Recent content by axeman79

Consider a multi process welder. I have a Miller Multimatic 215 that does stick and MIG. With the right add-ons I can do TIG and aluminum spool gun. the unit is 38 pounds and I can run it off 110/15A, 110/20A, and 220/40A.

What a great idea! thank you for posting this.

The story of my life! there is never enough room. I used the rule of 3. Whatever I think I need, I make it 3 time larger. Think about high ceilings as well...for the car/truck lift!

MIG welding can be difficult to set up. It sounds like you are doing Flux Core. Clean the metal surface well and make sure you are using the correct power setting for the wire you are using. Don't try to weld Flux Core with a solid wire...that won't work well.

I have a Miller Multimatic 215. It is a great machine and I like the idea of having multiple processes in a mobile unit.

I have welding cast steel on a backhoe. I clean up the metal and make a first pass with 6011 (my welder won't run 6010). then I run 7018, if available, or 7014 as a final for strength and appearance. One thing to note is that you should grind a path for the weld rather than welding directly to a...

I'd say many find it easier to weld with a MIG but the setup can be a challenge. Stick is pretty straight forward with regards to setup but handling the stick can be difficult for beginners. Just the opposite is true for MIG, setup is more difficult but welding is easier.

You will need a respirator. Welding galvanized steel will produce zinc oxide gas and it is very dangerous.

I believe a DC welder would be preferred for general home/farm use. AC is good for conditions where there is a lot of electrical static that can interfere with the arc, e.g., unfounded equipment. I have heard that AC welders will not run as smooth a weld under regular conditions.

What was the polarity on the stick? Electrode negative would have burned the rod faster with less penetration. MIG is electrode positive (reverse polarity) which would give better penetration.

Miller Multimatic 215. I love everything about it. I can run it on 110 @ 15 or 20 Amps and on 220 @ 40 Amps. It is small and portable and is great for stick or Mig. the only minor issue is that it won't run a 6010 rod...but will run a 6011 just fine. I use if for general farm equipment...

As a previous beginner, I found that starting with a relatively cheap stick welder that did DC welding was convenient. I purchased a used Lincoln AC/CD Tombstone and just started buying thin rods in 6010, 6013, and 7018. My first welding was on an old plow share for a couple of months to get the...