Looking to buy a welder

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Hello. First off im new and glad to be here.I’ve never used a welder before and understand it takes some time to learn.Im not sure if I should go with the wire feed or stick, I want the welds to be strong but being new don’t want to cut holes in everything either.I have one pickup truck frame I need to replace a section in andanother I want to build a flat deck for.Being able to do body work would be nice too, but it’s not the top of my listI mainly want strong welds I can trust.From what I understand I should be going for one that takes 240 volts to avoid limiting myself to much.Any advice would be great.Thanks. Jay.
Reply:If you've got a truck that needs the frame repaired, pay someone who knows what they are doing to do it. The length of time it would take to learn all that you need to know to do the job safely and correctly will take months of dedicated full time training, or years and years of serious hobbyist practice. Frame repair, especially with newer vehicles is not a beginner or even mid level project. Most mfg's usually recommend a frame be replaced rather than repaired because of the special high strength alloys and heat treatments newer frames use.The bed probably falls in the mid level project range if built correctly, but could be an advanced project depending on the design. A good 220v mig or stick machine would probably do this sort of work. I'd suggest a good 220v mig for most new guys.The fastest way to learn is to look into taking a night class at a local tech school or community college. You will probably have the opportunity to learn at least stick and possibly mig at the beginner level. The cost is quickly recouped based on the rods, materials, electric and so on that you will use if you apply yourself. If you get a machine, you can then practice at home between classes so you can spend class time learning from the instructor rather than spending time running repetitive beads. It's way easier to learn when someone can watch you and point out your mistakes..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:Welcome to the forum Jay Anthony. DSW is right, The frame repair isn't something you should try on your own. I'm an experienced welder and I wont even touch a car frame. To much liability.As for wire feed vs stick, how much money are you looking to spend, and how much patients do you have? Wire feed tends to be easier to learn, but the equipment can be more expensive. Plus with moving parts, there is more that can go wrong with one. Stick welders are cheaper and more rugged. But they take a little more skill to learn.
Reply:I'd have to agree with the guys, 100%. Mig is the easiest, and with gas, it's pretty clean welding. With fluxcore, it's more versatile; ie dirty metals, weld in the wind, outdoors, welds better on previously painted metals. Arc welding (Stick) has a lot of versatility with many rods for different purposes. Arc will perform better on thicker metals than a mig welder of same amperage outputs. It is less forgiving on thin materials. For the truck frame, find an off-roader who welds a lot on truck frames and get some help from him, or get help from an experienced weldor. Another safe option (Always recommended first) is to take a welding class at a junior college.Put your location into your user CP, and look for some guys here who are close by you. Good luck, welcome aboard.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Thanks for the input.The truck frame is on a 1980s farm truck, I was hoping I could just overbuildthe repair. But now I know it isn’t that simple. What I’ll do is remove the box and load it on a trailer so I can bring it to the welder.Im still looking for a welder it will be either flux or stick, as I don’t have a place to leave It set up.