which welder should i get?

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Hello, im a complete newbie when its comes to welding, but we need something to use around the shop. i own a lawn care business and theres always a little something that needs to be done, trailer, mower etc... im not looking to spend a lot of money. it would be used every once ina great while. Thanks for the help everybody!  - Matt
Reply:What's the thickness range you will need to repair?  All steel?  For structural trailer work, I won't recomend a 120V MIG, but pretty much any welder that operates from 240V will be sufficient.  You'll have to decide between the cheaper, slightly more difficult learning curve of the Stick welder, like a Hobart Stickmate; and a 240V wirefeeder welder like a Hobart HH187.Check out www.hobartwelders.com and look at those units and decide what specific questions you want to ask.  They also have a very good forum over there called Weld Talk.
Reply:Also, Stick welders are very reliable, and used ones are usually in fine working condition for a lot less money.  But, I highly recommend a little extra and getting a model with DC capability.
Reply:at the absolute most. 1" steel. no structural work on the trailer, just the welds that keep the gates together. id like something thats easy to do, and cheap.
Reply:This is my first post but have been on here reading and learning for a long time. Since I have owned a lawn care business in the past i think i can help out. First of all welding is like riding motorcycles or tatoos once you start you can't stop. I think you mean you will be welding 1" long weld not 1" thick. if all you will be doing is fixing ramps and mower decks a hobart 125ez will do and easy to learn you can pick those up for under $300.00 and that is a 120v system. that will do just what you want but not much more. now if the welding bug gets in your blood as it will  you will want to start making things like bar-b-q and stuff you will need something more. so to save moeny in the long run i would go with the hobart 187 you can pick one up for under $700.00. i will tell you this i started out with a 125ez had it for less then a month then returned it to get the 140 but they were out of them so had to get 187 glad they were out of the 140. I love the 187 best money spent in the shop. I also have the stickmate. you can pick up a AC only for under $250.00 new and it will do what you want but it is harder to learn and will be harder to use with some of the places you will want to weld on the mowers. So i would not use that one. I know you want cheap but i would stick with a name brand like hobart or miller and with the 187 you can make major repairs on the trailer (after you learn and know what you are doing) anyway i guess thats it and happy welding.Last edited by iamwobblez; 03-02-2007 at 10:06 AM.
Reply:The A\C buzzbox stick welder is the way to go for cheap.  Lots of Lincoln tombstones on ebay.  With 6011 rod you can even weld dirty, rusty steel.  But there is a learning curve and you won't be making good welds if you only use it every other month.  Stick and tig welding takes more practice than mig welding.  Also, if you encounter thin gauge metal mower decks, a stick welder might not have an amperage tap that is low enough to preclude blowing holes through the weldment.Your best bet might be flux-core mig.  No shielding gas needed.  Just pull the trigger and start arcing.  I would say that most newbies start out using a mig welder and never bother to learn the other arc welding processes.  You can do a lot of repairs for your business using flux-core wire.   I'm not a big fan of those 120V household current welders unless your only need is welding thin gauge sheet metal, like autobody patch panels.  And then your best bet is solid wire and shielding gas.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:For what uses you describe, I'd second the vote for the Hobart Handler 125EZ and some .030 flux-cored wire.  This will do everything you state, and will still be a very good second machine when the welding bug bites you and you want a bigger, fancier one for thicker stuff or production work.
Reply:Hello, im a complete newbie when its comes to welding, but we need something to use around the shop
Reply:If he's not doing structural work on his trailers or other critical work, but just fixing things around the shop, there's nothing wrong with wanting a small machine to do-it-yourself.Even though your advice is from a valid opinion, what's with the finger wagging?  He didn't call himself a weldor, and was very upfront about his expectations from a machine.IMO, this is a perfect application for an easy-to-use, small machine.  Having a welder around is the best way to actually get things repaired that you would never bother with calling in a real weldor for.
