Projects while keeping distance (1 Viewer)

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You can pick up a crackerbox welder used for around $250. Another $50 for a hood and about 10 bucks in rod.

Some of the folks in the club have the equipment and are happy to help, all you gotta do is ask.

Sweet, thanks. I've been wanting to get into it. Maybe some LCA skid plates and other brackets and small armor pieces until I get the hang of it.
 
Don't buy a cracker box welder, aka buzz box stick welder. They suck and an amateur will never get good at it. Stick welding isn't easy to pick up then master it unless it's your career and you do it daily.

Just suck it up and buy a small MIG welder with Co/Ar gas mix and a real auto darkening hood (not from Harbor Freight). Then just pick a project like a DIY bumper and have at it. Lots of MIG welders on FB/CL/etc for sale. MIG is easier to pick up and get good at, which in turns boosts your confidence, which makes it easier to tackle larger and larger projects.

A stick welder will just piss you off, then one day you'll toss that SOB in the back of your 4runner, go "wheeling" in the West Mesa. Funny thing is that you'll also be packing your weapons which you'll end up using your Buzz box as a shiny, bright red target for long distance shooting.
 
Don't buy a cracker box welder, aka buzz box stick welder. They suck and an amateur will never get good at it. Stick welding isn't easy to pick up then master it unless it's your career and you do it daily.

Just suck it up and buy a small MIG welder with Co/Ar gas mix and a real auto darkening hood (not from Harbor Freight). Then just pick a project like a DIY bumper and have at it. Lots of MIG welders on FB/CL/etc for sale. MIG is easier to pick up and get good at, which in turns boosts your confidence, which makes it easier to tackle larger and larger projects.

A stick welder will just piss you off, then one day you'll toss that SOB in the back of your 4runner, go "wheeling" in the West Mesa. Funny thing is that you'll also be packing your weapons which you'll end up using your Buzz box as a shiny, bright red target for long distance shooting.

Talk about rage quitting.........
 
Ten hours into this 4runner front bumper, ready to burn in. Removing the OEM front bumper took about an hour but it was fun snapping off brittle plastic pieces along with a gazzilion trim things.

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Just suck it up and buy a small MIG welder with Co/Ar gas mix and a real auto darkening hood (not from Harbor Freight). Then just pick a project like a DIY bumper and have at it.
Agree. MIG+CO2+AR. If I can do it, anybody can. Stick sucks. BTDT, or at least tried.

When I started I had a cheap hood. It hit the trash fast and I bought a nice Jackson auto-dark. Your first project should be something easy … like a cart for the welder.
 
Ten hours into this 4runner front bumper, ready to burn in. Removing the OEM front bumper took about an hour but it was fun snapping off brittle plastic pieces along with a gazzilion trim things.
Now the big question is will it fit and bolt up. Or, be all wonky. :flipoff2:
 
Don't buy a cracker box welder, aka buzz box stick welder. They suck and an amateur will never get good at it. Stick welding isn't easy to pick up then master it unless it's your career and you do it daily.

Just suck it up and buy a small MIG welder with Co/Ar gas mix and a real auto darkening hood (not from Harbor Freight). Then just pick a project like a DIY bumper and have at it. Lots of MIG welders on FB/CL/etc for sale. MIG is easier to pick up and get good at, which in turns boosts your confidence, which makes it easier to tackle larger and larger projects.

A stick welder will just piss you off, then one day you'll toss that SOB in the back of your 4runner, go "wheeling" in the West Mesa. Funny thing is that you'll also be packing your weapons which you'll end up using your Buzz box as a shiny, bright red target for long distance shooting.

Maybe. An AC/DC Lincoln will teach you how to weld. It will make running a mig so much easier. You can also weld different materials just by changing rod. It really isn't hard. Mig is a lot easier and your shop will be a lot cleaner.

I like welding with a stick welder a lot better. Mig is boring.
 
Now the big question is will it fit and bolt up. Or, be all wonky. :flipoff2:

Everything tacked on the vehicle so 98% chance she'll bolt back up :hmm:.
 
Maybe. An AC/DC Lincoln will teach you how to weld. It will make running a mig so much easier. You can also weld different materials just by changing rod. It really isn't hard. Mig is a lot easier and your shop will be a lot cleaner.

I like welding with a stick welder a lot better. Mig is boring.

Yeah, that's 'cause you're a PROFESSIONAL who welds outside and gigantic things all day long :flipoff2:
 
Ten hours into this 4runner front bumper, ready to burn in. Removing the OEM front bumper took about an hour but it was fun snapping off brittle plastic pieces along with a gazzilion trim things.

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Hopefully it's done for the breakfast, I was between that and the coastal. I went coastal and love it, but yours looks really nice too. I like how open the winch opening is, the coastal doesn't have much room. Which reminds me I still need to buy a winch.....
 
Everything tacked on the vehicle so 98% chance she'll bolt back up :hmm:.

Unless you warp it ...... Jk no bad juju, what are you gonna paint it with?
 
Yeah, that's 'cause you're a PROFESSIONAL who welds outside and gigantic things all day long :flipoff2:

Haha. You forgot the outta work and outta practice "professional" I taught my left-handed twin sister to weld with a stick welder. If she can do it anybody can.
 
Unless you warp it ...... Jk no bad juju, what are you gonna paint it with?
Ya, he will burn in the brackets and they will bend and nothing will fit.
 
Ya, he will burn in the brackets and they will bend and nothing will fit.

Happened on my rear bumper. After that I lost interest. One of these days I will pull it off and finish it.
 
Haha. You forgot the outta work and outta practice "professional" I taught my left-handed twin sister to weld with a stick welder. If she can do it anybody can.

I want to get one since I can somewhat do MIG now. My grandpa has stick welded for probably 30 years. I gotta get that cranky old man to show me.
 
I bought my welder when I did the FJ40 project. I really wanted to learn, and make my own junk. Since then, I still pull it out for little projects. Just cuz I can.
 
I bought my welder when I did the FJ40 project. I really wanted to learn, and make my own junk. Since then, I still pull it out for little projects. Just cuz I can.

That's a nice little welder.
 

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