Welding Tips and Tricks

I’m not sure where to start and figured someone here could give me some advice. It’s been a while, a long while, okay a really, really long while since I have used a welder. I am using 16ga steel tubing and need to know what type of welder I should be using.

Hey there .

For all round simplicity and ease of use/ relearning, a small mig is the way to go. There is a little bit of point and shoot about them. handy for general light fab. Its hard for me to recomend a brand because im from Australia. We start at 240 volt single phase so i know nothing about 110v power.

Mick.

I agree, get a mig, but get one that can use shielding gas. Using a mig welder is like riding a bike. Even if it's been many years since you've done it, it will all come to you once you start back up.

I have the Hobart 210 MVP (115/230v) and it works great. Here is the video Jody did that sold me on the machine. http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/hob ... 10mvp.html I'd say go buy a larger bottle than the small one shown just because it's $100 and you can find cheaper larger ones on Craigslist so you can weld longer.

Definetely would go with a mig. I would try to stay away from the 110 volt migs cause they can limit what you are able to weld are far as material thickness. That hobart 210 is a really good machine, I bought one myself for my small shop at home and love it.

Thanks for the advice, now I just have to find a welder.

x3 on The Hobart 210 MVP! LOL. I bought one as well after Jody did his video pitch!

I somehow feel like this is akin to the "Rev. Jim Jones" scenario where Jim (Jody) suggests we drink the lemonade (Hobart welder) and we all follow like sheep! LOL

Anyways, I'm glad he did his pitch and I ended up with a real nice little welder at a great price!

I too bought the 210MVP but didn't discover Jodie's site until well afterwards.

As far as gas bottles go, I went to my local mom and pop LWS and bought a 125 cubic foot bottle of 75/25 for $138 plus tax last month...Yeah, I know that's cheap, but that's the going price here...While I was there I also bought a 75ft bottle of acetylene and a 125 ft bottle of 02 for same price each......So yeah, shop for a welder that will do fluxcore and gas, and shop for your gas too. Redball and the other corp guys here are twice the price on gas and bottles as our mom and pop folks.

The Hobart 210MVP is a VERY very capable welder compared to all the higher priced stuff.....I won't say it's a good buy for the money, because that sounds like a compromise....I'd buy it again for same price as Lincoln or Miller.

I'm sort of new at welding, so, my advice is limited. However, my advice on buying tools is not limited. I've been a G.C. and cabinet maker for 41 years. I have more hand and power tools than you can imagine. From cement mixers and breakers to bisquit joiners to mitre fold routers. I'm buying my welder tomorrow. It's an inverter stick welder. A thermal Arc 161S. The most important thing about tools are performance and gaurantee. Am I gonna get stuck with a tool I just laid down good hard money for that will cost too much for me to fix. Here are some tips. Eastwood.com. Smarter Tool is another one. Also check out the new generation of dual inverter welders, 110V/220V. The ones I would not recommend, HF and Craftsman( bad reviews). If you can afford it, Miller or Hobart. But by all means, shop!