1000.00 bucks

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i am a total newbie and i have a 1000.00 bucks to spend on welding eq.... i want to be able to have 110v versitly and yet be able to weld 1/2 in one pass... and some aluminum . i also need to be able to cut up to 1/4 steel what do u think ?bonez
Reply:It ain't gonna happen.  Not yet anyway. The closest thing available now would be the Miller DVI. 120 and 240 input voltage all in one unit. It has the capability to weld 1/4 in a single pass. It is a relatlvely new MIG that has been tested a little higher than it was rated. It won't cut. It can do aluminum with either a spoolgun ( $650 ) or get a teflon liner ( $25 ) and run it through the gun.Looks like you need all seperate machines, but $1k ain't gonna do it either. There isn't a 120v machine that can handle 1/2....they barely handle 1/8-3/16. That is stick and MIG. From what I can figure out by your description, here is a quick estimate:120v MIG or stick machine.....$4-600 ( a 120v MIG would be the best bang for the buck, IMO )for 1/2" a stick machine....$3-500 or a 250 amp MIG @ $1600+( the stick would handle 1/2 with multi-pass.....Ex Hobart Stickmate, Miller Thunderbolt or Lincoln Tombstone )cutting would be a torch set at about $200 + tanks or a plasma about the size of a Miller Spectrum 375 @ $1200 Cutting can be done with a grinder, or sawzall, even a cut-off saw ( chopsaw)You will probably need to figure out which would be priority and start small. This isn't a field that supports an all in one deign very easily. And the ones that try end up not doing any of the processes very well. Hope this gets you started.Last edited by DDA52; 12-05-2004 at 04:36 PM.
Reply:You could get a HH180, bandsaw and sawzall for around $1k,HH180 http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhan175.htmlBandsaw http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37151Recip. Saw http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...ceffdfgidgkk.0and about $150 for an 80cf c25 tankStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:What about a stick welder, those are pretty affordable?  I can't even imagine stick welding aluminum, as I have just tried it with my tig welder and subsequently failed... I have a HH175, and it does 1/4" well but nothing more.  The HF bandsaw so far is the only product from HF that  still works, besides the clamps that is.  I forget, the 4.5" grinder still works!  And those seel for $9.99 sometimes!!!I also have serious budgetery constraints, so I just save and buy, save and buy, save and buy.  I've been "collecting" tools for about 4-5 years now.  And from recent bad experiences I would wait and buy the more expensive tools, because they will last longer and perform better.  I would avoid Harbour Freight for anything other than clamps!--Evan
Reply:All I can think is buying a cutting torch kit with a brazing tip at Home Depot for about $200, a couple of very small tanks for about $100 or you could try a flea market or newspaper, get some aluminum brazing rods with the flux, and a classic Lincoln-225/AC Stick Welder for $229, your not going to get anywhere near 1/2 in one pass but it's under a $1000. I personally would buy one thing at a time and get what you would enjoy instead of taking short-cuts.
Reply:Hey bonez,Let me help get this thing kick started again. These guys have done a pretty dern good job so far but if you would consider dropping that "weld 1/2 inch in one pass" things would really open up for you a lot. There's guys out there working on D8 Cats that don't do 1/2" in one pass. Say what type of things you'd like to work on and they'll tell ya how to get there."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:MY MM251 @ $1600 will do 1/2" single pass I suggest a stick welder on your budget and use aluminum welding rods. I have stick welded several brackets on new aluminum gas tanks for light tower generators and they are a bit tricky. Once you learn to burn them they do ok.EquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600
Reply:If you need 120volt and 240 volt that will weld 3/8" in one pass I suggest saving a little more and look at the millermatic passport,I just got one a few weeks ago and am totally impressed with it.It will be about 1300.00 but worth every penny.It is also portabe at 55lbs. with an 8" spool in it.It ranges 30 amps to 180 amps and far better welds than the DVI(imo)from what I have seen.I tried both machines before buying and am very satisfied with this welder.Check the specs on the miller site.Nobody moves nobody gets hurt(safety first)millematic passportmiller 375 plasmacutter
Reply:Originally Posted by bonezi am a total newbie and i have a 1000.00 bucks to spend on welding eq.... i want to be able to have 110v versitly and yet be able to weld 1/2 in one pass... and some aluminum . i also need to be able to cut up to 1/4 steel what do u think ?bonez
Reply:Buy a Smith medium duty torch kit.  Welds up to 1/2" and cuts up to 12" in a single pass.  Now, you might be able to do a butt weld in one pass with a torch on 1/2 inch, but T welds on 1/4 inch were fairly tricky.  My whole setup cost me about $500 including gas, but I got the 280 cuft cylinders for free.
Reply:Cut, weld 1/2 and weld aluminium for 1k? Get a used thunderbolt (OK, it's 220V) stick for a couple hundred bucks, use cutting sticks and use aluminum sticks. I've seen the aluminum sticks for sale at auto parts stores but actually I've never heard anybody say anything positive about them. Still in theory...
Reply:the alum rods for smaw arent easy.  needs 1/8" min parent metal thicknessneed ac/dc machine runnig on dc current.  It burns like a mad manOtherwise it will workIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Those cutting rods are more of a demolition rod.  I tried using one when I didn't feel like carrying another cylinder of acetylene into the engine room of the last ship I worked on.  A cheaper and more effective way to cut with an arc welder is to buy a 3/16ths inch rod and "weld" with it at 350-400 amps.
Reply:See if you can get a hold of a used Miller XMT 304 welder.  It will run you darn near $1000 for a used one with no accessories.  You could be stick welding for $1000 and as you get more money later on, you can also use it as a MIG, pulse MIG, and DC TIG power source.  I use these welders at school and they are kick butt.  I love the hot start that all but eliminates stuck rods.  It kind of startles you when you're first starting because your rod really lights with a bang.