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Started By
Message
I've never really welded so today I bought a welder.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:11 pm
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:11 pm
It felt like Christmas 30 years ago opening up the box and putting stuff together just to stitch up two short pieces of 1/8" and 1/4" bar stock as practice. Literally the first two things I welded on:
[/img]
I picked up a HF Titanium 200 multi-process unit, just something for small projects but I wanted to tryout all of the major welding processes and wanted the flexibility of a 120/240V source without spending $1000+. I only have it setup for flux core as that and maybe stick welding will be the only things I'll be messing with for a while. I don't even have a welding cart, welding table, gas bottle, clamps, and a dozen other accessories I'd like before trying to do more than turn good pieces of metal into scrap...
[/img] I picked up a HF Titanium 200 multi-process unit, just something for small projects but I wanted to tryout all of the major welding processes and wanted the flexibility of a 120/240V source without spending $1000+. I only have it setup for flux core as that and maybe stick welding will be the only things I'll be messing with for a while. I don't even have a welding cart, welding table, gas bottle, clamps, and a dozen other accessories I'd like before trying to do more than turn good pieces of metal into scrap...
12
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:22 pm to Clames
The new HF Vulcan and titanium welders and consumables are legit AF. I'll be interested to see how much you like the titanium multi-process.
There's nothing like gluing 2 pieces of metal together to build something.
Well, there is SOMETHING: TIG welding 2 pieces of metal together is just, well, therapeutic.
ETA: oh and btw, at the rate you're going with those beads, you'll be braiding some beauts in no time. And wait until you get your gas setup and ditch the fluxcore, you'll be welding stuff up left and right just because. (Not hating on fluxcore, I use it quite frequently. )
There's nothing like gluing 2 pieces of metal together to build something.
Well, there is SOMETHING: TIG welding 2 pieces of metal together is just, well, therapeutic.
ETA: oh and btw, at the rate you're going with those beads, you'll be braiding some beauts in no time. And wait until you get your gas setup and ditch the fluxcore, you'll be welding stuff up left and right just because. (Not hating on fluxcore, I use it quite frequently. )
This post was edited on 3/2/19 at 6:31 pm
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:24 pm to Clames
Looks pretty good man
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:29 pm to Bigbee Hills
quote:
There's nothing like gluing 2 pieces of metal together to build something.
Yeah, couldn't wipe the grin off my face. I want to build a metal gate frame to replace my current setup and then do some work on my trailer to make some brackets to hold removable sides for hauling junk.
quote:
Well, there is SOMETHING: TIG welding 2 pieces of metal together is just, well, therapeutic.
Would have like to have sprung for a AC/DC multi-process machine to TIG aluminum but they are about 3x the cost of this one. Can opt for a spool gun kit later though.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:29 pm to Clames
Recently bought a hobart 140 (120v). I've used an old AC Lincoln stick welder for many years when I needed to cobble something together. 95% of the stuff I weld is under the 1/4" max capacity of the Hobart and for the other 5% I can drag out the old stick.
Spent a couple hours today just reading up on all the different bullshite that goes along with mig. Seems like a lot now but I think I'll figure what I need for my little projects. As an example of bullshite I was going to buy some .35 fluxcore. Upon looking I find that there is more than one type of basic steel .35 fluxcore wire.
I looked at HF welders as I'd heard good things but in the end I just couldn't spend $500+ on something from HF.
Do you think you'll be able to get parts for it in like 10 years? Maybe it shares parts from another company too.
Spent a couple hours today just reading up on all the different bullshite that goes along with mig. Seems like a lot now but I think I'll figure what I need for my little projects. As an example of bullshite I was going to buy some .35 fluxcore. Upon looking I find that there is more than one type of basic steel .35 fluxcore wire.
I looked at HF welders as I'd heard good things but in the end I just couldn't spend $500+ on something from HF.
Do you think you'll be able to get parts for it in like 10 years? Maybe it shares parts from another company too.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:35 pm to Chuker
quote:lol
HF welders as I'd heard good things
I have been looking at welding for a long time and.......still haven't gotten one.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:38 pm to Chuker
quote:
As an example of bullshite I was going to buy some .35 fluxcore. Upon looking I find that there is more than one type of basic steel .35 fluxcore wire.
