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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: Arc Welding
Ok Now I've got mesel' this deep in I want to know bout welding. I think i know what a ARC welder is but not how it works an why there's so many types. Can anyone help? I want to buy a secondhand welder but have no idea what type or what I should look for . I'm not going to be doing large scale constructiion just repairs and bits o fixing up maybe some small building jobs as well.
I would go for an arc welder the bigger the better,
I think a good mig welder is much easier to use but can get quite expensive,frankie boy likes to weld he will give you much better info than me.my welding skills are very limited
Fundamentally ARC is a transfomer in a box with an electrode (rod) holder attatched to it. You replace the rods after they have worn down, MIG is gas and a wire fed from a reel through a trigger torch attatched to a transformer in a box.
Dont want to push people away from the site here, but heres a great welding forum
Dont get a SIP the feeds knacker up on them. Rather a Clarke, much better for the hobby welder.
Get a steel liner, helps loads.
Arc is generally for thicker stuff, 2 mm and over. Mig is suitable for car body stuff and if it has the balls, thicker stuff too.
Arc is easier to run, just need the rods, whereas with MIG you need to rent a bottle (dont bother with the disposables or eve gasless wire. all crap) , wire, tips liners etc etc.
I have mig and arc (both SIPs ) The arc is ok and the MIG is new with a steel liner in it, so no probs yet, but they do fail on the feeder.
Like everything you pay for what you get and if you short change yourself by thinking "i will only use it once in a while" well thats no good at all!
Get the best you can to make the welding experience more enjoyable. And it really is. Welding is great fun. Get a good full face helmet and gloves too. Parweld auto darkening masks are good. Dont get ebay cheapies for safetys sake.
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) The arc is ok and the MIG is new with a steel liner in it, so no probs yet, but they do fail on the feeder.