Beginner Weld Shop Challenge

[Jefe1018]

I'm looking to get into fabricating and welding.

The Lincoln welder I had access to is no more, for the purposes of this conversation at least.

I've got a $1,000 budget to begin.

The space is limited to a garage the dimensions of 400 sq ft garage, where the Jeep is parked in at night (probably a little more, but the laundry room is here too so I took off 126sq ft from the entire foot print).

Rearranging and moving equipment around is a given.

Shoot me how you'd spend that $1,000.00

I currently count on basic hand tools, hammers, screw drivers, sockets, ratchets, pliers, a decent air compressor, etc. When recommending tools, think strictly welders, helmets, googles, plasma cutters, etc.

I already own cordless M18 Milwaukee power tools, hammer drill, impact drills, cut off wheels, etc.

I'd like to start with MIG, not ready for TIG and stick welding seems like an interesting skill that I'm not interested in.

And... go!

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[Rusty PW]

$1,000 will get you Chinese welders. Some are not bad, while others are junk and don't last. When shopping for a welder. Look for the duty cycle and input power. The higher the duty cycle, the long you can weld with it. This is where the Chinese welders start to fall apart. Forget about a welder with a 120 volt input. Need 220 volt for good welds.

For a mig welder. I have an older Lincoln 180 Pro that I got from Home Depot. It has a duty cycle of 30%, and an input voltage of 220. I can also convert it to weld aluminum. I can use 0.025 to 0.045 wire. Plus I can use flux core.

 

[Perpendicular]

Look on FB Marketplace, Craigslist for a well kept Miller. You get what you pay for.

Miller has always stood behind all of my purchases. New and used.

 

[whiteglad]

I have done a lot of welding over the years with the Lincoln AC and the AC/DC welders. If you are in the Vegas area, I have a spare Lincoln AC welder if you want to save money.

 

[Jaxmax]

Only other thing is how much 220v power do you have in amps available?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Only other thing is how much 220v power do you have in amps available?

Great point, Jack. With a 200amp service at home, I definitely don’t weld while cooking a turkey and drying clothes.

 

[Jefe1018]

Only other thing is how much 220v power do you have in amps available?

Great point, Jack. With a 200amp service at home, I definitely don’t weld while cooking a turkey and drying clothes.

Luckily all of my kitchen appliances and the dryer are powered with natural gas, but the garage does have a nice 50 amp circuit as an option for a dryer that I plan to use to melt stuff into other stuff to make stuff.

 

[Freems]

Here’s your starter list: $1k
I have and love a Lincoln 140 MIG, 5/16” on a single pass, it’s a 110v. It does flux wire or solid wire with gas. Over the years you can add a spool gun for aluminum and a gas tank for solid wire.
A folding HF welding table, or splurge on a HF fixture table (best thing i bought to hold things square)
HF $9.99 4” grinder, get two, one for flap wheels and one for cut off disks.
A four sensor auto welding hood.
Hope this helps out.

 

[Rusty PW]

Great point, Jack. With a 200amp service at home, I definitely don’t weld while cooking a turkey and drying clothes.

I have a 200 Amp service. Let's see, hot tub, hot water tank, air conditioning, dryer, air compressor and welder use the same plug. Unplug one and plug the other one in.

 

[whiteglad]

I'm glad I have 400 amp service, no 14 gauge wiring in the house--all is 12 gauge or better.
50 amp breaker is perfect for those LIncoln buzz boxes.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I'm glad I have 400 amp service, no 14 gauge wiring in the house--all is 12 gauge or better.
50 amp breaker is perfect for those LIncoln buzz boxes.

I’d love 400. I also use 50amp for my old Miller

 

[Rusty PW]

I’d love 400. I also use 50amp for my old Miller

The dryer, and A/C are 50 amp. The hot tub and the plug for the air compressor/welder are 50 amp too. But don't get used that often.

 

[Rusty PW]

I’d love 400. I also use 50amp for my old Miller

If I up grade. It will be a 480 volt line coming in. I can run, mills, and lathes with that.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If I up grade. It will be a 480 volt line coming in. I can run, mills, and lathes with that.

Crazy cool.

 

[Rusty PW]

Crazy cool.

It will never happened. Something call age get in the way.

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