Who does there own welding?

Clean County PW

Clean County PW

Active member
The company I used for this has gone out of business. They were only 15 minutes from my house. Bummer.

Now because I am always fixing and modifying my setups I'm starting to think maybe I should learn how to Weld.

So who here welds and how did you learn how how to do that?
 
There is nothing quite like the sound of burning metal.

I prefer Millermatic mig. Everything that you would do could be handled by a 135. They also make a 175 or 185 if you want to buy big in case you start welding 3/8" stuff. The 135 should be 110v and it may be possible to do on site repairs with it.

My son is a pretty good welder, me, I open the welder lid and inside is a cheat sheet to tell you what to set your wire speed and heat to.

Find a dealer you like nearby, Lincoln or preferably Miller, you're in for around a grand for a small unit with cart and bottle.

Get the auto darkening helmet, you'll thank me later. Pick up a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Results are more predictable with clean metal.

NEVER weld galvanized. never.
 
I needed a welder for a job, so I bought one. I have actually refined it enough that I can run a decent bead. It really helps to use clean metal. I have a small Home Depot Lincoln, and just use flux core wire. With gas you do get cleaner welds, but you sure can learn a lot with just the flux core.
 
I do a little if I really need to.

I have a old Lincoln stick welder.

I should invest in a mig, maybe I would like it better.
 
I took welding long time ago at an Adult Education class. Before the class was over I knew it was not my calling. Started my shirt on fire, scarred myself, etc.. Like p/w and other things I leave it to the pro's
 
John, if you have a 220 hookup wherever you are working on your rigs, spend a little more and get a 175-180 amp mig with the gas. I had a 110v Lincoln for years and it did the job then found a deal on a 175a 220v and it is a lot better IMO. Hobart makes a good 110v gas mig (140amp I think) and their 180 amp is 220v. Either one would do what you need. Like was said above, if your not gonna be welding thick 3/8ths or more then 110v will do the job but a 220v won't cost that much more and IMO will be a little easier to learn with. Flux core welders can be handy but are also messy and if you paint whatever you welded, it takes a lot more cleanup after than with a gas welder. I taught myself how to weld and I am no expert but actually have people bring stuff to me to weld a lot now. My father in law and I build our own dirt stock cars and even though he I a certified welder, he says I can do a better job than him lol
 
We weld all our own stuff too. I have had a stick welder as long as i can remember. I have a big Lincoln Mig w/ argon that holds 50# of wire also it has a spool gun with 20' leads for doing alum or steel. Oxy/Ace cutting torch, acetylene B brasing set. We love playing with molten metal. My son is a welding machine. If you can imaging it out of metal he can build it. I really want a Plasma cutter and a tig. Basically we are tool junkies. We can weld steel and alum, I want the tig so we can do stainless.
 
Before getting into the roof and exterior cleaning business I welded these blast-proof humvee cabs, that was all mig welding.. But I also learned to stick weld back in school.. Either is a good one to know as they cover some of the same materials.. You can find pretty good deals on craigslist and get cheap angle iron from home depot and youtube learning to weld and you will be throwing down welds in no time.. Actually the other day I was at home depot and they have a section of returned items that they sell for less and they had a nice Lincoln mig with gas in there for 330!
 
Man I would love to learn how to Weld. I have stuff breaking all the time and now that I lost the welder I dealt with it might be time to learn this.

I almost bought an open trailer last week that was a good deal but it needed some welding done amongst other things. If I knew how to weld I would have bought it. I got lucky and found another trailer that needs nothing that I'm picking up this Saturday but if I could Weld I would like to add some things to it possibly.

Thanks for the info guys.
 
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