things fairly fast. After that, I'd probably get a Portaband or decent cutoff saw. The list goes on. Best of luck with it, and be careful.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

I started out about 15 yrs ago with a transformer-based AC/DC stick welder, and if given the choice again, I would do it the same way.They're fairly cheap on the used market, they're durable, they're fairly versatile (though you won't be welding auto body panels anytime soon), and they're a good way to learn welding in my opinion.