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98SS
01-17-2006, 03:10 PM
Hey guys,


Definitely not new to vBulletin forums, but new to this one. I wouldn't say new to welding by any means, but experience is relatively limited.

I've got a pretty good feel for the different types of welding and have tried them all ... (I think).

I did a little of the torch and rod about 5 years ago. A pro showed us how and let us try it out and weld a fillet weld T-joint where a plate met another plate perpendicular.

I have done pinch welding on Aluminum tubing which was pretty easy. Pinch the tube shut on the end in a vise and seal it up by fusing it together along the tip. It had to withstand about 1,000 psi but I'm sure that means little to those of you who can do real welding.

I was building some sheet metal stepshavers for my truck about a year ago and used a Miller 175 MIG on the seams. There were a lot of them. I also used a larger model Miller for a wind tube base support for a school project. It was basically welding angle to C-channel where the corner of the angle was against the back side of the C-channel and the sides of it were at equal angles with the back side of the C-channel. If that didn't make sense, it was like this ... >[

I've tried to "Stick" a little ... but very little.



I haven't played with amperage settings much. Who ever let me use their welder each time set it up for me. I would start asking questions, but coming from a forum where it's easy to see the same questions pop up over and over all the time, I'll do what I tell everyone over there .... Read and Search.

But, here's my intro. Looking forward to learning some more about fabrication and hopefully getting my own welder and plasma within the next year. Thanks for any help.

Later.

TxRedneck
01-17-2006, 04:21 PM
welcome if youve got questions i dont mind answering

98SS
01-18-2006, 08:30 AM
My biggest thing right now is practicing more which I can't do on here, obviously, but I was kinda hoping to get tips or suggestions on what welder to buy. I've been told that if I'm gonna bother buying one, that I should go ahead and opt for a 220V like a Millermatic 175 or a Handler 180. The problem with a 220V is I don't have any 220V outlets in my garage ... only a 110V. I've heard you have rewire a 110V to be a 220V when theres two plugs in the box, but I have no idea how and the one guy who tried to explain it just kinda frustrated me. Is there not a way to make an "adapter" basically that plugs into both outlets. Kinda like this?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/Tims98SS/Miscellaneous/110Vto220V.jpg


If this has been done, how do you go about doing it? Does anyone make these so you can just go buy one? I'd much rather be able to plug into that outlet if possible instead of having to run an extension cord upstairs to my apartment everytime I wanted to weld something.


Also, if I'm gonna opt for a MM175 or Handler 180 sized welder, where can I get the best bang for the buck? If the price is too high, where would you go to get the lowest price on a comparable welder? (still name brand, though ... I don't want a brand I haven't heard of)



Thanks for any and all help guys.

TxRedneck
01-22-2006, 10:56 PM
................

98SS
01-23-2006, 08:12 AM
umm ... huh?

TPnTX
01-23-2006, 09:02 AM
you can do it but it's not really a good idea. For one thing it's not the proper gauge of wire. It may handle the amps for a small 220v wire welder okay but it's still not a good idea. Another reason is you end up using the ground wire as a common and thats cheating. Cheating and Fires I try to avoid.

Just get a 140 110v. Welder thats what I did simply because my generator will not run a 220v over 16 amps. I need the mobility. If you ever get to the point where a 110v wire welder isn't enough have 220v wired for you and upgrade. If you spend 400 on 110v use it for a couple or years and sell it for 200.00 then so what ?