I just had the 2lb spool of .030 flux core stuff that was in the box and it seems it's good for a wide range of plain steels. Seems like the only reason I'll need anything else is some .035 stuff for 1/4" and thicker stuff but the 0.030 seemed to do ok with just a bump in WFS and voltage.
quote:
I looked at HF welders as I'd heard good things but in the end I just couldn't spend $500+ on something from HF.
Do you think you'll be able to get parts for it in like 10 years? Maybe it shares parts from another company too.
Lot of the consumables from Lincoln work on these. Standard DINSE small style connectors so I can buy new and upgraded MIG/TIG/Stick leads easily. I don't plan on wearing out the stuff it came with anytime soon. Came with three sets of .030 nozzle inserts and I bought an extra MIG wire liner just in case.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:40 pm to Clames
Looks great, nice puddles.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:46 pm to Capital Cajun
I was expecting a string of Mardi Gras beads but I just followed the chart in the machine and it seemed to be pretty close. I've been watching YouTube welding videos and researching reviews on just about every 120v/240v machine available over the last year or so I have an idea of what it's supposed to look like while it's welding. The newer IGBT machines seem to have a much easier learning curve.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:48 pm to Clames
Well the OmniPro only TIG welds in DC, which won't work for aluminum, so you made the right choice.
I have/had blue and red welders, but back when I was in the market for a new tig/stick welder, what color it was and how much it cost was way down the list of importance. I've ran/own/owned blue ones and red ones, but after much research and test driving one, I pulled the trigger on the ProTig 200.
It'll stack dimes with the rest of the units in its category. It's a fine stick welder too- which is the most important kind of welding there is to know. And as a matter of fact, lincoln engineers were hired to develop the vulcan line.
99% of weekend warriors wouldn't know the difference between the way that the orange machine runs and a blue one I'd they were painted the same color- not for the machines in this price range and category of unit sizes. Key part is "in this category."
For $850 (including the price for extra 3 year warranty), you get a fantastic machine. It doesn't have the duty cycle for full-on production welding, but tig welding isn't for production and high output anyway. I use my welders nearly every day. Dury cycle is rarely an issue for non-production, non-welding shop environments.
In 10 years I won't be buying parts for an $800 welder, I'll be buying a new one. And that'll probably be the case no matter what color it is.
I have/had blue and red welders, but back when I was in the market for a new tig/stick welder, what color it was and how much it cost was way down the list of importance. I've ran/own/owned blue ones and red ones, but after much research and test driving one, I pulled the trigger on the ProTig 200.
It'll stack dimes with the rest of the units in its category. It's a fine stick welder too- which is the most important kind of welding there is to know. And as a matter of fact, lincoln engineers were hired to develop the vulcan line.
99% of weekend warriors wouldn't know the difference between the way that the orange machine runs and a blue one I'd they were painted the same color- not for the machines in this price range and category of unit sizes. Key part is "in this category."
For $850 (including the price for extra 3 year warranty), you get a fantastic machine. It doesn't have the duty cycle for full-on production welding, but tig welding isn't for production and high output anyway. I use my welders nearly every day. Dury cycle is rarely an issue for non-production, non-welding shop environments.
In 10 years I won't be buying parts for an $800 welder, I'll be buying a new one. And that'll probably be the case no matter what color it is.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:52 pm to Clames
I’ve watched a video on YouTube of a guy that buys the cheapest welder on amazon. Guy is a legit welder and he seems genuinely surprised how well it works. I want to get a little 240v stick rig to use af home to mess around with little projects.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 6:54 pm to CarRamrod
You laugh, but you've got a handful of information right there in that phone you're holding.
The proof is out there. There's a naysayer or two on YouTube who are sponsored by competitors who run the machine down, and the welding forums will pitch a fit when HF's new welders are mentioned, but that's because welders are the most easily offended bunch of turds known to man and they'll admit it too.
You can keep looking, but I'm about to pour some rye on the rocks and go fire up my blue or orange welder, but probably the orange, and stack dimes baw.
The proof is out there. There's a naysayer or two on YouTube who are sponsored by competitors who run the machine down, and the welding forums will pitch a fit when HF's new welders are mentioned, but that's because welders are the most easily offended bunch of turds known to man and they'll admit it too.
