Any Hubbers or Hubbers Partners (or cousins or dads or whoever!!) Welders??

[Greenhorn]

I want to buy DP a welder for Xmas:noel:

One for home use obviously:laughing:

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttt Ive never touched one in my life so wouldn't have a clue.... :freakingout:

Can someone help me as to what to look for?

Brands to avoid?

Features to buy?

features to avoid?

the bunnings catalogue (http://www.bunnings.com.au/emag/bunnings/index.aspx?document=catalogue/qld_regional) (sorry if it doesn't work....) has two on page four....


ORRRRR

should i get him a generator..... (he wants both, but im not getting him both :no:)



arrgghhhh

ANY help for a clueless hubber is SUPER appreciated!!:hyper::hyper:

[TripleTime]

What does he weld? & ill get DH to answer from there

[MrsBeee]

DH isn't home so I can't ask him, but he does weld. He has an Clarke Weld Arc welder, and he's used it to build gates/trailer/boat accessory stuff and lots of general around the house welding things.
MIG welders are heaps better than Arc welders (apparently) but WAY more expensive. I think generally the more you spend though on the arc welders, the better quality you'll get, and the higher the amps, the thicker metal/more jobs you'll be able to do. :)
DH wants a generator too, but TBH, we've had about 1 occasion where we could have used it when our power was out, but he's used the welder a heap of times.
HTH!! Good luck!

[earthfairy]

Depends what he welds...there are two different sorts of welders for different things....my Dh has both but dont ask me what they are...and he is at sea so I cant ask him.

BUT! I would go for the generator....MUCH more useful they are! :thumbsup:
We use ours a fair bit....for camping & also when we have a cyclone & loose power for days on end :rolleyes:

[Ready To Run]

Ok an arc welder is great for backyard and jobs around the house. it is a bit harder to use but my df made our trailer with one and its great. they are the cheapest. then there is a mig, the weld very neatly but you have to have a special wire to use them and its a bit expensive.

[Greenhorn]

sorry i should have put it in my original post!!

It will be round the house stuff mostly.

No big stuff really.

Car stuff

What generator do you have EF??

[Ready To Run]

df said that an arc welder would probably be the best but if you are welding car panels eg removing rust then you will need a mig as the heat settings are lower and wont melt or buckle the panel. dh has both types, his arc is a cigweld and hes had it 4 years and its still going strong. The mig is an old one from his dads welding shop not sure what brand. just keep in mind with a mig you have to buy a good one as the cheap ones arent much better than an arc. Good luck :)

[Greenhorn]

so, which would he pick

http://www.tradetoolsdirect.com/Catalogue/ProductView.aspx?ProductCode=STICK200

or.....

http://www.tradetoolsdirect.com/Catalogue/ProductView.aspx?ProductCode=TTD180MIG

there is only $70 difference...??

[earthfairy]

What generator do you have EF??

A yellow one? :laughing: hang on & ill check.....BRB

[Greenhorn]

A yellow one? :laughing: hang on & ill check.....BRB

:laughing::cheerleader1:

[earthfairy]

THIS (http://www.aboutgenerators.com/kipor-sinemaster.html) is it

or this is the makers website

http://www.kipornorthamerica.com/Sinemaster2_family.aspx

:goodluck:

[Ready To Run]

Df said the arc/stick welder as you will get alot longer from that than a cheap mig. hope that helps :)

[TripleTime]

DH says mig, one that can use gas or gasless.

[earthfairy]

AND! Just so you know, Im 20 weeks preg, and had to crawl on the floor in the garage under the car to find that name for you! :laughing:

You're hubby better appreciate the effort you & all us hubbers have gone to! :gonnagetit:

hee hee

[TripleTime]

Df said the arc/stick welder as you will get alot longer from that than a cheap mig. hope that helps :)

It wont weld car related stuff though

[Greenhorn]

AND! Just so you know, Im 20 weeks preg, and had to crawl on the floor in the garage under the car to find that name for you! :laughing:

You're hubby better appreciate the effort you & all us hubbers have gone to! :gonnagetit:

hee hee

:cheerleader1::cheerleader1::highfive::noel::hugs: :hugs::cheerleader1::cheerleader1:

Thank You :thumbsup:

[MrsBeee]

I'm pretty sure that once you get to 200amps (as the above stick welder is), you have to have a 15 amp power outlet, rather than the standard 10amps, so keep that in mind :)

[Ready To Run]

It wont weld car related stuff though

He said for welding panels that you need one that has really low heat settings and that the cheap ones dont usually go low enough.