So how bout a Lincoln AC 225 stick welder?

[FullyLitLED]

I am trying to purchase the so called "buzz box." I have learned how to use a friend's mig welder when I did my tire carrier but, I cannot afford to buy one. I could rent one for $120 a day locally but for under $200 there are some Lincoln AC225 stick welders I could get. My concern is, will it be difficult for me to learn the stick weld method, or is it fairly similar to the wire feed method but with less "comfort." I do not mind learning the old fashioned way since that is how it was done back in the day...

 

[Layonnn]

I would just try and find a used MIG on craigslist.

Stick and even flux core produce some ugly welds that require a good bit of cleanup.

The only reason i would go with a stick welder is to go with a MobiArc setup to have an onboard stick welder.
Ive been using a Lincoln Electric MIG 140 for projects. Works pretty well for stuff up to about 3/16" plate. Can do multiple passes for anything thicker.
Looks like they are about 600 from most places. About 3 times as much as your budget but worth it IMO.

Also, a good resource for everything welding is "welding tips and trick" channel on YouTube. I have been watching a lot of their videos and learning a lot of good things that have improved my welds and metal fab skills.

 

[Pin_Head]

A Lincoln buzz box is a tool that everyone should have. Used, they go for $100-$150 and they will always be worth at least that much. They can weld thick plate and weld outside where MIG has problems with the shielding gas blowing away.

The trick with stick welding is maintaining a 1/8 inch arc gap. Start with a "drag" rod, like 6013 or 7014 with a thick flux coat that you can drag on the surface of the steel to help maintain the proper arc gap. Use two hands to control the rod tip and play with the rod angle so you can see the effect it has on penetration and bead shape. Other than that it is pretty much like any other welding except you have to learn to distinguish the weld puddle from the slag coating.

 

[skully3]

I have a 225 AC buzz box and love it..I only use it on large projects tho. I purchased the thermal 3 in 1 unit awhile back...great for everything you would need for auto body. good thing is that its a DC stick welder but downside is its only 180 amps.

heres a link to the best price around.

http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcfa18miw.html


I have used it to tig, stick and mig...save your $ and go for this unless you plan on doing buckets and larger work. if you plan on just body work, a untrained person on a stick welder will get messy.

 

[fj40charles]

I have a 225 AC buzz box and love it..I only use it on large projects tho. I purchased the thermal 3 in 1 unit awhile back...great for everything you would need for auto body. good thing is that its a DC stick welder but downside is its only 180 amps.

heres a link to the best price around.

http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcfa18miw.html


I have used it to tig, stick and mig...save your $ and go for this unless you plan on doing buckets and larger work. if you plan on just body work, a untrained person on a stick welder will get messy.

Thermal arc also makes a 211i as well as 252i (all in one). I like how they work with larger 12" spools of wire. How does the TA 181i weld? I'll bet it welds just as nice or better than a Miller equivalent.

 

[skully3]

I have a miller 211 that i weld with at work and it is very nice. But i do have to say that the TA welds just as good. The advantages of the TA are that u get to tig with it on a scratch start. Its great for thin ga steel. The 252i is great but huge price jump.

 

[fj40charles]

I have a miller 211 that i weld with at work and it is very nice. But i do have to say that the TA welds just as good. The advantages of the TA are that u get to tig with it on a scratch start. Its great for thin ga steel. The 252i is great but huge price jump.

Thanks for the feedback. TA makes quality equipment. Their inverters as as nice or nicer than Red, blue, or yellow IMHO.

 

[ojaij40]

I have a 225 AC buzz box and love it..I only use it on large projects tho. I purchased the thermal 3 in 1 unit awhile back...great for everything you would need for auto body. good thing is that its a DC stick welder but downside is its only 180 amps.

heres a link to the best price around.

http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcfa18miw.html


I have used it to tig, stick and mig...save your $ and go for this unless you plan on doing buckets and larger work. if you plan on just body work, a untrained person on a stick welder will get messy.

