Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.
stick welders
Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators
stick welders
ok, i read through the bit i searched on welders, it seems that every one leans more toward buying a mig. i cant justify buying a mig because i dont want to pay hire on a gas cylinder that im only going to use occasionally. i dont want to buy expensive gasless wire either(to me thats the same as a stick). i want to use this welder to make a new try, weld up the frame for my go-kart / off road buggy. so preety light duty stuff, but i would also like to be bale to do some heavy plate if the need arrises. so my question is. What size welder do i need, will an arc be good enough and is it worth buying a larger one, or will a smaller one be good enough and hire a large one when i need to?? any info is appreciated
From my experience the main differences are:
MIG:
Easier to use - especially for vertical or overhead welding
A bit more expensive for consumables and gas (but the gas and bottle hire isn't too expensive)
MUCH better for welding thin metal
Stick:
A bit harder to get a nice weld without porosity/slag intrusion - especially when doing vertical or overhead welding
Cheaper
Hopeless at welding thin metal
Better than a mig for really thick plate (but either will be fine if your welder has a high enough capacity)
The bottom line is that is you ever plan to do a reasonable amount of welding on metal thinner than 3mm, I would buy the MIG. I have welded 1.6mm and even 1.2mm with a stick, but it is SO much easier with a mig.
MIG:
Easier to use - especially for vertical or overhead welding
A bit more expensive for consumables and gas (but the gas and bottle hire isn't too expensive)
MUCH better for welding thin metal
Stick:
A bit harder to get a nice weld without porosity/slag intrusion - especially when doing vertical or overhead welding
Cheaper
Hopeless at welding thin metal
Better than a mig for really thick plate (but either will be fine if your welder has a high enough capacity)
The bottom line is that is you ever plan to do a reasonable amount of welding on metal thinner than 3mm, I would buy the MIG. I have welded 1.6mm and even 1.2mm with a stick, but it is SO much easier with a mig.
_____________________________________________________________
RUFF wrote:Beally STFU Your becoming a real PITA.
where do they come from?? adn what sorta money are they, cause i imagine using this thing and then getting bored of welding for a few months. dont really want to have a cylinder sitting there doing nothing thats all.Ice wrote:you can now get small gas bottles that are disposable so you dont need to pay rent
kinda expensive way to buy gas but sounds like what your after
ive currently got a gas/gassless toolex (not a real good brand)140amp mig thats on its last legs. have had it for years but now time to upgrade. use to weld gassless with it all the time but now sick of grinding of the weld splatter and it starts to battle on the thicker stuff like 5-6mm. have been looking at the bigger stuff on trolleys and there are some good ones out there.
im currently looking at the unimig procraft 240 welder. it appears to be at the lower end of the top of the range stuff but well priced at $1240. good for welding up to 10mm plate which will exceed my needs. also add $100 for a big bottle hire per year + $60 to fill it ( even if you weld every day it would still take you a few months to empty) so i recon a bottle will last me atleast a year.
Ive decided to spend a bit more money and get something that will keep up with continious welding without shutting down like the old one.
like the others have said if you go gas/mig you get smooth slag free weld with no splatter and some machines also have spot weld timers etc, but you do pay a bit more. with stick, its afair bit cheaper to set up with but a bit more work to finalise the finished product and not too good on fine detail.
It all boils down to what and how often you use it for and when you do you want to be sure it will do the job for years to come.
GOOD LUCK MATE
im currently looking at the unimig procraft 240 welder. it appears to be at the lower end of the top of the range stuff but well priced at $1240. good for welding up to 10mm plate which will exceed my needs. also add $100 for a big bottle hire per year + $60 to fill it ( even if you weld every day it would still take you a few months to empty) so i recon a bottle will last me atleast a year.
Ive decided to spend a bit more money and get something that will keep up with continious welding without shutting down like the old one.
like the others have said if you go gas/mig you get smooth slag free weld with no splatter and some machines also have spot weld timers etc, but you do pay a bit more. with stick, its afair bit cheaper to set up with but a bit more work to finalise the finished product and not too good on fine detail.
