New to welding...recommendations/tips?

[MuseChaser]

I was given an Allis-Dietz 12.5hp lawn tractor that sat unused for six or seven years. After doing the usual expected resurrection and maintenance items, it's running quite well except that the mower deck has one large hole that needs patching and the areas where two large bolts hold a pulley subassembly to the deck, and therefore the full weight of the deck, have also torn out. Time to learn how to weld.

Would really love to stay simple (no gas tanks and no 220v circuit required). Thinking of a FCAW. Any significant advantage to spending an extra $60 for continuously variable power settings and DC over AC? Never done a weld in my life. What do I need to know, other than helmet, gloves, protective gear?

Thanks...

[NoHaveMSG]

DC is a bit friendlier to work with, I would go for it if it is only another 60 bucks.

I'd recommended a welding sleeve. I only wear one on my support hand, but your arm on your support side takes all the abuse from splatter.
https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Elect...4291302&sr=8-5

I also like wearing a carbon filtered respirator if I am welding a lot.

In the beginning, take the time to learn how to properly setup your machine, in FCAW you are mainly just dialing in the power and feed speed. It will save you a lot of headache in thinking you are doing something wrong. Prep on your workpiece makes a huge difference in the quality of the weld, though less critical with flux core. The biggest thing to get your head around IMO is what is happening when you are welding. You are basically dragging a molten puddle to one piece, let it penetrate, then drag it to the other piece, let it penetrate, and so on.

[BirdTRD]

Purchased my first welder about 10 years ago, same thing, never once welded but needed to fix my mowers so I thought I'd give it a shot.

First one was a cheap (as MIG welders go, like maybe $300), Northern Industrial MIG 135. It saw very little use and died about 5 years ago. 2 years later, I replaced it with the one I should have bought in the first place, a Hobart Handler MIG 140. 120v, MIG or Flux Core, can weld up to 1/4 mild steel. Perfect for lawn mower repair. Lesson learned, buy cheap, buy twice.

MIG welding is much cleaner than Flux core welds (lots more spatter). Material prep (cleaning) is important and follow the guide for voltage and speed based on the material/thickness and wire you are welding with, tweak it from there. Practice on scraps with a slow, steady (braced) hand will serve you well.

[soundman98]

you might need a tig welder if the deck is thin-ish sheet metal...

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

I was given an Allis-Dietz 12.5hp lawn tractor that sat unused for six or seven years. After doing the usual expected resurrection and maintenance items, it's running quite well except that the mower deck has one large hole that needs patching and the areas where two large bolts hold a pulley subassembly to the deck, and therefore the full weight of the deck, have also torn out. Time to learn how to weld.

Would really love to stay simple (no gas tanks and no 220v circuit required). Thinking of a FCAW. Any significant advantage to spending an extra $60 for continuously variable power settings and DC over AC? Never done a weld in my life. What do I need to know, other than helmet, gloves, protective gear?

Thanks...

What do you need to know? Where their is a welding shop near you -

I suggest you take the parts that need to be welded into a shop and have them do it for you.

Ol humfrz has welded quite a bit in my time and ol humfrz has messed up quite a bit of stuff trying to weld it in my time.

Therefore, for a one time shot for a newbie, I suggest you professionally have it done.

[MuseChaser]

Thanks, all! Very helpful. For what it would cost me to take it to a shop, I'm guessing it wouldn't cost much more to just buy an entry level welder and get my feet wet. I've always wanted to learn, so this is as good a time as any. Plus...I have some spare bicycles lying around I'd like to turn into a recumbent bike....a spare 5hp lawn mower engine....a spare 2-cycle weed trimmer engine.... some old scooters.....and a lot of stupid ideas....

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Thanks, all! Very helpful. For what it would cost me to take it to a shop, I'm guessing it wouldn't cost much more to just buy an entry level welder and get my feet wet. I've always wanted to learn, so this is as good a time as any. Plus...I have some spare bicycles lying around I'd like to turn into a recumbent bike....a spare 5hp lawn mower engine....a spare 2-cycle weed trimmer engine.... some old scooters.....and a lot of stupid ideas....

