Which welding machine should a beginner welder purchase?

[sheilacorvin298]

I want to become welder and want to know which welding machine is appropriate for welding and how cost is it. I need trusted information from the welder experts.

 

[3DDave]

Welding equipment is matched to the job and to the skill of the welder. Right now you apparently have no skill, so you should buy no welder. Find someone to teach you first.

Please don't advertise here.

 

[TugboatEng]

Miller Dynasty 210DX. It will do everything you expect it to with no limitations. That is the best type of machine for a beginner.

 

[Tmoose]

What materials do you anticipate welding?

Do you intend to work as a welder in PK in the next year or so?
What industries?
Bridge construction, general weld repair shop, autobocy repair ?

 

[dik]

My late brother had a Miller, I don't know the model, and it was a great machine.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

Agree with 3DDave, take a course at a local college or training school. That will also help you decide what kind of process suits you, so you spend your money effectively.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

 

[ATSE]

3DDave and Ironic are both correct.
If you don't know what you don't know, avoid a big purchase. And you might not even like welding.
Especially don't be enticed by a low cost machine at a home store. A welding machine is a long term purchase, and a good welder will last longer than most cars.
If you spend $1,000 on a welding machine, you have a high tech boat anchor.

 

[TugboatEng]

That is the conversation I was trying to stimulate. Learning to weld on a crappy machine is frustrating and you'll spend more time learning to work around the machine than producing good welds.

Actually, I suggest getting an oxygen-acetylene rig as you can weld with it and if you're doing serious welding you're going to need it anyways. Brazing is a very useful skill to learn as well, especially if you're doing repair or artwork.

 

[Metalfixer]

Start with the safety requirements first, especially with Oxy-Acetylene equipment.

 

[SnTMan]

For a beginner, you could a lot do worse that a Hobart Handler. Good "hobby" welder, inexpensive, sold everywhere, and you can sell it any time you want.

Is it possible to learn welding without going any school or colleges?

Certainly it is. But speaking as one who has taught himself to do any number of things, I say get some lessons

Regards,

Mike

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[3DDave]

The OP is interested in posting advertising links.

 

[moltenmetal]

Easiest process by far for a beginner for steel is GMAW (MIG). If you don't know you will be doing a lot of work and everything you're thinking of welding is steel, buy a flux core machine because the bottle of shield gas will cost you as much as a cheap MIG machine.

Which machine to buy? What's your budget?

I have a Lincoln MIG Pak 15. It was about twice the price of a Chinese hardware store MIG machine, and is capable of both flux core and gas shielded solid wire MIG welding. I use the latter exclusively now. The machine has been solidly reliable for over a decade and I expect decades more service out of it. It has been through countless spools of wire.

I have a multiprocess AC/DC TIG/stick/plasma cutter as well. It was three times as expensive as the MIG machine and gets used much more rarely as other than a plasma cutter. I'm a bad stick welder (poor eye-hand coordination) and need to set myself up properly and sink some time into learning TIG.

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http://www.spitfireresearch.com)