It all boils down to what and how often you use it for and when you do you want to be sure it will do the job for years to come.
GOOD LUCK MATE
Don't bother with the throw away cylinders, you'll get about twenty welds before they run out and at about $25 per go they're a waste of money. If you're doing a lot straight away hire the cylinder. The initial $200 for bottle and gas has been enough to do over three trailers and still going. Buy the big rools of wire as well, I was getting the 1kg ones at $16 then started getting the 5kg ones for $36.
With your question about what welder to buy. Without a doubt I would recommend either a MIG with solid wire or Fluxcored Wire (Gasless). I am a Boilermaker by trade, and unless your very proficient with a stick welder, you will encouter many problems. MIG welders are dearer but a far more versatile for the Backyard Engineering Workshops. In the end your job will be far better and, you won't be as frustrated as much, developing your welding skills.
PS: And you'll save money, buy not having to buy more steel for the light gauge steel job you could easily butcher with a stick welder
PS: And you'll save money, buy not having to buy more steel for the light gauge steel job you could easily butcher with a stick welder
Dicko1980
i bought a 120amp gas/gsaless and rented a bottle of gas and got it filled and i didnt even know how to weld, i can tell you now its the best thing i ever did! easy to use and learn on and great fun to use. go the mig runnin on gas dude, its a pisser and shit loads of fun. so far ive built my rear bar and rock sliders and lent it to some mates to do there stuff and its been great. the only thing is if you do get a mig spend the extra on one with a fan and at least 150amp or it keeps overheatin and yah gota sit and suck on beers while waitin for it to cool down wich deosnt get the job done as quick!
[color=lime][b]Im not a gyno but ill take a look at it for you![/b][/color]
if you get porosity with stick you shoulndn't be welding 
i am a coded welder and what i use is a stick welder that goes upto 140amp and 100% d/cycle,for doing bar work and stuff i use 1.5gp's at 75amp's ,perfect. :Pit's more moveable,cheaper and with a stick you could buy a type that can run Tig aswell,stick is quick and the welds are high tensile,you only need something that can run upto 140max,only thing you won't be able to weld is panel stuf,it's to thin.
i am a coded welder and what i use is a stick welder that goes upto 140amp and 100% d/cycle,for doing bar work and stuff i use 1.5gp's at 75amp's ,perfect. :Pit's more moveable,cheaper and with a stick you could buy a type that can run Tig aswell,stick is quick and the welds are high tensile,you only need something that can run upto 140max,only thing you won't be able to weld is panel stuf,it's to thin.
i have both.
a 180 trans tig (stick / tig)
a 160 amp stick only
a unimig 240.
migs are a pain to move around at 85kg's. they are harder to get penetration with too, until you learn to set them up, as they are too easy to put metal on with. all a stick needs for more penetration is to pull it away a bit. if you can't weld 2mm for a go cart with a stick you need lessons. a mig is easy to burn through with especially if you want penetration, but i just sorta weld let glow die, weld, let glow die on the thin stuff like front wheel arches where it is less than 1mm.
my unimig cost <1400 with 15kg of wire and tips. you can't go wrong. boc charge by the day for cylinder hire and the gas is per volume so if you get the small cylinder and have it for a month it will be less than $100 to build your cart.
that said a good stick is around $300. what you want is to be able to burn 3.2mm rods as the arc is softer, and you don't need to change them as often as 2.5mm
whichever way you go include $250 for a good auto helmet. it is far far more important than your choice of welder, especially not having to clamp to tack. a boc one can be had for $<200 but they suck mine died so i upgraded and couldn't be happier.
cheers bru
a 180 trans tig (stick / tig)
a 160 amp stick only
a unimig 240.
