Tim,
I agree with George in that you should go with a MIG and not a flux core
machine. I also think one of the most important things to look at is the
duty cycle. Welding is an intermittent process. While the machine may be
turned on, you are not actually welding the whole time it is on. The duty
cycle refers to the percentage of time you can be welding. For example, a
machine with a 20% duty cycle in 15 minutes will overheat if you weld for
more than 3 minutes in a 15 minute period.
Some other features I would look for are a burn back control, and a cart
with wheels. It gets tedious moving the welder and the argon cylinder
around by hand. Another factor is the voltage the unit needs. Some can run
on 110v but the duty cycle is typically much lower. A 220v machine will
have a higher duty cycle but may require you to install a 220v outlet,
assuming you have room in your circuit breaker panel for a 220v breaker.
Finally, I don't agree with George that parts are difficult to get with the
Sears unit. Of all the 'homeowner' type places, Sears is one of the best
for parts availability. However, a Sears unit will not be up to the task of
heavy use. If you're just doing some weekend welding, I see nothing wrong
with getting one of the better Sears units. Other brands are Lincoln,
Century and as George mentioned, Hobart. Hobart makes really durable units
but you'll pay for the durability.
You might want to pick up a welding book to help you make an informed
purchase.
Stephen I. Early
Technology Sector
MBNA America
800.441.7048 x74788
stephen.early@mbna.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Triplett [mailto:ford_edge01@juno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 9:03 PM
To: bricklin@autox.team.net
Subject: Welding
This is just a general inqury into what I should look for in a welder.
There are alot of options out there and need a little help making sense of
it all. I know the terms, know the difference in MIG vs Flux core, as far
as how they work but I am just looking for a good quality machine that will
work well for body work. Should I look at a MIG or a Flux core , which
would work the best. How many Amps should I need, and how thick should I
look for, is 1/8" too small. I figure if I'm spending the money, maybe I
should look at something that can go up to maybe 1/4" incase I need it
later. I want the least expensive option that can compromise with my needs.
I am a beginner so I am looking at the entry level models, mostly the
Lincoln Electric brands but Sears does have a Craftsman model for 199.99
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&p
id=00920568000&tab=spe#tablink I'm looking at spending no more than $300 or
so.
Thanks in advance,
Tim
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