Welding questions - not LC related, but figured y'all could help (1 Viewer)

[geocrasher]

I am currently looking at doing some bicycle related projects. I need to build a bike trailer, and I've got lust for one of these: http://atomiczombie.com/product-wildkat.htm. I WILL build one But, I have no welder. A good friend gave me a copy of The "welders handbook" by Richard Finch and it looks like just about any type of welder will do what I want. I will mostly be working with mild steel tubing, either square or round. Nothing over 2" in diameter/width and nothing too thick. In some cases quite thin, really. I'm tempted to find an oxy/acetelene torch setup and learn to weld that way. The book makes it look pretty simple. But, I am on the cheap, and I don't think that's the cheapest way to go. I can't afford much. I have been looking at cheapo arc welders that run on 110v. The guy at atomiczombie.com says he uses 6013 rods in a cheap arc welder for all his projects, and they usually turn out quite nice from my eyes.

So, what's a guy on a small (<$100, hope and pray) to do? I'm hoping to find something used, and I won't be buying one of those harbor freight wire feed welders. I found out that the consumables (tips, etc) arent' available.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[AZkick-n40]

I am far from a welding expert, but would think either an arc or O/A setup would not be what you are looking for to build that bike. I would think Tig (most likely) or mig would be better.

Go and check out this forum and ask the same question: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=229

Take a welding class at the local CC to get the basics of welding and then decide what type of welder makes the most sense for your application.

Couple of good welding forums:

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/

http://www.weldingweb.com/

HTH,

Brian

 

[geocrasher]

Funny, I have almost 1000 posts on bikeforums.net, didn't think to go there. I know MIG would be the nicest, but I can't afford MIG or barely even a wire feed welder. Hence the post on how to do this *on the cheap*

 

[Pin_Head]

Any type welder will be able do this well with the proper technique. For $100 or less, you are looking at a used AC "buzz box". It isn't the easiest to learn, but once you learn, welding with DC or other processes will seem easy in comparison.

 

[honk]

You probably aren't going to do it for under $100. on your own.

In your situation I think I'd find a welding course put on by your community college or high school or whatever is available. Sign up and take your plan(s) to the first class meeting as your project for the class.

 

[Weaver]

brazing is the way to go for bike frames. followed by tig.

you know, you can rent welders for pretty affordable prices.

i sold my lincoln for some retarded reason last year (kick myself daily) and for projects i just rent a lincoln gas mig for 30 a day down at the local welding store. or, you can take it out for a full week @ $60.

we have cruisers, it's usually not hard to find a buddy that needs something welded as well, to split the rental cost with. cause really, there's only so many welding projects that come my way, i'm not to bummed to pay 30 every few months to knock out a couple of them.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

cheapest I have seen a good 100 or 135 MIG welder is about $200-$250 used. That is what I would do, stick will probably be very difficult I think for bike parts.. Tig will be expensive. Brazing may work, I know very little about it..