You can keep looking, but I'm about to pour some rye on the rocks and go fire up my blue or orange welder, but probably the orange, and stack dimes baw.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:00 pm to Bigbee Hills
I was looking at the Vulcan line, Everlast, Esab, Fronius, and a few others. Just an amazing number of options, even started thinking about the TIG/Stick/Plasma machines. I'm going to have to start checking out the local metal scrap yards now.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:13 pm to Clames
Ain't it though? I mean we really are in the golden age of the average guy, in their garages and shops being able to have affordable access to tools like we're talking about-and very good quality tools at that.
Heck looks at the OP's results: He's never put a weld down and takes a quality, affordable welder and gets great results and it's all smiles. If he woulda bought a $4000 Miller Syncrowave, well then, the pressure is on. Anything other than beautiful dimes is a disappointment.
The fact that we can easily look up info and reviews and make informed decisions makes it even better.
It's absolutely foolish, IMO, to spend huge amounts of extra money on something like a welder when there are high quality, more economical choices out there that can do the job just as well, if not better. A guy who welds up a farm implement or just wants to do some fabricating in his garage has no need for a Miller dynasty JUST BECAUSE the pRoFeSsIoNaLs say so.
Heck looks at the OP's results: He's never put a weld down and takes a quality, affordable welder and gets great results and it's all smiles. If he woulda bought a $4000 Miller Syncrowave, well then, the pressure is on. Anything other than beautiful dimes is a disappointment.
The fact that we can easily look up info and reviews and make informed decisions makes it even better.
It's absolutely foolish, IMO, to spend huge amounts of extra money on something like a welder when there are high quality, more economical choices out there that can do the job just as well, if not better. A guy who welds up a farm implement or just wants to do some fabricating in his garage has no need for a Miller dynasty JUST BECAUSE the pRoFeSsIoNaLs say so.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:15 pm to Clames
That does looks good. 
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:19 pm to Bigbee Hills
quote:
JUST BECAUSE the pRoFeSsIoNaLs say so.
Yeah you say that but when that floor grate you smacked together with your little cheapo sub 2k walmart rig gives way and someone breaks their ankle and sues you causing bankruptcy which makes you so poor your wifes leaves you for Jody you won't think spending 4k on a decent welder is so bad.
eta: THE ABOVE TEXT IS SARCASM.
This post was edited on 3/2/19 at 9:50 pm
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:21 pm to Clames
If that's really the first things you've ever welded, you're going to be a good welder.
I taught a coworker to weld last year on a Lincoln 140 machine using .035 fluxcore. It took about two weeks working with him an hour a day before he could run one that good. Of course, he has one glass eye and only about 75% vision in the other so the learning curve was steep considering his total absence of depth perception.
I tried to get him to learn to stick plate together using our Ranger 225 and 1/8" 6011 first, but he was about to buy one of those little Hobart squirt guns for home use so he just wanted to get the feel of fluxcore.
Congratulations on your new hobby though. You'll now be looking for anything and everything you can find to fix or weld up.
I taught a coworker to weld last year on a Lincoln 140 machine using .035 fluxcore. It took about two weeks working with him an hour a day before he could run one that good. Of course, he has one glass eye and only about 75% vision in the other so the learning curve was steep considering his total absence of depth perception.
I tried to get him to learn to stick plate together using our Ranger 225 and 1/8" 6011 first, but he was about to buy one of those little Hobart squirt guns for home use so he just wanted to get the feel of fluxcore.
Congratulations on your new hobby though. You'll now be looking for anything and everything you can find to fix or weld up.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:30 pm to Chuker
Boy, I ain't never nor will I ever have a weld break. God, clueless, sheeple consumers like you are what companies DREAM of.
And you must of missed the part where I said the orange welder ain't the only one I have? I can fire up the Miller if I want to, but you wouldn't know because you're too busy fapping to your thoughts and dreams of one day welding something together. One day.
Here's the thing, armchair betas like you who sit around and mull over things and "think about it" and never do it are the fools who think that a machine magically spits out x-ray quality welds because of its color.
People like the OP take action and have an authoritative,informed opinion on the matter. You're a cuck. A thinker. Not a do'er. Sit down.