Reply:SLAG, I am not a pro welder but do welding in a factory everyday. Should I not be welding? I weld Stainless and Steel all the time. Aluminum on occasion and that can become a mess to me sometimes I admit. This guy can do what he wants to do using a HH140 Mild or HH187 for heaver stuff for under $700 after practicing for maybe a week or 2.  A couple of calls to the local welder will cost more than that. I am sure I will regret saying this but Pro Welders on this Website have to get a grip and realize that the average JOE asking a question isn't looking to hire a PRO WELDER all the time nor is looking for the Most expensive Welder to buy to weld there landscape trailer or IROZ-Z rocker panel together. It frustrates me when I come here and see somebody ask a legit question about EXAMPLE: How should I weld my lamp to my coffee table?  (Reply answer is usually)  You need a MM215 or 250 don't buy the cheep stuff. Guys I will go out on a limb and tell you right now THAT ISN'T A HELPFUL ANSWER, Dont even bother replying.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:Originally Posted by SLAGJust call a professional to do all your maintenance on your trailers.
Reply:Hi Raven,The average name brand stick machine that will run up to a 1/8" stick should do you just fine.Outside of looking after the cable connections the machines will run for years without the need for attention. Any good local built stick welder should be rugged,reliable and cost effective for you.I am unable advise you on any machine in particular as I am an Aussie and not familiar with whats on your market. As a teacher of welding for 22 years and a tradesman since 1970 I have lots of experience with all types of process and consumables.I feel I have to correct this : Originally Posted by 69 chevy With 6011 rod you can even weld dirty, rusty steel.
Reply:[QUOTE=Grahame]Yes you can, but why would you want to?Dirty rusty steel is not difficult to clean up in most cases./QUOTE]Because sometimes I don't have the luxury of tearing down my piece of farm equipment, taking it into the school welding lab and repairing it the textbook way.  Sometimes I can't even move it out of the field; it must be repaired how and where it broke down.  And Murphy's Law always seems to prevail; the break is never where I can clean it properly because the grinder won't fit.  The axiom, "time is money"  probably applies more to agriculture than other businesses because farming is always weather dependent.  Sometimes I trade the picture perfect welds I see posted here for expediency.  That's the 6011 world I live in.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:This guy can do what he wants to do using a HH140 Mild or HH187 for heaver stuff
Reply:I took it to a local welding shop/fabricator and he said it would be an easy fix.Two 2' pieces of 2x2x1/8" angle welded in cost me $100 and the welds looked horrible
Reply:Originally Posted by SLAGThere is no problem with this guy getting a welder and messing around in his shop. Maybe in a year he will know what he is doing, But when it comes to business like his trailer there is no reason he should be welding on it. That trailer gets pulled all around town he would be putting people at risk. Say there is an accident from a piece of metal that fell off that he welded, well your insurance company is going to want to know why that metal fell off.
Reply:Chevy 69Hey mate don't get all bent out of shape,My comments were based on the mower mans requirements.As a farmer yours are another kettle of fish entirely. My mate (buddy) is a farmer and I have taught him the value of using 7016 low hydrogen controlled electrodes on the farm. Some of the loads you  farmer fellers can impose on tillage gear,  (I think thats the word for plowing stuff) is enormous. None of the repairs Ross has done with LH rods has ever failed again.  As far as handling the rusty plate the LH rods are far better than the 6011s as they can remove the crap. It does pay to leather up a bit though,cos when the rods pick up a bit of  S##t they pop and spit it out. On bare skin its not fun.Realistically speaking  you might do a quick and nasty field repair so you could limp home, but to just plaster  beads over a crack and expect it to hold would not make sense economically . I have chased cracks through 1" Plate on a machine and welded a penetration bead through to the inaccessable side, to get a machine fit for service. I can appreciate all the crap you have to go through, dirt ,mud and packed vegetation all in just the right spots.Regards to all farmersGrahame
Reply:Originally Posted by SLAGI would charged you $250.00.
Reply:Originally Posted by GrahameChevy 69Hey mate don't get all bent out of shape,My comments were based on the mower mans requirements.As a farmer yours are another kettle of fish entirely.
Reply:Originally Posted by GrahameUse the welding helment for welding-not as a grind shield if its the flip up type. I saw a bad accident a while back where a broken wheel punched the helmet lens out and damage a mans face badly.Grahame