Low cost welding rig

[ProfWinkie]

Need to weld some steel pipe (i have some training from my dad).

Any idaes on a low cost welding rig?

Thanks

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

If it's just this project, then try to see if you can borrow a rig.  Lots of "car guys" will have a small mig rig for body work.

You could also buy a good quality set off of craigslist.  Be careful, negotiate well, and you should be able to sell it for what you bought it for.  Even on CL a good rig can be expensive though.  If you have the cash to float the purchase this is a great option.

[ProfWinkie]

Thanks, always seems I have a project to do and they would get done quicker I could just weld it.

Been looking in Penny Saver and Valley Trader. Hope to find a good used on soon.

Any thoughts on good brands and ones to stay away from?

[kendallf]

I assume you're thinking about a MIG welder?  They're inexpensive, easy to use with fairly minimal training, and can weld steel pipe (although that will depend on the size and intended use). 

Harbor Freight actually has some decent small MIG units for a very infrequent user (i.e., you are unlikely to need service parts or torch consumables often).  If you intend to use it regularly, I recommend finding a used Miller or Lincoln, the two big names in US welding, so that consumables, service, and parts will be easier to find.

If you really want to be low buck and learn a skill, buy a gas welding setup.  You can weld nearly anything (steel, stainless, aluminum, etc.) and when you're skilled, the welds are of excellent quality.  You can also braze with it, cut metal, and generally burn things up.  :-)   I have a rather expensive Henrob torch but probably would buy an inexpensive small torch set from Smith or Victor if I were buying again. 

[Exflyboy]

+1 for a gas welding setup.

Oxy-acetlylene is so versatile.. I.e can do almost any weld of almost any thickness and is much more versatile than just about any specific welder... Brazing.. loosening rusted bolts etc.

Its not as fast as a mig but once your good the welds are great.

Frank

[Thegoblinchief]

If you have a lot of time on your hands and a questionable concept of personal safety, you can build your own stick welder with salvaged microwave ovens for almost nothing.

[ProfWinkie]

Thanks but not sure I am up to building a rig from a microwave

[Roland of Gilead]

I went from zero to hero with a Miller 211 230V/115V Mig welder using 75/25 gas mix.

It is expensive (you said low cost) but you get what you pay for.  Perhaps you can find one used.  The ability to run on 115V in a pinch or have the power available from a 230V circuit is very nice.

I welded up the frame on our camper with it, after some considerable practice.

[Thegoblinchief]

Thanks but not sure I am up to building a rig from a microwave

The various Instructables and videos of them in action are well worth the watch, though :) There was one pretty fancy one that the guy had to scavenge something like 25-30 microwaves to build.

I am personally looking at flux core eventually. Lincolns (brand new) run $300-$400 in my area.

Sometimes the biggest limitation is where you have at least a 20 amp output.

[avongil]

Tools are something I like to pay for big once and feel the pain once.  If you end up getting a Chinese welder, you will feel the pain every time you use it.  Skip harbor freight.  Lincoln is ok, but Miller is way nicer. 

[ProfWinkie]

Thanks to all

[dragoncar]

Calling all welders!  I'm going to be needing some living room furniture soon, and apparently I have expensive taste.  But my expensive taste falls into "expensive because it's so simple" so I think I can DIM with proper guidance.  Looking for opinions.  Here's a table I like that is $500, but looks super simple (I might use a different top):



So my question is, is it feasible and economical to build this myself?  They use 1/2 inch stainless steeel square bar, which just can't be that expensive but maybe I'm missing something.  What kind of welding rig would I need to make this?  It's not just a single $500 piece, I'd probably make a bunch of similar stuff if I learned how.

edited:  Looks like I'd need 30 feet of steel bar, which would be $100-200 based on online quotes, but obviously this will depend on specific type of steel and maybe cheaper locally sourced.

[kendallf]

If you really want it to be stainless, you'd have to TIG weld it (TIG setups are expensive and take some training to use).  If you're content with mild steel, you can MIG weld it, grind the welds, powdercoat.. it'll look nice even if you suck at welding.

[dragoncar]

If you really want it to be stainless, you'd have to TIG weld it (TIG setups are expensive and take some training to use).  If you're content with mild steel, you can MIG weld it, grind the welds, powdercoat.. it'll look nice even if you suck at welding.

Nah, if I wanted powdercoat, I could get a $70 table from walmart

[Roland of Gilead]

I have a TIG and it is a lot harder to use than my MIG.   You would think from years of soldering (I can solder a 144pin TSSOP package in under two minutes without even using the drag method) it would be easy.

It has 3 main steps:

1) Grind tungsten to a pencil point

2) Accidentally dip tungsten into weld pool

3) Take apart torch and go to step 1)

[Russ]

some thoughts:

30 ft. of stainless is probably going to be more than $200, and you will probably want to buy it ground/polished to save time and eliminate any weird tolerancing issues.

aluminum will be possibly cheaper, similar look, but more easily scratched. looks good sandblasted.

welding it would be a super bitch if you have no experience

I would have a machine shop pop in a few .2490 holes for .2510 dowels (or find a place to do it yourself) and pin it together instead, that's like an afternoon job or less

[dragoncar]

some thoughts:

30 ft. of stainless is probably going to be more than $200, and you will probably want to buy it ground/polished to save time and eliminate any weird tolerancing issues.

aluminum will be possibly cheaper, similar look, but more easily scratched. looks good sandblasted.

welding it would be a super bitch if you have no experience

I would have a machine shop pop in a few .2490 holes for .2510 dowels (or find a place to do it yourself) and pin it together instead, that's like an afternoon job or less

So it sounds like I should just buy it premade or go w/ aluminum (assuming I want this look).  I'd like to learn either way, and will probably get some rig eventually for more artsy projects, but if the savings are low due to high material cost (because they have high economy of scale?) then I won't blunder around with SS.  I probably wouldn't mind aluminum or scratching.

[Roland of Gilead]

For a high tech look you could use 8020 aluminum extrusion which is anodized and doesn't scratch easy.  It is like an erector set for adults.

I built an entertainment center out of it that has shelves for game consoles, audio equipment, etc.  I inserted the shelves into the grooves in the extrusion for a very clean look.  Can take a pic if you are interested.

[Primm]

Also it's really easy for welds to look super shonky unless you have heaps of skill and/or practice.

[dragoncar]

Also it's really easy for welds to look super shonky unless you have heaps of skill and/or practice.

Ok, so is the consensus basically don't bother?  Or just practice lots first?  Like 2000 hours?

[Primm]

Depends on your inherent skill level. I've been welding since I was 12, at home on the farm at first and now on my cars. I'm not sure how many hours I've racked up, but I suck at making a nice looking join. They're strong enough and do the job, I just can't make them look pretty. So I stick with places that can't be seen.

My stepson on the other hand is now an apprentice boilermaker, and before he started his apprenticeship he asked me to show him how to use the oxy welder. He'd never even held one. By the end of that day he was making prettier stronger welds than me.

If you're purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of metal to make a table, I'd make sure you know which camp you fall into before you start attacking it with anything hot. :)