welding ot sorta

is welding and vans ever really off topic?! - so i start a new job this week - in the warehouse i spotted a millermatic dvi and a lincoln ac225 - am told they dont get used a lot but i will have the opportunity to learn to weld - at some point i need to make some iron railing for my porch/deck - and i also would like to do some bicycle mods etc - what type welder would one use for such projects -are the ones i have on hand capable - thanks - oo3

oo3,
Sounds like the jobs your looking to do are all fairly small. I'd bet for what your talking about doing that a small to mid range MIG welder could do just about everything you mentioned and work great on most all van related repairs.

Here's the one I have and use for most all my light work from most all my van work to making gates and brackets for everything I do...

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200434915_200434915?cm_ite=167746&cm_pla=Welding%3EWirefeed%20Welders&cm_cat=Google&cm_ven=Aggregates

Have a nice mid-range Lincoln stick welder as well but very seldom really need it.

Dan

Learn to weld with BOTH!
Then you will know what you need for the job at hand.

Enlarge product image

.MIG Welder 110VAC/ 135A Output
Item #12011

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Built for professional use-priced for your home shop!
•Operates on standard 110V AC 20 Amp circuits
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•Infinite voltage and wire speed combination's
•Tweco style gun and consumables
•Eastwood welders match the quality of top U.S. industry leaders in both weld penetration and wire feed motor functionality
•High end thermal overload switch
•Switchable drive roller to run small gauge solid wire or thicker solid or flux cored wire
•Welds 24 gauge 1/4”steel
•8' ground cable and gun cable
•Includes: one roll of .023 steel mig wire,
gas regulator, wire brush, welding face shield, extra tips, tip wrench and instructions
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Dan,

Which one do you think is better? The one above or the Lincoln you mentioned? I am also looking to find an entry level welder. Do know much about them but figure the mig is a good place to start to learn
thx
Donn

I can't say for sure but that eastwood looks an awful lot like a Lincoln. maybe shorter leads, i had a 135 Lincoln that got ripped off, adjustments are the same to. It'd be alot more coin if it was red,,lol

Being a really Cheap SOG= i bought & use a harbor frt- 110 volt mig on all my body stuff - was 98 bucks . Ive been happy with it -Just picked uop an old lincoln stick ac/dc welder for free= all ill ever need.

Hey 003,
Welding goes with anything metal and motorized imho. What you need is a low voltage(house power 120v) M.I.G. welder, also known as wire feed welder, or more acurately M.G.A.W. If you are welding thin gauge steel like van bodys, this would be best to start and learn with. The mig type welder shoots out an electrofied wire, allowing you to hold the torch with both hands (unlike tig). Any inexpensive base model by a well known brand. Miller, lincoln, esab, htp, the lit goes on. Common ones are well made and parts are available. I would earge you not to buy a cheap chineese factory one(harbour freight!!). Spend the extra hundred on a deccent machine. You will be much happier in the long run. Keep in mind, welders are priced by how deep they can penatrate, and how long they can run for. 220v alows you to weld structual applications with deep penetration. You don't need to invest a lot, infact you should craigslist one if you can. Also buy an auto darkening hood. Dosen't have to be a great one. Like a $50 one. Speeds up the learning curve a bit. Watch some you tube video's and go to miller's website. Those resources will be verry helpful to get started. Hope this helps.
Have fun and be safe.

312

Oops!! Just re-read your post. The Miller DVI is a great machine. It's a millermatic with dual voltage option. 120 or 220. Just gotta switch out the plug. 220v with the mig would be best for your iron fencing. Would also be a good stick welding project. Stick is only good for welding thick stuff. Mig is better for thin, and general purpose.

maybe i should have said in first post i will have full access to both machines - so i wont have to buy one myself - i did already down load the miller manual - i will watch some youtube vids - one of the guys will give me instruction also - we have 220 also - thanks - oo3

To me the AC "buzz box" would be better for anything 1/4" and larger steel, we have went to all DC but its somewhat the same, an advantage of the stick , you can buy smaller amounts of special rod for certain projects like stainless steel and such without buying a whole spool of wire. also you can gain some strength with the stick by the flux coating and the weld cooling times. lots of options but the biggest advantage of the MIG is speed. There's a lot more than just that , just play with it . JM2C

had a chance to use the stick welder this last week - this is going to need much more practice ! - 1, trying to get used to seeing thru the helmet , we dont have an auto dark one yet - 2 - trying to strike an arc without it sticking - did manage to get some decent welds but more ugly ones - oo3

Im sure other more expert guys might know more, but for practice Id start with a 6013 or a 7014 1/8" rod, adjust your amp range up maybe to help with starting the weld and work your way down from there, drag the rod to start the arc, not always possible of course, and have clean metal to work with. And get yourself an auto helmet if you can,, they just make things so much easier.

oo3 wrote:is welding and vans ever really off topic?! - so i start a new job this week - in the warehouse i spotted a millermatic dvi and a lincoln ac225 - am told they dont get used a lot but i will have the opportunity to learn to weld -
what type welder would one use for such projects -
are the ones i have on hand capable - thanks - oo3

most people are farmilar with mig machines.Some of the older stick machines have been forgotten about.
the AC lincoln is an example of this.
An AC machine is only really good for mild steel wire like 6011.Low hydragen wire like 7018 will not run tight.It sticks bad and just does not run well at all.
For low hydrogen wire you need a DC stick machine.
the AC machine will run a smaller 6011 or 6013 wire pretty good a smaller rod size like 3/32 3/32's will run light sheet metal at a lower temp setting.
a larger rod size like 1/8 will run heaver steel good also. 1/8 to 3/16 thick.

Welding unlike a computer where you can read directions and figure things out.Takes practice.the more you do the more you learn.in turn the better you get .

.........Wookee

right now we are making frames for lite displays - i designed and made this one - welds aint pretty but so far are holding ! we beat some with hammers to test - dont know if we are using the right setting on the lincoln ( ac225) - we have the 6011 1/8 rods - the steel rods for the frame may be 1/4 and 5/32 ? ( i am at home now) - what setting do yous experienced think would be right -i have read some info from the manufacturers sites and the one rod linked to - i can only read so much at one time though - i find it helps to go make some mistakes then read and figure out what was wrong - oo3

when in doubt ask a manufacturers tech rep - i am told the rule is 1 amp per 1/1000 " of the stick/electrode you are using - so the 3/32 stick = .093 = 93 amps or in this case the 90 amp setting - we had used a colder setting - man it is much easier to start an arc and not have it stick - its funny - here i am listening to the other guys at work who are either also new to welding or only occasionally weld - and i am the only one who takes the time to read a manual or do some research - then they want to dispute what the manufacturers rep - who has done this for 40 years - says ! - oo3