Welding?????????

[drooker56]

Would this be enough of a welder to weld a frame? I need cheap but preffer safety. What do you guys recomend as a base model welder for a bargain?

[CatatonicBug]

Did you mean to give an example? Lots of possibilities, but it helps to know your price range, and what type of welding you're looking at doing (mig, tig, etc.).

[drooker56]

OOPS!!! Forgot the link. Must not have had enough coffee this morning, here it is...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...292&pricetype=

[DiverRay]

You didn't have a link on the post. As I have just finished a beginning welding class, I may be able to help.
The only "cheap" (under $300) that WILL work would be an arc welder, also known as a stick welder. They need a 220 dryer type plug, but you can weld from about 1/16" up to 3/8" reliably. This is assuming you have some PRACTICE with it BEFORE you go for the frame. You also need to use the proper welding rod for the type of steel.
You can also use an Oxy-Accetalyne torch to weld it. It would be a little easier to learn, but creates more heat around the weld, and would cost about $250 to $350 plus tanks. Make sure you use the proper rod for this as well. SOME of the rod will result in a "brittle" weld that will crack easily under load and vibration, not a good thing for a frame.
Hope this helps.....

[DiverRay]

For that one, check on the type of GUN it uses!!! I have a "cheap" wire feed, and CANNOT GET TIPS FOR THE GUN LOCALLY! There is one type gun used by Miller and Lincoln, and that is what you want. Otherwise it may cost you more than the welder to get the replacement parts. You also need to be sure the wire feed is SMOOTH! My welder will "jerk" the wire now and then, and it makes it hard to get a good bead.
You WILL have to buy the proper wire for welding the frame. The wire that is in the machine WILL be the "brittle" type.

[drooker56]

But would this machine be safe to weld a frame with or should i go with the arc I found this as well, even cheaper.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55060

[soccer4m]

220 volt only

I have used mig, arc, etc....and that one is definately a starter machine, but good news is it should be fine for welding frames. Just do not, repeat do not get a 120 v. mig. cheapy. I had one and they are messy and like Diveray said, the wire is brittle. Arc is good but it could be a little too powerful for frames plus, unless you are real experienced,,,,,very hard to get a good bead without burning through. THe arc welders in my opinion, are great for thick metal,like plate, but for clean thin metals, the migs are the way too go. SO, go for that machine, practice a lot before attempting to do a final weld on the frame and it should be fine. Get a bunch of old metal, varying thicknesses and practice at least a couple of dozen welds, use all the settings and you will get it dialed in pretty quick. The migs are squeeze and go. Also highly recommend the auto-darkening welding eye shield. It allows you to start welding and see exactly where you are starting instead of flipping the cheap welding mask up and down to keep checking the weld.......get one and you will love it. I think they are around 40.00 at Harbor Freight....practice......Mike in S.D.

[drooker56]

So just to be clear your saying the 120v arc cheapy is the way to go?

[CatatonicBug]

Also highly recommend the auto-darkening welding eye shield. It allows you to start welding and see exactly where you are starting instead of flipping the cheap welding mask up and down to keep checking the weld

I actually prefer the chin-operated ones that lift the darkened visor up when you open your mouth. Maybe it's just that I never had a "good" auto-darkening one, but they just never seemed to get dark fast enough.

[drooker56]

What kind of sticks should I be using?

[DiverRay]

NO STAY FAR AWAY FROM IT!!!!
You NEED a 220V. ONLY machine. The MIG/Wire feed welder you looked at first was a better welder.

[soccer4m]

mig not arc

Hi Drooker,,,,,get a Mig, 220 volt and you can weld anything but thick plate metals, The 120 volt arc will be hard to fine tune for frame welding unless you are really good and experienced.....so again get the Mig,,,,costs a little extra, but your welds will be clean and a lot easier to weld with. The arc can weld anything thicker, but wil probably burn through your frames and you will be sorry. Most welding stores have an area that lets you try out different welders before you buy. Try going to a large welders supply store and try out the Mig and the Arc,,,take some frame material, and try a couple of welds with each type of machine. THe Mig, if you want to spend more money, you can add gas to get your welding even more pro like. BUt the basic 220 Mig should be fine......get the auto mask, 220 Mig and you should be a happy camper....Mike in S.D.

[Crazcnuk]

Derwat is, and has been, a certified pressure welder for the past 15-20 years, if you send him a PM he can likely answer any questions you may have about welding.

Who knows, might actually get the twit active in the forums!

[xschop]

wired

I used a Craftsman 90amp 110v wire feed welder on a few XS11 frames. perfect welds. Just watch for wire jerkyness like stated.

[fredintoon]

Length replaces strength

OOPS!!! Forgot the link. Must not have had enough coffee this morning, here it is...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...292&pricetype=

Hi Don,
my heading is the amateur welder's mantra.
It's been my experience over the years that low cost welders have low quality performance.
Especially the bargain 110V buzzboxes that use 1/16" rods.
The odd times I've tried one it's been hell's delight to successfully strike an arc with it.
That first Harbor Freight MIG machine says it only welds up to 18 gauge but the MIG at twice the price claims from 22gauge to 1/4" plate and that's the one I'd go for.
And DO get a self-darkening helmet. The one I got as a birthday gift claims to darken itself in 1/25,000th of a second.
And with all due respect, that's one hell of a lot quicker than anybody can drop his chin.
Those things are so good that if mine went missing I'd go and buy another with my own money.
If this is your first adventure in welding, best you build whole scads of bicycle racks and plant stands before trusting your life to a motorcycle frame you've welded up yourself.