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I am interested in learning to weld. Is this a good welder to start out on. A friend of my hubbys gave this to him and i would really love to use it. I am interested in small welding like seat runners and small holes.
Lincoln Electric AC225 Stick Welder - LEWK1170
I learned to weld with a unit similar to that one about 40 years ago. It is not the easiest welder to learn with. A mig welder is much more easy to learn on.
It is probably the most popular welder sold throughout the world, and is still in use in many places like farms and shops. Arc welding has been pretty much replaced by Mig and Tig, but it is an excellent way to join two pieces of steel together. My entire '27 frame and suspension is arc welded, and in the hands of someone who knows how to weld (not me :o ) can produce nice looking, strong welds.
They aren't good for light stuff too much, and tend to burn through, so even a 110 volt mig might be a better choice for you. Chances are you won't be building any frames for a while, so for your applications a small mig would be a good start. You might want to add a bottle of gas to the mig because you will get less splatter than using flux core.
Don
I just noticed you said you already got one from a friend. Then go ahead and practice with it. Bonehead does lots of welding, so he knows what he is talking about, they are more difficult to use than mig, but if you pick up some of those powdered rods (I call them "contact" rods but they have a proper name that I forget) they make it easier because they won't stick like regular rods tend to.
only reason that i chose this one is because it is free. can anyone tell me where i can get a good starting book to learn by?
Call your local votech. They usually offer welding classes pretty cheap.
Don
would love too but cant travel. have to learn by book and asking alot of questons so welding guys on this site get ready:D
Hi Jyardgirl I like your saying I have lived by that for over fifty years . Your welder is fine for frames and fairly thick metal but a gas mig is what you really need for lite work. I have aflux core wire welder but I understand that under the right circumstances these can cause rust that can come through your paint. I find wire welders are eaiser to learn to use. I hope this helps. Francis
thanks francis it does. my saying is something i live by also. in the 50's i guess i would have been called a militant:D
I think its best to have someone (the machine donor?) spend a couple hours side by side with you. Then you can observe symtoms and causes rather than trying to learn them on your own. It has a lot to do with sound also, which a book will not provide you.Quote:
can anyone tell me where i can get a good starting book to learn by?
If you use the stick welder, I would start with 1/8 6010 or 6011 rods.
Lots of beginners start with a lens that is too dark.
I like a 9 with sunglasses, but its too bright for some, and no darker than 10 should be adequate. You HAVE to be able to distinguish the metal puddle (real shiny) from the flux (you can actually see the puddle forming under the flux).
How about a free video to get you started???? When the page comes up, click on the one on the right side of the page about controlling arc welding and a video will come up.
How to Use an Arc Weld | ExpertVillage Videos
Don
SBC's statement about sound is spot-on. The other two important things are being able to see the puddle clearly (if your vision isn't perfect, consider getting some glasses that will focus at exactly the distance from your eyes to the puddle) and a good strong light on the piece you're welding.Quote:
Originally Posted by SBC
I also agree that you don't necessarily need formal instruction. Just have one of the guys who's good at it spend a couple hours with you and you will be way ahead of the game.
Once you get good at stick welding, MIG will be a slam-dunk.
If you get a chance to, try some gas welding too. It will help to prepare you for TIG.
thank you so much guys. this sounds like alot of fun. i am so anxious to start now. hubby is bringing the welder and some scrap metal to learn on home today. I will be sure to watch the video tonight. always love new tools to play with.
I agree with the guys above except, for a beginner, you will have much better luck with 6013 or 7014 rod. 6011 is a deep penetrating rod, but produces more spatter and is harder to control the puddle when learning. 6010 is for DC welding and is not compatible with this machine (AC).
Have fun. Welding is one of the most useful skills I ever learned.:D
Years ago I was welding pipe, and I was bragging to my welders helper that I could weld two tin cans together with my stick welder. Though I had never tried it. The next day he shows up with two tin cans. I welded them together with a very pretty bead. So it can be done. The guys are correct about rod, 1/8 inch 6013, what we used to call "farmer rod", or 6011 is a good place to start. Stick takes a more steady hand, and more eye hand coordination. Good vision is must, so you can see what is going on. Mig welders were only used in factories before the mid 70s, so almost everything before that was arc welded. Arc welding is still used in pipline, and structural work today, so there is nothing wrong with it. it wll tke much more practice to master than mig welding, but it is a wonderful skill. As you learn I will b glad to help with questions.
