How to weld circa 2020

When I was young, about 1968-1978, I took shop because my dad was a farmer/rancher and I learned how to use a cutting torch and arc weld. It might be officially called shielded metal arc welding -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shielded_metal_arc_welding)

I had to fix/fabricate this and that on the farm/ranch. I didn't do a ton of it but I was okay at it. Most welds seemed to hold. Not everybody can weld, not sure why, lol.

Has anything changed in welding for the general population of DIYers? Do people still use the same type arc welders we had back then or is there some new technique that is easier? If there is something different, how would one learn that? I actually only one guy who welds anymore and it's just a sideline and there used to be a ton of full-time welders around here. Youtube, lol?

Point being, it would be handy to have a welding machine sometimes. Thanks!

 

Most people now use MIG welders which is a wide feed “gun” with a trigger. Much simpler to learn than stick welding.

 

I took a few welding classes in high school and college. Wire welding is waay easier than stick. Our college welding class was 100% stick welding.

 

Stick welding is still common...you can buy a used buzzbox cheap! But for many home DIY'rs, the ease of using, and the prevalence of half decent sub $200 MIG welders has made these the go-to choice for most...

 

I learned right out of HS. Big cart gas MIG units. Later they also got TIG welders and I was welding tiny little SS parts for medical use.


Later, for my own use we got a small Hobart mig unit. It ones 120v, gas or gasless ( only used it gasless), and it works very well. I've welded up trailer brackets, wheel chicks for motorcycles, snowmobile carts, deer stands, etc.

Dad had/ has an old stick welder, but every time I tried it, it didn't work fer chit.

 

I don't have a welder,and haven't done any welding in many years

I know the MIG's are fairly inexpensive, but what gauge metal can be properly joined with MIG?

I was always under the impression that MIG is great for thin metal, but no comparison to arc welding on thicker steel.

Can you get good penetration with the average MIG welder?

 

These are separate/different from the trophy girls?

1/8" and down for small welders...1/4" and down for larger ones...roughly...

 

My fathers 220v Millermatic will easily do 1/2”, in fact I’ve seen him weld up to 3/4”. Keep in mind you can adjust a mig with knobs for amps and speed for different thickness metal. There is actually a chart under the flip up cover that tells you what to set it to for a certain thickness metal based on your wire diam.

 

Yeah, the commercial units will do heavy plate...but I thought OP was asking about DIY project sized welders?
Even with a big welder, once you get into thicker stuff you really need to bevel and take multiple passes to build up the weld...not unlike stick welding.

 

You’re probably right. I remember asking my father his opinion on a 110/120v wirefeed and he said why throw your money away. It’s too small and limited. Keep in mind he welded in a commercial shop for about a decade in the 80’s. Pretty neat, they did a lot of gun parts, and a lot of EM and Westinghouse motor frames, as well as a bunch of other stuff. Now if I could just convince him that he needs a plasma cutter.

 

I prefer Tig welding.... but I’ve burnt up ALOT of pounds of filler rod with them.... once you learn how to Tig weld, everything else is just a manure spreader .

 

I use my welders quite a bit. My smaw (stick) will also do gtaw (tig) is for thin and thicker metals. My gmaw (mig) I will use up to 3/8" on steel if it's clean. Mig welders are constant voltage machines which means you set the voltage and the amps are adjusted with wire speed. I had a 115v Lincoln mig for a very short time and sold it for a 250 amp machine as you can make a very nice looking bead with a 115v. that does not penetrate the base metal.

 

Learned on stick, hated it even though I did well. 1980's ish

Went to 110v wirefeed and the world was a different place. I was taught (correctly) how to do multiple passes which always passed muster and then got a 220v MIG and the world changed again Burned 1/2" which was great, but ended up back on a 110v which has been my go to machine for many years now. Argon/CO2 mix has always been a requirement and you will know why when you switch over. Still keep the flux setup around just in case, but try not to use it.

Eastwood makes a great 110v machine, just my 2c.

 

Lol. Chocks.

My small mig does 1/4" no issues. It is a more expensive small welder though

 

I had the sp140 Lincoln. Like I said I sold it and went bigger. Flux core will weld a bit thicker than er70 with c25 mix.

 

I have several welders and access to several more. I have an old tombstone Lincoln buzz box for repairing most of the farm equipment out in the garage. I also have 2 110v MIG welders, a Harbor freight W/flux core and a Lincoln with CO2 gas. And I have the repair trailer with a Hobart 10K welder/generator that I bought when I was welding a bunch of pipe fence.
i also have access to the neighbor’s shop, where they used to run a metal fabrication business. They have a couple 400 amp power supplies with wire feeders on top. One is set up to run dual shield, allowing one pass welding of 3/8” plate.