migs are a pain to move around at 85kg's. they are harder to get penetration with too, until you learn to set them up, as they are too easy to put metal on with. all a stick needs for more penetration is to pull it away a bit. if you can't weld 2mm for a go cart with a stick you need lessons. a mig is easy to burn through with especially if you want penetration, but i just sorta weld let glow die, weld, let glow die on the thin stuff like front wheel arches where it is less than 1mm.
my unimig cost <1400 with 15kg of wire and tips. you can't go wrong. boc charge by the day for cylinder hire and the gas is per volume so if you get the small cylinder and have it for a month it will be less than $100 to build your cart.
that said a good stick is around $300. what you want is to be able to burn 3.2mm rods as the arc is softer, and you don't need to change them as often as 2.5mm
whichever way you go include $250 for a good auto helmet. it is far far more important than your choice of welder, especially not having to clamp to tack. a boc one can be had for $<200 but they suck mine died so i upgraded and couldn't be happier.
cheers bru
ADHD Racing would like to thank
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
I was out on-site doing a site inspection on one of the houses our company is building, and there were a number of huge steel beams.
The welder bloke was there preparing to weld some other beams in place and carried a little stick welder over one shoulder.
These beams are really think, as in 10mm and I can't envisage how such a little welder gets enough penetration to safely weld such steel.
If they are something special, why don't we all have little stick welders like that at home instead of cumbersome ones?
It was about the size of a hand bag and used larger than normal rods.
What's the go with this? ( I guess I should have just spoken to him about it) Oops.........
The welder bloke was there preparing to weld some other beams in place and carried a little stick welder over one shoulder.
These beams are really think, as in 10mm and I can't envisage how such a little welder gets enough penetration to safely weld such steel.
If they are something special, why don't we all have little stick welders like that at home instead of cumbersome ones?
It was about the size of a hand bag and used larger than normal rods.
What's the go with this? ( I guess I should have just spoken to him about it) Oops.........
Droughtmaster Offroad Trailers and Campers
Offroad Camper MkI - Build up:
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=106712
Offroad Camper MkI - Build up:
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=106712
Dead set?
So they are this expensive because they are compact?
Ok. They lay a good bead on but!
I'll stick with the good old blue CIG stick welder for now..... it works jsut fine.
Cheers
So they are this expensive because they are compact?
Ok. They lay a good bead on but!
I'll stick with the good old blue CIG stick welder for now..... it works jsut fine.
Cheers
Droughtmaster Offroad Trailers and Campers
Offroad Camper MkI - Build up:
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=106712
Offroad Camper MkI - Build up:
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=106712
its all about the preperation when welding to get the strength
he would have V'd the groove where he was welding to get full penertration
he would have V'd the groove where he was welding to get full penertration
H( * )( * )NZ loves B( * )( * )BIES
if a fat lady falls in the forest do the trees laugh?
[quote="RUFF"]although i didnt mean to, i squealed like a girl :armsup:[/quote]
if a fat lady falls in the forest do the trees laugh?
[quote="RUFF"]although i didnt mean to, i squealed like a girl :armsup:[/quote]
they are a switch mode sort. you can buy a small one for <$1000 and get tig stuff too. about the same as a 140 amp normal stick. weigh 7kgsdieseldude wrote:Dead set?
So they are this expensive because they are compact?
Ok. They lay a good bead on but!
I'll stick with the good old blue CIG stick welder for now..... it works jsut fine.
Cheers
ADHD Racing would like to thank
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
Road Ranger
i.e.
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig)
Hire Rates: Sydney & Wollongong Select region
Hire duration
4 hours 24 hours Weekly Overnight
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig) $11.00 $11.00 $0.00 $11.00
Prices Include:
Please note at Kennards our prices include GST, Government Stamp Duty and Damage Waiver
Hire rates longer than one week
Kennards offers special rates for hire periods as short as two weeks. Contact your local branch here for details of long term rates available on this item.
We will require a deposit which can be made by credit card, cheque or cash. No deposit is required from account customers.
Payment Options
Pay by cash, credit cards, cheque, or EFTPOS.
