How to Choose a Welder - Important Considerations For Researching and Purchasing a Welding Machine

Are you new to welding and interested in purchasing a welder? If so, there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration in order to choose a machine that's right for you. If you're like most people, the first thing that you'll consider is the price. While price is a significant factor, there are others that are just as important, if not more. By taking the time to evaluate all the choices based upon what best suits your requirements, you'll get much more satisfaction, enjoyment, and use from a welding machine that's right for you.

The first thing to consider is what you plan to do with it. Define the size and type of metal that you'll primarily be welding. The machine power requirements for welding thick aluminum are much different than for welding thin sheet metal. Keep in mind that when it comes to prices, more amperage means more money.

It's also a good idea to factor in the cost of consumables. If you're considering a gas shielded type of welding - metal inert gas, (MIG), or tungsten inert gas, (TIG), - you'll need to know what type of gas is required for the type of metal you'll be welding. Recently the prices of gases, especially shielding gases containing helium, have skyrocketed. Conversely, a stick or arc welder doesn't require shielding gas and can be cheaper in the long run. Along with gases, you'll need to pay attention to the prices of electrodes/welding wire, tips, nozzles, and other related related accessories that are specific to the type of welder that you purchase. Over the course of time, these can have a significant impact on the operating costs associated with your welder.

The power that you have available to run your welder is a very important factor that shouldn't be overlooked. Welding machines are power hungry, and often require more power than what you have available at the point of use. If you don't have enough power to adequately supply one, you'll need to upgrade your service which will add to the overall expense. An alternative to this is an engine driven welder. With the rising prices of fuel though, this may not be the most cost effective solution.

One of the best pieces of advice is to seriously consider a used welder. You'll often find many older welders for sale and there is a good reason for this - old welders were built to last. A properly maintained welder can easily last you for as long as you want. These welders can often be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a new one too.

These are just a few of the many questions you need to ask before choosing a welder. As you can see, it's a lot more complex than driving down to a big box store and buying what's on the shelf. If you educate yourself before you make your purchase, you'll save money, and end with a welder that will be much more useful in the long run.

John R. Thompson has worked in the engineering and construction fields for over 25 years. During this time he has held many different jobs that range from welding/fitting to engineering and project management. On his website you can find much more information related to welding, equipment, safety, and general information related to the welding and construction fields. You can also find a guide on How to Choose a Welder.


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MIG Welders - Why a 115 Volt MIG Welding Machine is the Best Way to Get Started Welding

Before you read this article on 115v mig welders, you need to promise that you will never weld a trailer hitch with anything less than a 230 v mig welder, or a 230 volt arc welding machine...Promise?  OK read on.

115 volt mig welders have some limitations but they are still an excellent way to get started welding. For way less than 500 dollars, you can order a good 115 v  MIG welder online and start practicing welding within a week. (sometimes shipping is even free) What can you get for less than 500 dollars?  You can buy the most powerful 115 v MIG welder available that will weld up to 1/4" steel.

I don't ever recommend buying a 115 v MIG welder that is a flux core only welder...(unless it is a smokin deal like a reputable brand for less than 200 dollars). A flux core only MIG welder is just not versatile enough. Once you add the ability to weld with bare wire, lots of options become possible.

For less than 500 bucks you can buy a Hobart mig welding machine that runs off of 115 volts and welds with bare wire or flux core.

What can you do with a 140 amp 115 volt MIG welding machine?

Fix a lawnmower deck
build up a lawnmower or bush hog blade
make a set of shelves
modify or build a custom bicycle
fix a cracked exhaust manifold ( with a few tricks like preheat and adding a nickel rod with the other hand)
make welding sculptures
weld patches in auto body panels
make shooting targets for your buddies
make a mailbox guard
build beam brackets for an outdoor deck
modify the motor mounts in your brother in laws 1970 Chevelle Hot Rod
The great thing about a 115 volt mig machine is that if you ever decide you need to upgrade to a 230 volt mig welding machine, The 115 volt machine is still very useful because it will run .023" bare wire which is the best thing since sliced bread for welding thin auto body patches.

