I'm a better welder than I thought I was

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So I borrowed this stick welder today....http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=18112It's an Esab Caddy. 140 amp. DC. Apparently it can be tigged with, but I won't bother with that.Now, the only welder I've ever used is a cheap stick one that I must have bought arounf 1990. I've done alot of welding with it, despite the fact that it groans and splutters and drives me crazy at times. I've also done alot of grinding because of it.I borrowed the Esab off a mate down the road because I have to weld some thicker stuff and my machine doesn't seem to penetrate like it used to.Crikey, that Esab was amazing. The welds flowed like mustard from a squeeze bottle. Slag lifted up by itself. It was amazing.It occured to me that maybe the welder I've been using all these years was a dud. But battling it has honed my stick skills. Now that I've got a good machine to use, my welds are photo quality - not that I'll be doing that.So tomorrow I'll have to start looking for a good second hand machine - I think they're well over $1,000 new. In the meantime I have to do as much as I can before I give the machine back.
Reply:Scott before your spend any money come over to the factory, bring your welders and try out some of the Essetti's and Lincoln's I have to compare them directly against each other.See what suits you the best .9521 8787BrettA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:I would take Brett up on that offer mate! (Can I say that, being from other than Australia?)City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:A good stick welder is hard to beat...Welding with crap equipment gives you a lot of perspective on what exactly you are spending your money on...Not that you can't get good used welders cheap if you shop, but once you weld with equipment that rates as "decent", you get spoiled quickly.  Stay away from multi-thousand dollar machines or, like me, you will be trying to justify buying one to build a $50 grille...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Scott,  Almost all machines are different.  Short circuit current is the difference or Volt/Amp curve is different for different Mfg's.  That will make the difference in a good machine and a bad one, For You.   JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:Yes Smithboy, it is hard to justify buying expensive gear for hobby stuff. I'll just have to do some bigger projects - as if the worlds strongest carport isn't big enough.Yes, tanglediver, you can use the term 'mate' even though you're from over there. 'Mate' is a wide ranging label. We have mates (friends) and call people we know mate, but it's also used here in the same way as many people over there use the term 'sir'. So if we don't know someone, we call them mate. If I'm down the local shops, I'll call the guy serving me mate. If I'm in a business meeting, I'll also use it to address people. I always feel odd being called sir. Lots of women use the term mate, too.I had this discussion just last week with one of your countrymen. I was at the beach and my 7 year old was out swimming. She likes to chat with people and she latched onto a bloke about my age. So I went out with them in case he wanted to get away. I said 'gidday mate'. He said 'morning sir'. And I laughed. He was from New York. Works in the justice department. We talked for ages floating around in the waves. Just that morning the aussie who had been held in G Bay for 6 years without a trial was released, so we had lots to talk about. I'm going to call Brett now and take him up on his offer. I'm looking forward to trying a couple of different machines. Now that I've seen the other side of the mountain, there's no turning back.Scott
Reply:Scott, Take up Brett on that offer. I have 2 Lincolns, one is their small Inverter similar to the Esab, I had an Esab at work but the Lincoln is smoother and the other is the SP175 (or some thing like that, I'm having a senior morning) which I use as flux core. Although I prefer stick the flux core is taking over for 90% of my home stuff, even on an add on to our patio, I tacked with stick so I could bash it around if I had to then finished off with the wire.Clive
Reply:"I'm a better welder than I thought I was"He sure is! Good to see you Scott   Hope todays play doesn't end up costing you too much !BrettA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Bloke?
Reply:Originally Posted by turboblownBloke?
Reply:bloke  pron. "blowk" (if you live in London); "bloke" (the rest of us). n guy. A bloke is a Joe Public, a random punter - any old fellow off the street. Where it differs from guy is that it can't apply to your friends. You can't walk up to a group of your mates and say "Hi blokes, what's up?", as they'd all peer at you as if you'd been reading some ill-informed cheap dictionary. The most common usage of the word "bloke" is almost definitely in the phrase "some bloke in the pub".From  http://english2american.com/dictionary/b.htmlWhen are youse Yanks gunna learn Strine?A good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:So I went to Brett's place this morning (thanks Brett) and tried his stick welders and had a turn at mig and tig - never even seen mig and tig close up before.I'm staggered at how much better a good stick welder works. Of course, it means I now have to get a better welder.I also had a turn of an auto helmet. I've always used a mask. It was odd being able to see the work without lifting the hood, and even odder having a hand free while welding - I could pick my nose, scratch my nuts, hold the work.I liked tig and will one day head there I guess.Mig was like like driving a really fast go-kart - I was only in control about 70% of the time. It was pretty hairy.
Reply:I'm staggered at how much better a good stick welder works. Of course, it means I now have to get a better welder.
Reply:What a great thread guys!  Got me reminiscing my own introduction to welding with crap gear in a sweat shop.  Then slightly less crappy gear in a fab shop.  Decent gear in a structural yard.  High end stuff for helium leak tested welds on vacuum chambers.  And now building state of the art machines and equipment.My career and skill benefited amazingly by starting at the bottom.  I gained experience that I otherwise would not have, and that serves me very well when training people now.  I'm comfortable no matter what their gear is.Glad you are better than you thought Scott and welcome to the next level  Now don't be shy about telling people that you can fix stuff.  Make a little extra $$ to pay for the new equipment!
Reply:I do the odd things for mates, but I don't charge them money - it's a bit of a minefield when you start doing that. I swap favours, or alcohol. I've got a mate who is hopeless with his hands, so when I do anything for him, while I'm doing it I give him our shopping list and some money and send him to the supermarket - I'm don't like the supermarket. I'm happy to fix something he's busted while he does my shopping.
Reply:Scott if you want to borrow the 160 Esetti to have a look see on your car port come pick it up . Certainly before you spend money. You cant tell from just a short play what your getting.Give us a ring.BrettA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Thanks Brett.This mob looks interesting:http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQsassZarcindustryUp the Central Coast. It would be their own brand, but as they say at least that means if something goes wrong they fix it rather than having something freighted back to a manufacturer. Lots of good ebay feedback.
Reply:That does look good Scott.On another track. I'm going to St George TAFE on Friday 1/2/8 .I know the head teacher and he has put aside 3 places for me in the class.Do you want to go?Stick on Wednesdays 5.30 - 8.30 or so. You will be able to do Tig on that night also ...maybe Mig, depends on who is on.I would have to ring the teacher to guarantee you a place.(I can pull a few strings)BrettA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Originally Posted by BrettOn another track. I'm going to St George TAFE on Friday 1/2/8. I know the head teacher and he has put aside 3 places for me in the class. Stick on Wednesdays 5.30 - 8.30 or so. You will be able to do Tig on that night also
Reply:Originally Posted by Mozsorry to butt in as a newcomer to the forum, but is that this course: http://www.sit.nsw.edu.au/courses/search.php?cid=21220I'm looking at the beginners TIG at Ultimo because I have no workshop qualifications (other than an electrical engineering degree that probably doesn't count