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig)
Hire Rates: Sydney & Wollongong Select region
Hire duration
4 hours 24 hours Weekly Overnight
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig) $11.00 $11.00 $0.00 $11.00
Prices Include:
Please note at Kennards our prices include GST, Government Stamp Duty and Damage Waiver
Hire rates longer than one week
Kennards offers special rates for hire periods as short as two weeks. Contact your local branch here for details of long term rates available on this item.
We will require a deposit which can be made by credit card, cheque or cash. No deposit is required from account customers.
Payment Options
Pay by cash, credit cards, cheque, or EFTPOS.
If the above post did not offend you in any way please PM me so I can try harder!!
i have a cigweld 160 amp ark welder and has been really good for all of my mods.
I only used to to locate and solid tack every mod i have done, welded some but not all.
they are great on thick plate etc and if u know how they are easy enough to use.
I had all my mods welded up with a MIG after i tacked it all one.
Migs are a peice of piss to use and they are far quicker.
as said above its very very hard to weld panel with a stick welder, i did it on a mates guard chop but its really difficult, especially seeing as i only had 2.5mm rods
with a mig its far easier and quicker.
For ur uses i think a stick welder will be more than good enough.
just make sure u have good fitment.
stick welders are hopeless at filling large gaps unless u have lots of patience
screwy
I only used to to locate and solid tack every mod i have done, welded some but not all.
they are great on thick plate etc and if u know how they are easy enough to use.
I had all my mods welded up with a MIG after i tacked it all one.
Migs are a peice of piss to use and they are far quicker.
as said above its very very hard to weld panel with a stick welder, i did it on a mates guard chop but its really difficult, especially seeing as i only had 2.5mm rods
with a mig its far easier and quicker.
For ur uses i think a stick welder will be more than good enough.
just make sure u have good fitment.
stick welders are hopeless at filling large gaps unless u have lots of patience
screwy
TUFF TRUCK TEAM OPPOSITE LOCK Proudly Sponsored By:
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
im leaning towards a mig in the range of about 160 -175 amps. i went to trade tools on the weekend and the price was about $800 off the shelf. ill check BOC this week sometime but i want to make sure i get one that has good control over the welding current. ive used welders with the 3 switch's for control and found them to be preety piss poor.......any more comments?????
i havent seen a mig that feeds 8mm wire we use .9 and 1.2mmTiny wrote:i.e.
Hire Rates: Sydney & Wollongong Select region
Hire duration
4 hours 24 hours Weekly Overnight
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig) $11.00 $11.00 $0.00 $11.00
Prices Include:
Please note at Kennards our prices include GST, Government Stamp Duty and Damage Waiver
Hire rates longer than one week
Kennards offers special rates for hire periods as short as two weeks. Contact your local branch here for details of long term rates available on this item.
We will require a deposit which can be made by credit card, cheque or cash. No deposit is required from account customers.
Payment Options
Pay by cash, credit cards, cheque, or EFTPOS.
LETS GO BRONCOS
.8 and .9 can use the same gear, tips etc. i run .8 mild and .9s/s on mine.
boc are rip offs. we have an account there and its still dear as. trade tools is the go. better service too.
boc are rip offs. we have an account there and its still dear as. trade tools is the go. better service too.
ADHD Racing would like to thank
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
he has obviously miss typed that, no need to be a smart ass.frp88 wrote:i havent seen a mig that feeds 8mm wire we use .9 and 1.2mmTiny wrote:i.e.
Hire Rates: Sydney & Wollongong Select region
Hire duration
4 hours 24 hours Weekly Overnight
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig) $11.00 $11.00 $0.00 $11.00
Prices Include:
Please note at Kennards our prices include GST, Government Stamp Duty and Damage Waiver
Hire rates longer than one week
Kennards offers special rates for hire periods as short as two weeks. Contact your local branch here for details of long term rates available on this item.
We will require a deposit which can be made by credit card, cheque or cash. No deposit is required from account customers.