Hi,..all good advice, but I'm curious, where would you use over 180 amps on a cruiser?

 

[skully3]

Hi,..all good advice, but I'm curious, where would you use over 180 amps on a cruiser?

most people that are going to make a large purchase like a welder and spend a 1500 budget are prob going to want to justify the purchase. So you would want a machine that could handle whatever life throws at you. With that being said, 180 amps for most larger repairs (not on body work) is on the low side for DC stick welding. But if I were to make a frame repair on a cruiser or had to weld heavy spring perches on, 180 amps with a 5/32 rod on DC would be about right. The point that I was trying to make was with the TA welder is that its very versatile and will handle most of your needs, even repairing smaller excavator buckets if you know what your doing. Just for perspective....the picture above of the welded shank is a 5/32 rod 7018AC at 200 amps, and that fall just outside the 181i capabilitys. also remember that duty cycle plays a big part in welding. if its a 65% duty cycle at 180 amps, you can weld for 6 -1/2 minutes out of 10.


skully3

 

[ojaij40]

most people that are going to make a large purchase like a welder and spend a 1500 budget are prob going to want to justify the purchase. So you would want a machine that could handle whatever life throws at you. With that being said, 180 amps for most larger repairs (not on body work) is on the low side for DC stick welding. But if I were to make a frame repair on a cruiser or had to weld heavy spring perches on, 180 amps with a 5/32 rod on DC would be about right. The point that I was trying to make was with the TA welder is that its very versatile and will handle most of your needs, even repairing smaller excavator buckets if you know what your doing. Just for perspective....the picture above of the welded shank is a 5/32 rod 7018AC at 200 amps, and that fall just outside the 181i capabilitys. also remember that duty cycle plays a big part in welding. if its a 65% duty cycle at 180 amps, you can weld for 6 -1/2 minutes out of 10.


skully3

Ok,....that is true,..there is nowhere on a cruiser frame that needs over 1/8" rod,...look at the thickness of the frame. 5/32 is thicker than anywhere on a cruiser.

 

[fj40charles]

Ok,....that is true,..there is nowhere on a cruiser frame that needs over 1/8" rod,...look at the thickness of the frame. 5/32 is thicker than anywhere on a cruiser.

you're getting good advice from skully3. I think you're getting the thickness of the stick rod with mixed up with the ability to weld a particular thickness of metal.

You're under the assumption that the welder is to used only for Land Cruisers. While that might be the case for you, I would say most people use their welders on other projects besides Land Cruisers.

180 amps max is really not much amperage and most likely will not have a high duty cycle. This is probably fine for 95% of the people out there with their home shops. The remaining 5% will want more power/features and the ability to spray transfer and/or not ever have to worry about hitting their duty cycle.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Ok,....that is true,..there is nowhere on a cruiser frame that needs over 1/8" rod,...look at the thickness of the frame. 5/32 is thicker than anywhere on a cruiser.

I'll point out that 1/8" thick sliders are too thin to really work on the trail. I've used plenty of 3/16 and 1/4" for sliders, bumpers and frame repairs. Tow points are even thicker. So to base the power of a welder on the thickest metal on the original vehicle isn't quite gonna get where you need to be.

Back to the OP's original question: a stick welder is a great tool though I'd hold out for an AC/DC version. IIRC DC welds much easier and cleaner than AC plus the selection of rod for DC is much greater than AC.

Good luck!
Nick

 

[fabriwelder]

Amperage.....

I recently picked up a Thermal Arc 181i Fabricator. LOVE IT. It is a great machine, versatile, and the price is right.

180 amps is enough. It seems that no one is willing to run multiple passes. You do not have to run a single pass with the biggest rod you can buy. You can use 3/32 rod and run multiple passes and weld any thickness of material you wish.

I am a welder. I have welded a lot of things. A lot of materials from .030 stainless to 3" carbon steel. So take it or leave it, but I think these new Thermal Arc units a amazing. If you need to go Blue, Miller is coming out with the Multimatic 200. Another multi-process machine, looks to be around $1800.