Beginner Welder

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I have never welded before but I would like to start. Do you guys have any tips or suggestions? First off what kind of welder should I get? I am thinking of a mig welder.I am mainly concerned with welding steel. With enough practice I want to be able to weld bumpers and suspension brackets for my jeep. I don't want to buy a $400 welder only to find it won't do the projects I have planed. Should I expect to pay $1400?Should I buy from Lincoln or Hobart or do some of the smaller manufacturers make good welders at low prices. What about Craftsman and Northern Industrial? Next question: how do I learn? Should I take a class. I have a friend that sometimes does welding for me. At times he wouldn't get good penetration and didn't know why. That got me wondering: would I know what I am doing wrong?
Reply:Best suggestion would be to check out what votech schools or community colleges offer night classes in welding. When you sit down and add up what it would cost you in materials, electric, gas, wire/rod etc not to mention the instruction, a class is usually stupid cheap. Also most schools will have better machines than the average budget for some one just starting out will allow for.$800-1400 would get you a very nice new name brand 230v mig with no issues. With a machine like that you can easily do from sheet metal to 1/4"-3/8" if you do your part. Don't expect to do critical suspension components like suspension brackets any time soon, but bumpers and non critical items can easily be built after learning the basics in a decent class..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Great. Thanks for the fast reply. I will check out classes.Also my garage does have 220v so that's not a problem.
Reply:I recently learned to TIG weld and I did that by buying a used machine from an incredible weldor with the deal that went with the price of the machine included 8 hours of hands on instruction in how to use it.  He worked with me about 3 hours on one day, I took the machine home and did a bunch of crap welds, kept notes on settings, gas flow, tungsten, amperage etc.  I the took the samples to him, he explained what was wrong where, told me how to fix it.  Repeat process.  I am now able to weld stainless, aluminum and mild steel.  Even though my "purchased hours" are up, he has offered me an open invitation to bring him items I am having trouble with and he will help me out.  For free.  Got me a mentor.
Reply:I would stay with the real machines, Miller,Lincoln, and Hobart. Buy a quality machine once. There are lots of posting on 220 volt machines. Depending on your location price will vary.Here's the Miller site if it helps.http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ng-Discussions
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1I would stay with the real machines, Miller,Lincoln, and Hobart. Buy a quality machine once. There are lots of posting on 220 volt machines. Depending on your location price will vary.Here's the Miller site if it helps.http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ng-Discussions
Reply:When you first begin to learn the welding art it is a good idea in my opinion to buy a second hand machine that you know works good. I would take a buddy that knows how to run a bead and have him check the machine out for you making sure you can weld with it before you buy........A mig machine would be my choice unless you feel the need for stick welding (Bumper brackets and heavy car stuff might require stick apps)  Mig is probably the easiest to learn on.......Depends on how deep your pockets are....I am self taught and started with a buzz box and stick  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Welcome to the forum, Dave.I have never welded before
Reply:Thanks for the replies. Stick welding? I heard MIG welding can give good welds for a beginner but there are the settings to get right. I don't mind taking classes and sticking with it until I get it right. Is stick welding really that easy?I would rather not get one welder and then, a year later buy something different but I am open to suggestions. Stick welder costs less. I was thinking a MIG welder would be more versatile.
Reply:Well , you could get a tig and stick welder in one. Miller has a 180 SD older model and the newer 200 syncro. I don't know about the Lincoln or Hobarts. If you can stick weld, mig is a no brainer. Depends on your choice, type of material, inside welding, outside, etc. You must have more than one machine to play welder. Ask anybody here !
Reply:Have to disagree with a couple of the above posts, a bumper falling off a vehicle @ 60 mph seems like a major mishap to me.
Reply:I started on oxy-acetylene and I feel that was a perfect route for a first welder.  I still go back to it for all sorts of stuff including cutting thick steel and heat bending in addition to the welding.My first electric welder was stick and it was perfect for me - mostly stuff like tractor implements.  I love how easy it is to use - I can work outside without worrying about wind.If you have no mentor I recommend stick as a much easier self taught process than mig (in my humble opinion) because there are fewer variables to deal with and only 1 consumable (no gas).Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Stick vs mig...From a learning stand point, most students I deal with tend to pick up mig faster than they do stick. It's fairly common to see a student get all the way thru all 5 joints in all 4 positions in a 10 week class with decent results. Not so much with stick ( although I will admit they have more welds to do using 3 different rods) Most stick students usually barely get in to horizontal welds in the same time frame. The problem is most can't differentiate between slag and puddle and can't learn to read the puddle as quickly as they can with solid wire mig. I will admit decent stick welders usually adapt quicker to mig than mig welders to stick ( excluding FC  guys). The biggest issue again is that the mig guys need to learn to tell whats the slag covering the welds and what is molten steel.Stick is also not the greatest choice for many applications, like body work and thin material ( less than 3/16"). On the flip side most average mig guys don't have a machine that's really capable of doing more than 1/4"-3/8" at best..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Lots of different opinions. Most of you guys are very experienced so it's good to hear from someone that teaches welding. Thanks DSW.