And you must of missed the part where I said the orange welder ain't the only one I have? I can fire up the Miller if I want to, but you wouldn't know because you're too busy fapping to your thoughts and dreams of one day welding something together. One day.
Here's the thing, armchair betas like you who sit around and mull over things and "think about it" and never do it are the fools who think that a machine magically spits out x-ray quality welds because of its color.
People like the OP take action and have an authoritative,informed opinion on the matter. You're a cuck. A thinker. Not a do'er. Sit down.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:30 pm to Chuker
I don't think anyone buying these types of welders is going to be doing anything that requires significant structural surety. I'm certainly not going to build a utility trailer, a tow hitch, etc. That said, I don't think my welds would be any better if I'd spent $5500 on a Dynasty 280. Welding requires experience and I have no doubts that some guy with a 30 year old Lincoln tombstone, and decades of experience, that can weld better than I ever will no matter much I spend on equipment.
Posted on 3/2/19 at 7:50 pm to Clames
Exactly. It's the welder, not the machine.
Which leads to the next point: a quality weld is a quality weld, and you can absolutely weld up to spec with that machine.
Again, a quality weld is a quality weld.
Here's proof: My bro in law has a fab shop and they stay strapped with work. They build everything from heavy equipment manufacturing structures to hardfacing, to skidder hook rebuilds- you name it. He has cutting tables and cutting torches, they can do it all.
He has no less than a dozen and a half welders. Some I have no clue about that won't fit on the flatbed of my 1 ton.
He also has a crew that builds rigid frame metal buildings. One day on the job, their lincoln mig (running it inside the building after construction if the roof and walls) went down.
They went to good ol horrible freight and bought a Vulcan MigMax (which has 4.8 stars out if 110 reviews and HF reviewers are ruthless) with no intent to keep it, but return it when the job was over because HF has awesome return policies.
They never did, and to this day they use it right there with the rest of them. In fact, he's going to buy another one just because.
A welding machine takes the fire from your wall outlet and puts it down on the base metal to pool filler material and weld the metal together. The concept is simple.
I'm not in the pocket of big HF here. I just hate to see the uninformed make statements about something they know nothing about like HF titanium and Vulcan welders are trash, and somebody who was "thinking" about doing it NOT do it because the other "thinker" swayed him. The proof is out there. It's not a matter of opinion, it's fact.
When you get better, you will absolutely want to get a better machine. And a HF machine is no Miller when it comes to the finer points like duty cycle, adjustments for specialty applications, etc.
What color welder it is that's doing that is irrelevant when in the hands of a good welder. That titanium multi process will absolutely produce results that meet spec. The question is, can the man holding the gun do it?
Which leads to the next point: a quality weld is a quality weld, and you can absolutely weld up to spec with that machine.
Again, a quality weld is a quality weld.
Here's proof: My bro in law has a fab shop and they stay strapped with work. They build everything from heavy equipment manufacturing structures to hardfacing, to skidder hook rebuilds- you name it. He has cutting tables and cutting torches, they can do it all.
He has no less than a dozen and a half welders. Some I have no clue about that won't fit on the flatbed of my 1 ton.
He also has a crew that builds rigid frame metal buildings. One day on the job, their lincoln mig (running it inside the building after construction if the roof and walls) went down.
They went to good ol horrible freight and bought a Vulcan MigMax (which has 4.8 stars out if 110 reviews and HF reviewers are ruthless) with no intent to keep it, but return it when the job was over because HF has awesome return policies.
They never did, and to this day they use it right there with the rest of them. In fact, he's going to buy another one just because.
A welding machine takes the fire from your wall outlet and puts it down on the base metal to pool filler material and weld the metal together. The concept is simple.
I'm not in the pocket of big HF here. I just hate to see the uninformed make statements about something they know nothing about like HF titanium and Vulcan welders are trash, and somebody who was "thinking" about doing it NOT do it because the other "thinker" swayed him. The proof is out there. It's not a matter of opinion, it's fact.
When you get better, you will absolutely want to get a better machine. And a HF machine is no Miller when it comes to the finer points like duty cycle, adjustments for specialty applications, etc.
What color welder it is that's doing that is irrelevant when in the hands of a good welder. That titanium multi process will absolutely produce results that meet spec. The question is, can the man holding the gun do it?
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