Welding Tips and Tricks

My shop is 8x8 shed and I work outside but when I was younger I bought a Lincoln AC-225c stick welder and it has sat ever since because i only have access to 110v ... Ibwas thinking about seeing if someone would trade me straight up for a gas powered stick welder that maybe needed some work or a 110v plasma cutter? ??? What do you guys think? ?

Your old $300 Lincoln welder is not worth so much these days. If you could find someone to make such a trade, then go for it.

Ranger wrote:My shop is 8x8 shed and I work outside but when I was younger I bought a Lincoln AC-225c stick welder and it has sat ever since because i only have access to 110v ... Ibwas thinking about seeing if someone would trade me straight up for a gas powered stick welder that maybe needed some work or a 110v plasma cutter? ??? What do you guys think? ?

What do you want to do?

Can you wangle it, somehow, so that you can get some time in with your existing welder? You might need to cart it off to a willing friend's house (shed) to have the power you need. I encourage you to get a bit of welding done before you spend any money on a new machine. Nothing wrong with stick welding.

I have helped people start out by getting them onto flux core arc welding (gasless MIG). I like it, myself, but it is a bit messy at first. And you have less gear to worry about. So, if you can't get the stick machine up and going, can you rent a Mig and melt some steel at home? Of course, ensure you have the safety gear in place, and that you treat everything about electricity and power tools etc with the respect they deserve.

My point is, be active with learning to weld for a month or so, and then see if you want to develop your workshop, your techniques, and your projects.

Sometimes I want to start a thread on fitting out a small workshop. Its a very interesting topic, I think.

AnvilJack,

The guys on Powerblock TV did a series recently where they simulated a two-car garage, with the only "special" tools being a MIG welder and an angle grinder, and built a "from a box" hardcore rock-crawler.

It WOULD be an interesting discussion, the minimum tooling required to be satisfied with what you can create in your shop.

Steve S

WerkSpace wrote:Your old $300 Lincoln welder is not worth so much these days. If you could find someone to make such a trade, then go for it.

I know but was just seeing if it was possible...

AnvilJack wrote:What do you want to do?

Can you wangle it, somehow, so that you can get some time in with your existing welder? You might need to cart it off to a willing friend's house (shed) to have the power you need. I encourage you to get a bit of welding done before you spend any money on a new machine. Nothing wrong with stick welding.

I have helped people start out by getting them onto flux core arc welding (gasless MIG). I like it, myself, but it is a bit messy at first. And you have less gear to worry about. So, if you can't get the stick machine up and going, can you rent a Mig and melt some steel at home? Of course, ensure you have the safety gear in place, and that you treat everything about electricity and power tools etc with the respect they deserve.

My point is, be active with learning to weld for a month or so, and then see if you want to develop your workshop, your techniques, and your projects.

Well I started to learn welding with a old style Stick welder and love it ... But I bought a Lincoln 3200hd mig welder and then picked up the stick welder later down the road .... I have no access to 220 any where and the places I do already have a big welders hook up to them and so this machine is like 8 yrs old and never used but a little beat up from sitting around .. I really would love to buy a 10k generator in order to run these but no cash like that so just hoping someone had a old gas power stick welder laying around that they want to get rid of ..

AnvilJack wrote: Sometimes I want to start a thread on fitting out a small workshop. Its a very interesting topic, I think.

Otto Nobedder wrote:AnvilJack,

The guys on Powerblock TV did a series recently where they simulated a two-car garage, with the only "special" tools being a MIG welder and an angle grinder, and built a "from a box" hardcore rock-crawler.

It WOULD be an interesting discussion, the minimum tooling required to be satisfied with what you can create in your shop.

Steve S

I saw that but alot of money was invested into parts .... I love building 4x4 my self and love hanging around at Pirate 4x4 and they highly recommend over there..

Ranger,

I was impressed with that as well, but building the rock-crawler wasn't really my point...

AnvilJack's idea of discussing the minimum tooling... How to fit out a very small space in the most efficient way possible to get the most out of it, is a subject worth discussing. Some have little more than a small storage shed to work from. Your 8X8 is not much bigger, but hopefully it's dedicated as your shop, and you don't share the space with bicycles and lawn mowers.

Making the most of what space you have is a topic worth some consideration.

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:
Making the most of what space you have is a topic worth some consideration.

Steve S

That would be good topic to discuss. It takes a lot more thought and effort on how to properly equip a small space rather than 20,000 square feet.

Other Steve