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Think I need a welder

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maplewingnut
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I have always fancied havinga welder.

My project bike may be the perfect excuse. I think in its previous state of neglect the battery leaked. There are a couple of little holes in the frame where the acid ate through. The center stand has some serious holes in it. I think it is all structurally ok, but while I have it in bits, maybe I should fix it a little more permanantly.



The problem is that I dont know enough about welders. I am also trying ot aviod spending too much money.



I can buy a cheapo arc welder - single phase - new for $100. I suspect that for thinner stuff I will only blow holes with it. Some of the parts I need are probably pretty thin.



I see lovely MIG welders. Serious coin!! Some possibilities on Kijiji. Do I need gas??



How about flux core??



Anyone got suggestions??
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ScottInNV
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most versatile IMHO is gas (oxy-acetylene). You can use it to do anything from sweating pipes in your house to major construction work, just by changing the tips. I also feel that gas gives you more control with a shorter learning curve, in that its harder to screw something up permanently with it. If I could only have one welding outfit, it would be gas.
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R
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You might find that a mig welder's a bit more pricey, and the learning curve a bit steeper, but I think you'll find it easier to do bike and fabrication applications with a mig, rather than an arc-welder. You can find smaller, cheaper mig welders, but they limit you as far as the thickness of things you can weld. Kijiji or Craigslist or ebay are generally decent bets to save you some coin, so long as they don't need repairs.
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ali
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For thin metal you can't beat a MIG you can control the heat much easier. As for the learning curve it's point and shoot. Gas welding,(oxy-Acetelene) TIG and stick take a lot more practice, I'm not saying MIG is the best but if you have limited welding experience it will do what you want. I've never used flux cored wire on mild steel it's not used commercially, normally an argon C02 gas shield

Ali
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UbarW
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I bought a buzzbox from harbor freight, cheepo. It will last a lifetime as I am just a hobby welder. I use flux core, I find it a bit clumsy at times, but with patience it is ok for my kind of application.
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BC
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I have been welding for quite a few years and have many trailers on the road and many repairs to a variety of equipment. One thing that I would not do when I first started out would be to repair a bike frame and risk your life and others on the highway. Frame repairs should be left to people with ALOT of wleding experience. This is just my opinion and I know that I am very opinionated.
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maplewingnut
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BC wrote:
This is just my opinion and I know that I am very opinionated.
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Your opinion is valued.

Opinionated or not. What I need to do to the frame or to the center stand is not structural. No lives will be endangered if I weld it or if I just leave it alone.



Whatever I get, if I get anything, I know I will have a learning curve. I have tired arc welding in the past. My efforts were described as 'bird-**** welding' This was not only a reference to the appearance, but also to the holding power of my welds.
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JBz
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having been a certified welder for someyears in my lifetime id highly recommend a night course at a community college, get a few burns and go from there. I think you would be glad you did and the insrtuctor would probably help you with your project.I gag when i see bird droppingsand peoplecall themwelds. JB
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ali
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I also have a few years welding experience the only thing that can change metal properties is too much heat, if you go for the MIG option and are welding the bike frame get a really good earth to the welder and take off the battery, you don't want it to find earth through the wiring. If you can get the metal clean eg, get the paint off, you'll have a better chance of doing a good job. If you feel it's more cosmetic than structural go for it.

Good luck

Ali
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TitaniumWing
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maplewingnut wrote:
Whatever I get, if I get anything, I know I will have a learning curve. I have tired arc welding in the past. My efforts were described as 'bird-**** welding' This was not only a reference to the appearance, but also to the holding power of my welds.
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I learned to weld with a Lincoln Buzz box about 20 yrs ago. My Dad said, "Build eight tables out of that 2" pipe for legs and the 8" C-bar for tops and shelves." I said, "I don't know how to weld." He said, "You will after building the tables."

Then I welded heavy iron in the oil field off and on. Never really did and Oxy/Acetylene welding. Now I have a Mig which is basically cheating. Last year I took a class at the Adult High School. All we did for most of the class was Oxy/Acetylene welding. This is the best way to learn the basics, how to control the puddle, etc. Even if you are going to buy a stick or Mig welder, this will teach you the best about how to weld.

I agree with JBz, a good night course at a Adult High School or Community College is the best way to start. Mine only cost about 80 bucks. They will also familiarize you with all the different processes and you can decide which fits you projects and budget.

Also, for tubing, Oxy/Acetylene is the way to go unless you are going to become a very qualified TIG welder and drop some serious coin on aquality TIG machine. But, this is a hard place to start.

If you want to do any serious welding with a Mig, you need at least a 220 machine with gas, not flux core, IMHO.



A bad weld in the right place is a dangerous thing.
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freetoride
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Mig is nice, but must have gas shield. I have a 110 rig that is ok but very short duty cycle.
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nobbie
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Pop me a PM and drop by the shop. I have MIG, stick (sort of) and gas.

Centennial College has aone day introductory MIG course in Scarborough and I know a guy that has some rebuilt MIGunits.

As a bonus the guy with the used MIG weldersis looking for a bike.


Warning: Len's rule of welding



Don't stand under anything Len has welded. :cheeky1:
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