To learn more about a Hobart Mig Welder along with Down and Dirty welding tips. For TIG, MIG, STICK welding along with a buttload of other welding information, visit http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com


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Multiprocess Welding Machine - Longevity Welders - And a Chinese Tig Welder Review

Have you seen the multi-process welding machine that Longevity advertises?

Maybe you have been thinking of buying one of these Chinese Tig Welders but you have been wondering if they  are any good at all?

The features of Longevity 160 amp multi-process welders are kind of impressive: 160 amps, ability to tig weld aluminum, can also be used as a plasma cutter and stick welder...Wow!

A good Miller, Lincoln, or Thermadyne Tig Welder Inverter will cost you well over 3000 dollars by the time you get all the extra welding supplies you need  like foot pedal, tig torch, flowmeter, ground clamp and all.

Longevity welders do not have some of the advanced features like A/C waveshaping that the Miller Dynasty 200DX and The Lincoln Invertec v205t have, but the basic features actually are similar...and you cant use the Miller or the Lincoln as a plasma cutter.

So it is very intriguing when you see a Chinese Tig Welder that will also do plasma cutting and stick welding, advertised for around 750 dollars with all the accessories included.

What?  750 dollars? That is like one fourth the cost of a Miller or Lincoln A/C DC tig welder.

So you start wondering to yourself, Is a Lincoln or  Miller tig welder 4 times better?  Am I paying for a name?  That's a lot of money for just a name.

I spent the last several hours looking on internet forums, welding websites, and eBay feedback reports and guess what? The jury is still out on Chinese Tig Welders.  You can find good reviews, bad reviews, and mixed reviews on Chinese tig welders. A lot of the reviews I read were about how the chinese tig welder arrived  somewhat non-functional and damaged in shipment and that a customer phone support call was all it took for the support team to talk the buyer through fixing a loose connection.

And somehow, that was looked upon as a good thing.

I did see one Shocking video review on a Longevity Multiprocess welding machine that I will not soon forget. I am still shaking. I have never seen someone disrespect a welding machine like that.
See this Video Review of a longevity multiprocess welder and while you are at the site, take in some Down and Dirty welding tips.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

Cables Used For Welding Machines

This is a very specific cable used for welders called "welding cable". Yes, it's as simple as asking your supplier for welding cable and they will ask you what color insulation and what AWG size you need. There is typically black and red in stock and you can get orange from most suppliers at a slightly higher price.

Residential Welders

Welders used in garages and small shops usually use the smaller AWG sizes of welding cable because they don't require as much power as larger welding machines. Smaller gauge sizes are 6 AWG, 4 AWG and 2 AWG which are cut-to length on many websites online. That means you can buy 84 feet if your application requires that amount. Simply input the quantity, pick the color and on some website you'll be able to get free shipping on order over $250.

Commercial Welders

Larger welding machines used larger cables because they require more power. Be careful because some industrial applications also require approvals, more protection and even more flexibility. Industrial applications have much more going on in the warehouse, or job site, such as multiple welding machines, large equipment and outdoor environmental conditions to worry about.

The industrial style welding cable is referred to as Super Vu-Tron which comes in an orange color jacket for safety reasons. It has UL, CSA and MSHA approvals so that it's much easier to pass inspection when necessary. The insulation is much more durable for added industrial use and daily ware and tare. Super Vu-Tron also uses 34 AWG copper strands instead of 30 AWG copper strands for added flexibility.

Cable Colors

If you're looking for a color of welding cable other than black, red or orange you may be required to purchase a minimum amount and wait about 4-6 weeks. It will have to be manufactured from scratch and, in order for it to be worth it for the manufacturer, there will need to be a minimum amount purchased. Now, your supplier may work with you by purchasing the minimum amount and splitting it with you, since they probably get many requests for it each day.

Cable Lugs

Many suppliers will also have the ability to terminate lugs on each end of the welding cable for you. Lugs can be expensive, depending on the AWG size you're going to be working with, so make sure you ask questions and understand everything about your purchase before buying it. When suppliers add lugs to the cable it may take an additional week or two to receive the product.