Check reviews very carefully before springing for a welder. There are good inexpensive ones and there are cheap ones. They are not the same thing!
Also take a look at your local online market places. Very good units often sell for peanuts because people buy them with all sorts of plans, never use them and just sell them off.
To echo some of what was already said.
Don't cheap out (as per my comments).
Prep is the key. You can not properly weld dirt, paint, oit or rust.
Practice on something you don't care about before ever even considering touching something you do.
PREP!
PREP!
and...
PREP!

Oh and spend a little extra on a self dimming shield/helmet. I tried my grandson's a while back and my god I wish that they had those back when I did a pile of welding. They are excellent.

[MuseChaser]

Thanks, T. Was planning on this one just to get me started; the price was low enough that even if it just gets this one job done, it'll still be way cheaper than buying a new deck.

https://www.harborfreight.com/easy-f...der-56355.html

Could afford this one, and like that it brings the capability to do stainless and aluminum, but hesitant to throw down this kind of dough as a newbie...

https://www.harborfreight.com/mig-14...put-64804.html

Both seem to have mostly very good to excellent reviews. Thoughts?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Thanks, T. Was planning on this one just to get me started; the price was low enough that even if it just gets this one job done, it'll still be way cheaper than buying a new deck.

https://www.harborfreight.com/easy-f...der-56355.html

Could afford this one, and like that it brings the capability to do stainless and aluminum, but hesitant to throw down this kind of dough as a newbie...

https://www.harborfreight.com/mig-14...put-64804.html

Both seem to have mostly very good to excellent reviews. Thoughts?

It is sort of a chicken and egg situation when new to welding and using cheaper equipment. The cheaper stuff is often harder to use and beginners get frustrated with their results which means they give up. Using better equipment from the start means better results, more confidence in abilities and taking on larger projects that the cheap stuff would never do in the first place.

I personally would spend the extra and have the mig capacity. Flux core is OK but to be able to do either or is well worth the extra cost.

[Wally86]

I picked up SMAW and TIG randomly a couple of years ago for fun...


If I had to start over get an "entry level" machine, I'd the third machine that I'm on. AHP200. High frequency start. AC balance. Meh pedal. It's capable of AC/DC if you're looking to do aluminum or everything else. You'll need argon but that's not too hard to get. Order a tank online that comes filled and then swap tanks with local spots for $40 to get a full tank.

We don't have YT at work so I can't list all of the helpful channels that I've followed but WeldingTipsAndTricks (Jody) and ChuckE2009 (Lanse) have been monumentally helpful to me learning to weld and weld pretty well. They both do a VERY good job of getting arc shots so you can see what you need to do and ChuckE2009 has a whole series where he breaks everything down for beginners. Watch, practice, watch, practice. Oh, and try not to grab a filler rod by the hot end LOL

[MuseChaser]

Thanks again. Still trying to get my head around what exactly determines capability. For instance.... another option...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-...596739#overlay

.. includes a regulator and gas capability for MIG welding in addition to flux core, but does not mention that it can be used for aluminum; only up to 1/8" mild steel. Why... is it because of the 88amp rating? The price is in between the two in my previous post. A Lincoln with similar capabilities to the more expensive one above is a lot more money... the 140HD is about $600. $200 feels good.. $350 causes a small sweat but I can deal with it... $600 causes a seizure. I can deal with a seizure if necessary. Would rather not. Lincoln seems to be one of the brands constantly mentioned in phrases reviewing cheaper welders like "This welder is garbage. Should have just saved your money and bought a Lincoln."

The heaviest thing I can ever imagine building would be a steel cradle for a 5400 pound fin keel 26' sailboat. Other than fixing the mower deck, immediate projects would be the aforementioned recumbent bike and a second battery tray for a dual-battery system installation in a Land Cruiser for off-the-grid remote camping.