Ahhhhhhhhhh man,the good ole Lincoln buzz box, Got mine when I was 15 years old with my lawn mowing money,still have it and I'm sure it still works although I haven't fired her up in at least 10 years. That old welder put lotsa roll cages and trailers together for me.
JYGirl, I bought that very machine 25 years ago and have used it in my shop since. We've done A LOT of work with it and it justs works and works and works! The guys are right about the rod, I've just completed assembling my exhaust pipes and welded them together with a 3/32" rod 6013 Turned down as low as it can. Simple butt weld and chip off the flux, a little grinding and painting, it looks great.
It does take practice so don't give up! Yes, you're gonna make some scrap metal! But with some practice I'm sure you can master the basics!
Lastly, learn the required safety practices! You only get one set of eyes! Welding is many, many times brighter than the sun, it can hurt you and faster than you can imagine, so work safe!
if you are going to do thin sheet metal your better with a small MIG then a stick welder but the stick is good for heavy steel very handy for farm use .i had one i did all my frame work with back in the late 70s and early 80 then did all the body metal with a gas torch set up so with the MIG you can do both sheet steel and frame work.still use stick for very thick steel 1 inch and up and iron welding
I never thought about exhaust and making a trailer. what great ideas. got a set of original glasspacks for xmas. now i can learn how to put them on. after about a month of learning this thing. you guys have made my night.:D
Here is a tip for ya:
When tackling something which is too thin to weld with your setup :
Take a 1/8" acetylene rod and put it between the ground clamp and the work. It will get HOT so make sure you accomodate that.
The acy. rod will soak up some of the voltage, and allow you to weld thinner stuff.
ALSO.. a nice quality auto dark helmet will make life MUCH easier. You can set the darkness of the filter, the off delay, and sensitivity to your needs. If you can't afford that, then put a high wattage worklamp next to the work. Then you can see the work without flipping the helmet.
IMO learning how to weld with a stick welder and with and oxygen/acetylene torch will be the background for a future of welding and fabricating skills. Get some scrap steel and practice, heck, be a "sculptor" and weld up a bunch of left over junk, put it in the lawn and call in art!!!!! Once you learn to control the heat and penetration with a stick, and can run a pretty bead moving up to a MIG some day will be a cake walk... Now if you could just find a pair of bottles and a torch set for the same price!!!!! Same thing here, if you can make a good, solid weld with a torch, moving up to a TIG some day will be much easier as you will already have a grasp of the torch and heat control!!!!~!
honestly my opinion is a mig either a lincoln 175 or a millermatic 185 both great machines.
Dave funny that you said that. Hubby came home with the lincoln arc and a couple of bottles with gauges and cutting torch. all for me to play with this weekend. wants me to cut up a old pop up camper. he has a guy coming by to show me how to use everything. hopefully the weather will co-operate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vytamenc
Barb is not buying a welder, just wants to put to use a stick she was given and learn the basics of welding and fabrication..... My own personal experience has taught me it doesn't take a MIG to become a competent welder!!!!!!!
Thanks EG I will remember all that you have told me.
Well, there ya go!!!!! Now just practice, practice, practice....Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
BTW, I'm gonna be building a new chassis table in the fall, you might as well plan on buying my old one...... Should be ready to start on your first ground up project by then!!!!!!!!!;) ;)
Barb....if you have a library nearby, it will likely have a few books related to beginning welding. I'm just beginning also, and have found the library stuff pretty helpful. But it's tough doing the welding while holding a book in one hand. HA!
Thanks Dave I might take you up on that. Neighbor has a bronco she is trying to give away and i am looking hard at that. Thanks roof I will look into books at the library.
Hi, with practice,you'll find you can weld almost any thickness or position with that cheap little buzz box. Most of what you need to learn can't really be taught,it comes with practice. You'll get very frustrated when you first try it, most people get the rod stuck trying to use the proper amperage. One thing I found when I started was to use shorter (half used) rods. You can also turn up the heat a little to get you started,but you will get burn through so be prepared. Have fun with it. Hank
thanks hank. have never welded before but did plenty of sautering on plumbing. really enjoyed it. I will remember about the half rods.
soldering, my dear, you did soldering.
Sorry for the spelling guys. brain fart:LOL:
i know. anyway lincoln electric has some great information on how to use the arc welder i got. answered alot of questions that popped into my head. They seem to be a great company. even let me download the manual for it.
I've used a Lincoln 220 MIG for years. When I buy another welder, it'll be a Lincoln too.Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
Don Great site. I was trying to fing MIG welding info, went here and they have great little info videos on Mig as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
How to MIG Weld | ExpertVillage Videos
I bet by now Jyard girl is an expert welder!:D