Buy welding cable online from WesBell Electronics at www.weldingcable.net. You can also buy Super Vu-Tron Cable on this website with exact cut lengths on both types. WesBell offers free shipping on orders over $250 to anywhere in the continental USA.


Check http://welderreview.com/arksen-arc-welder-250amp-rated-input-voltage-110v220v-dual-mode-red/ as well.

4 Things to Remember When Purchasing a Welding Machine

Like every other product that you buy for your household, spend some time in selecting the right welding machine too. A poorly made and cheap product may do badly, leading to wastage of money.

Buying a welding machine may sound easy, but the variety of products available in the market in terms of brand, make, power and price may easily confuse a buyer. Most often is found that home users fall for the price play. There is a tendency to purchase a less powerful, cheap and local-made machines. In a short course of time, they end up discarding it thinking it is not their cup-of-tea. However, the problem lies with the product, which is poor in performance and is not user-friendly. When buying a welding machine, even for home use, it is a good practice to do a bit of a background check of selected models before purchasing one. Following are a few things you could check while deciding for the purchase:

Suitability of the Product

The first step in selecting the right product for you is to test a some models for their performance, power delivery, usability and duty cycle. If required, hire or buy a used MIG welder to check its suitability for your purpose. Often the cheaper models do not even have the power on and off switch to the wire. This is a big disadvantage as it makes the wire react the instant it touches a metal body causing sparks.

Purchase a Maker of Your Country

When purchasing a welding machine, it is always better to go for a product that is suitable for the working conditions of your country or place. This is important, because the power supply may vary from country to country. Example, in the US, power supply to homes is 110 V and 60 Hz. In China, power supply is 220V and 50HZ, AC. In Taiwan, it is 110 V. Another reason is these machines should comply with the country's laws and regulations.

Ground Wire and Hose Gun

When it comes to welding, it is always good to have a machine with a long ground wire and gun hose. The local, cheap products most often do not have this advantage. Here, it becomes wise to buy a branded high quality used TIG or MIG welder if you cannot afford a new one.

Power Capacity of the Machine

It is always better to go for higher power. It is also important to check the device's duty cycle. A lower duty cycle may lead to overheating of the device, causing frequent tripping of the fuse.

Shop online welding machines for home, business and industrial need at Red-D-Arc Welderrentals.


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What is the Best Welding Machine?

Shopping for a welding machine and wondering which is the best one? Here is my advice: Think about getting more than one. Why?

Because no single welding machine will do everything as well as having different welding machines, each designed to do one process and do it well.

Miller, Lincoln, and Esab all make multi process welding machines in an attempt to please customers who want a "one size fits all" welding machine. There are even Chinese made machines that add in a plasma cutter to the mix.

The problem in this is threefold.

All the hoses , cables, remote controls, and torches it takes to tig, mig, and stick are just plain unmanageable.
When the machine breaks, you are dead in the water, whereas if you have separate machines for each, you can at least get by until you get the broke machine fixed
Multiprocess machines never quite measure up in all three processes...kind of like an old El Camino that was supposed to be both car and truck, and was really not very good at being car OR truck.
Rather than try to buy on machine that does it all, why not buy 2 or 3 used welding machines that are not only a good value but also tried and true machines.

Here are some recommendations:

for Tig and stick, A Miller Synrowave 250 or 300
for Mig, a Millermatic 250 or 200amp mig welder
You can find a Syncrowave 250 on Craigslist for less than $2000 and a Millermatic 250 can be had for less than $750.

It takes a little effort and you may have to drive for a few hours but you will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars as compared to buying new machines or a new multiprocess welder.

PS... Here is a tip for finding things on craigslist. Just type in your keyword into Google along with the word Craigslist.

Jody Collier's web articles on subjects like Welding Certification are full of Down and Dirty welding tips. For TIG, MIG, STICK welding along with a buttload of other welding information, visit http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

Also check http://welderreview.com/lincoln-electric-k2185-1-handy-mig-welder/