Payment Options
Pay by cash, credit cards, cheque, or EFTPOS.
TUFF TRUCK TEAM OPPOSITE LOCK Proudly Sponsored By:
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
God of Magnificant Ideas!
0.8mm wire is far less common these days but still availiable if one knows where to get it fromfrp88 wrote:I havent seen a mig that feeds 8mm wire we use .9 and 1.2mm
0.9 & 1.2 mm wire is the most common availiable sizes with 0.6 comming in 3rd place.
I run all 3 of the differant types if welders arc, mig and tig and all 3 have their advantages and disadvantages over each other.
My arc is a "Peerless" and is now around 30 years old and has never given a days trouble in its life and I still use it on a regular basis (IE: @ least once a week ) It is ideal for galvinised material, rusty old material and outdoor use.
As for "difficulty" of use in some welds such as overhead and verticle I dont have a problem but thats what I'm ticketed for & after 20 odd years of welding I should be proficient at it to !
My Mig is a "Unimig" and has given me a few problems, burnt out diodes, phucked fan, and burnt relay switch ( several times so far ), but it does a power of work under less than perfect working conditions such as dusty, damp, and constantly showerd in grinding sparks etc.
The unit is now around 15 years old and I chew through a bottle of gas in around 3 weeks, I dont run the std wire size either (.9 or 1.2mm) but choose to run the 0.6 size simply because its far more versitle for my needs.
My little unit which I sold ealier this year was the cream of them all but I used it very little so it was a waste having it here. For the dollars its the most expensive to buy but one of the cheapest to run in comparision.
For the use you have described then an ARC welder will be a perfect starting choice and your skills wil be far greater should you decide to move up to a Mig / tig later on..... any fool can stick 2 bits of steel together with a mig even my 12 yearold can do some good welds with a mig and he's just starting to learn arc welding. The skills he is developing now with the arc will make his mig welds even better later on.
Kingy
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
[color=blue][size=150][b]And your cry-baby, whinyassed opinion would be.....? [/b][/size][/color]
Road Ranger
Thanks Jeff, Actually I just bogged it form the kennards site so frp88 find something better to do with ya time will yaScrewy_ScrewBall wrote:he has obviously miss typed that, no need to be a smart ass.frp88 wrote:i havent seen a mig that feeds 8mm wire we use .9 and 1.2mmTiny wrote:i.e.
Hire Rates: Sydney & Wollongong Select region
Hire duration
4 hours 24 hours Weekly Overnight
Welder - Wire 8.0mm (Mig) $11.00 $11.00 $0.00 $11.00
Prices Include:
Please note at Kennards our prices include GST, Government Stamp Duty and Damage Waiver
Hire rates longer than one week
Kennards offers special rates for hire periods as short as two weeks. Contact your local branch here for details of long term rates available on this item.
We will require a deposit which can be made by credit card, cheque or cash. No deposit is required from account customers.
Payment Options
Pay by cash, credit cards, cheque, or EFTPOS.
If the above post did not offend you in any way please PM me so I can try harder!!
Repco has a gasless mig for sale for like $299.00 from memory which is pretty good with 12months warrantee.cleanskin wrote:Super Cheap have a gasless mig for sale i THINK around the $450 mark... might be just what you are after?
but i would choose a stick welder over a gasless mig.
screwy
TUFF TRUCK TEAM OPPOSITE LOCK Proudly Sponsored By:
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
Opposite Lock Narellan, Lightforce Australia, Offroad Systems, Judd Panels, Townsend Signs, RDG Engineering, Central Safety Workwear
Screwy_ScrewBall wrote:Repco has a gasless mig for sale for like $299.00 from memory which is pretty good with 12months warrantee.cleanskin wrote:Super Cheap have a gasless mig for sale i THINK around the $450 mark... might be just what you are after?
but i would choose a stick welder over a gasless mig.
screwy
i know that this thread is all about this but why would you choose that. isnt a mig much easier.
zook
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests