what sort of cheap welder can i buy to build frames and fix old ones? thanks
- Thread starter joshua97
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Flux core wire is worthless. Its all spatter.
Spend the money on gas. 120v house current Lincoln Mig is not expensive at only 1200 for the welder.
forget the oxy/acetelyene for cutting which can be done but electric with air arc cheaper and easier. Rental on tanks is not worth it unless you use a lot of gas.
Cutting using either method is usually reserved for salvage not in the process of manufacture, flame cut material goes for machining after its cut before being welded.A chop saw is cheaper.
Unless you are certified you should not be welding on frames.Leave the frame welding to the pros.
Spend the money on gas. 120v house current Lincoln Mig is not expensive at only 1200 for the welder.
forget the oxy/acetelyene for cutting which can be done but electric with air arc cheaper and easier. Rental on tanks is not worth it unless you use a lot of gas.
Cutting using either method is usually reserved for salvage not in the process of manufacture, flame cut material goes for machining after its cut before being welded.A chop saw is cheaper.
Unless you are certified you should not be welding on frames.Leave the frame welding to the pros.
HeadSmess
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do not touch gasless welders unless you ;
a, are doing fairly long welds.
b, are outside with a breeze
they do not tack sheet steel/thin wall section very well. they have to arc and start melting to start the shielding process. cool on heavy guage steel, not so good when you have to "zap-zap" thin stuff. you will always have some type of porosity or inclusion at the start and finish of welds.
you also dont get to see the weld as well, as the pool is covered with molten flux.
the flux sticks like bug
to a windscreen. it takes a lot of wire brushing to remove. they will work but gas is so much superior. especially if it has pre and post flow options. (simple delay boards can be made to do it to a cheapie)
theres also the option of brazing. oxygen is fairly cheap. acetylene costs a lot,, but lpg works and is cheap cheap. the equipment is a one off expense...until hoses break!
as long as fitup is good, with clean surfaces, brazing is strong. silver solder can actually be stronger in certain circumstances, but thats another story.
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HeadSmess
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cant agree more.
gas gas!
go the plasma cutter! for doing thin stuff, of any material (they cut concrete if you put some steel on top
) thats conductive... expensive if you want more than 16mm capability.but a plasma cutter wont touch 36 INCHES of solid steel
go the mighty oxy torch!but yes, unless you can justify the bottle rental, oxy torches are mere luxuries. still very handy.
ive seen some "certified" welders that must have been sleeping with the instructor or something...
Tanks for the help guys, i will look into a cheap gas mig, Is it easy and cheap to obtain the gas? I'm not fussed about appearance as long as the weld is strong, therefore could i possibly get away with a gas less mig? if not i will just have to give up on welding a frame . And Nehmo's comment, wether directed at me or not it doesn't bother me as such, but if it was, Is there something wrong with being almost 16 and being a virgin and living with my mum? haha, thanks for the help guys, has been really useful as i almost bought the arc haha
. And Nehmo's comment, wether directed at me or not it doesn't bother me as such, but if it was, Is there something wrong with being almost 16 and being a virgin and living with my mum? haha, thanks for the help guys, has been really useful as i almost bought the arc haha 
V 35
Member
I've been told * Not * to Electric weld bicycle tubing, the current passing through it changes, and makes the metal brittle, and crack prone. Better quality bicycles are either hand, or furnace brazed, not welded. You would be well off to buy a portable acetyline outfit, such as an Airco Tote Weld. My unit uses a 10 cu ft. Oxy bottle [ refillable ] and a disposable MAPP cylinder . Easily carried to job, uses either a cutting, or welding tip. Works just like a full size acetyline outfit, but a lot smaller. I have to be biased against a ' cheap ' welder, an experienced welder could get by with one, but a beginner won't. If you want to learn to weld, think of it as a musical instrument, your early attempts will be dissapointing, with practice you'll improve, until you ' get it ' than you quickly go from not bad, to good. A student needs a stable arc, and the ability to repeat their successes, cheap welders are erratic, and hamper the learning curve.
professor
Active Member
Joshua, you might look into a used unit. They seem to come up on Craiglist. One thing I do not have at home is a little mig unit. A very handy thing to have.
Its sound advice for those who aren't familar with state DOT laws or just can't weld. If you can butt weld chrome moly and after dressing the seam so you can't find where its welded AND bend the tube in the area of the weld with out breaking or cracking then go for it.
Having the frame break and splattering on the road is not my idea of fun.Besides by time you spend all the money it takes in equipment and consumables practicing you could have had a pro do it for less than 4-5% of what you spent.
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