advice on a welder

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facewizard13

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Jun 29, 2015
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I understand that a welder is not integral to the knife making process but I need one in order to get to the knife making process itself! my budget for a welder is about $300 and I'm not sure if I should get a cheap wire feed welder and a cutting toch, or can I just get the cutting torch with a welding tip and it will do me for the time being?

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if i had to weld something small, say a nut to a piece of steel, would the torch melt the nut before i had a chance to weld it? or would what i have clamping the nut to the metal melt first?
 
Before spending your money I'd advise stopping by a welding supplies store. Your more likely to get some real advice on what will best serve your needs! The "Home Depot" style stores & a lot of online retailers aren't EXPERT'S.... They will tell you what you want to hear, unfortunately this can be not so great advice!!!
 
OA gas welding is a skill, just like TIG. Quality MIG is also a skill. But low quality but workable MIG is pretty much just point and shoot.

If you get a gas setup and plan to weld with it, be prepared for a learning curve. But short answer, yes you could weld a nut to some plate with it if you're good. But most folks are going to find MIG or even stick a lot easier to start with.
 
What do you have for power? 220?
You can braze a lot of stuff but I would buy that Miller Thunderbolt on CL in your area for $500. Might be able to get down to $450.
 
I use a hobart handler mig 140. Seems to handle most jobs well. Runs off 110v. Gas shield ready.
 
On your budget, I would get the one Charles ( Atlas) suggested. You really want the 240VAC unit, not the 120VAC one. There is a huge difference in ability and durability.
 
You will appreciate a larger welder. I have a Hobart 190 that has worked well for me. You will want to consider what you might weld in the future. Like Nathan said, getting a reasonably acceptable MIG weld is not too hard with a little practice. I find myself welding things all the time for little projects unrelated to knife work, so I consider it a critical piece of my overall shop equipment. A good way to learn to use it is to build your welding cart and welding table using your new welder.
 
The Lincoln 140 or the Hobart etc are about the best of the 120v migs..If you get good and know what your doing they will do more than people think with good bevel prep..Will weld up billets just fine,make tables,carts and most simple tools..Flux core or gas..Dont let anyone tell you that flux core will not make a pretty weld..It will, you just have to know how..
Id also throw in a plug for a arc welder like the Hobart stik mate lx..Its Ac/DC at about 230/160 amps..Burns up to a 5/32" rod and has infinite control..You can use it with a scratch TIG set up..I know most of that means nothing to you right now but it might in the future..
Id like to just say buy a a Miller 251 right from the get and be done with it but we cant always do that..
 
Ypu might be surprised just how cheap you can find the Lincoln Tombstone Arc Welders on Craigslist for. I got a newer 220v AC/DC one for $30.
 
Look on craigslist for a used 240v welder first then go with Harbor Freight. I am a welder by trade and know you wont regret getting a more powerfull welder. The little 110v wire feeders from Home Depot work great for what they are, but $300 wont get you one and you really won't get the penetration you need on material over 1/8 thick. Just my two cents.
 
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