jeepscottr1

Harbor frieght welder with Lincoln wire

Lyferxb9s

Exactly!!!!!^^^^^^^^^

hankthetank

stick was easier for me to learn on...just sayin. i've never had to use a cheapie machine for either though...maybe that has something to do with it. i've always thought stick was way more straight forward. use the right rod for the job, thats all. i've also had excellent journeymen to learn from too...i also browse a lot of welding and fabrication forums too, its surprising what you can learn off of some of those sites!

Sno_Blynd

the first time i ever welded was with stick. learned all the basics what rod for what metal, what heat for the thickness, etc. caught on pretty quick and passed my welding class (they put me in the advanced class because it was the only one open, idk why i had never welded before) after the class i was told at work to weld up some exhaust with our mig and it was all popcorn welds and didnt hold 3 days. i was never taught how to use the mig and im looking to get a stick welder.

Hughes91

Yea it looks like I won't be able to go with a 220 machine because I just don't have a way to power it. Generator would have to be huge and we just don't have any open spots on our breaker to add a 220 outlet. And the money to do a whole new breaker and get it wired is just too much. Looks like I'll be trying to find a different welder. Anyone ever try the Hobart MVP I thnk it is? The mig that uses 115 and 230. Seems like that would be pretty good. About 400$ more expensive tho which sucks.

Hayden98XJ

In the welding class im taking were using stick welding machines. It's really not that hard to learn. I picked it up after about a month of practice. If you get one just remember electrode angle, amps , arc length, and having the right electrode. Now i've never used a mig but I don't think I want to trust myself with gas mixtures and a tank of acetalyne that could take out my whole house if improperly treated. (Not saying I won't ever use one though) Stick just seems like less of a risk to start out on to me.

cdhebert

Mig uses Argon gas - The complete opposite of acetelyne. You couldn't start a fire with Argon if you tried. It's inert.
I'm a big proponent of learning to stick weld first. You will get a better feel for what you are doing. With that being said - Mig is not harder. There are a few more variables to take into consideration, but once you try it - You'll sell your stick welder...

fallenknight308

Op I had the same problem you do concerning power supply.
But my Hobart handler 140 has turned out fine for most jobs.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/hobart-...welder-3812040

Hayden98XJ

Thanks for correcting me. I'm still learning.

Bruce in Montana

I'll throw in my 2 cents...

I went through a welding school many years ago.
For the first several weeks, they started you out on oxy/acel welding. It really teaches you the basics of what the heck you are trying to do in fusing metal together.
After that you graduate up to using stick, 60-series first, on mild steel. You start with flat then vertical, then horizontal, then overhead. Normally, you would weld a v-groove butt weld. The instructor cuts your weld crossways into about a 2 inch sectiona and bends it with a hydraulic press....if the weld separates or opens up ..... you fail.

Only after this would you be allowed to screw around with a wire feed welder.

My point, and I think I have one, is that many people buy these cheap wire feeds and don't even know what they are trying to accomplish.

Hint....if a person judges a good weld by "how pretty the bead is" or by "it looks like good penetration", please don't listen to their opinion.

Just sayin....