At your suggestion, I've checked Craigslist and OfferUp in our area... precious little, and what there is is mostly 220v and AC (transformer) ancient equipment for not much less than new.

I truly appreciate the input. You mentioned that there were good, inexpensive welders... do have a specific one in mind?

Thanks!

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by Wally86

I picked up SMAW and TIG randomly a couple of years ago for fun...


If I had to start over get an "entry level" machine, I'd the third machine that I'm on. AHP200. High frequency start. AC balance. Meh pedal. It's capable of AC/DC if you're looking to do aluminum or everything else. You'll need argon but that's not too hard to get. Order a tank online that comes filled and then swap tanks with local spots for $40 to get a full tank.

We don't have YT at work so I can't list all of the helpful channels that I've followed but WeldingTipsAndTricks (Jody) and ChuckE2009 (Lanse) have been monumentally helpful to me learning to weld and weld pretty well. They both do a VERY good job of getting arc shots so you can see what you need to do and ChuckE2009 has a whole series where he breaks everything down for beginners. Watch, practice, watch, practice. Oh, and try not to grab a filler rod by the hot end LOL

Thanks for the YT channel suggestions... I'll be sure and check them out.

Also just checked out the AHP200. Looks great.. but it's a two-seizure price tag. Maybe getting the cheapest welder that'll get my deck fixed and getting my feet wet, then moving up to that if I "take to it," would make sense?

Fuzzfro.com has the AHP200 for $99. Probably not a scam site, right?

edit:... and... ChuckE2009's videos are no longer available. If I've interpreted the comments correctly on a related "channel," he got kicked off for his opinions re/ BLM. I have no idea exactly what he said, but the discussions I read in the comment sections were the typical "he's a racist, white supremacist" followed by "No, he's pointing out the racism inherent in any organization promoting one race over another," lather, rinse, repeat ad nauseum. At least YouTube is protecting us from opinions they don't agree with. Yay. Sigh. In any case, I guess I can't learn anything about welding from him. I'll try the other tip.

[Wally86]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Thanks for the YT channel suggestions... I'll be sure and check them out.

Also just checked out the AHP200. Looks great.. but it's a two-seizure price tag. Maybe getting the cheapest welder that'll get my deck fixed and getting my feet wet, then moving up to that if I "take to it," would make sense?

Fuzzfro.com has the AHP200 for $99. Probably not a scam site, right?

edit:... and... ChuckE2009's videos are no longer available. If I've interpreted the comments correctly on a related "channel," he got kicked off for his opinions re/ BLM. I have no idea exactly what he said, but the discussions I read in the comment sections were the typical "he's a racist, white supremacist" followed by "No, he's pointing out the racism inherent in any organization promoting one race over another," lather, rinse, repeat ad nauseum. At least YouTube is protecting us from opinions they don't agree with. Yay. Sigh. In any case, I guess I can't learn anything about welding from him. I'll try the other tip.

That sucks that he's gone. I don't know anything about his political stance (and honestly don't care) but his videos were super helpful.

The second machine I had was an Everlast ST140 with lift start TIG and SMAW capabilities and was an OK start but I really should have just saved those $400 and thrown them towards the AHP200 which was right around $750 when I bought one.

Your welder well pay itself off in fun. You'll weld up a welding table and welder cart and all of the funny basic projects that everyone starts with. In the beginning your welds will look like dog turds but with persistence, you'll be stacking dimes eventually lol.

Oh and side tip, get a FIXED darkness hood. I used a cheap "auto" hood for about 6 months before I got tired of random arc flashes cus the cheap hood's cheap sensors work about 95% of the time A number 10 fixed hood is pretty darned cheap and works very well.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Wally86

Oh and side tip, get a FIXED darkness hood. I used a cheap "auto" hood for about 6 months before I got tired of random arc flashes cus the cheap hood's cheap sensors work about 95% of the time A number 10 fixed hood is pretty darned cheap and works very well.