Welders, welding, and stuff

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
2,440
How's this for a starting point for up to 1/4" steel? I'd go 75/25View attachment 78818

I used a Lincoln SP-100 for decades. It welded fine.
But after I bought the Vulcan 200 I wished I had done it sooner.
A few truths I have gleaned over the years. You will end up using the tool more than you thought you would.
You will never regret buying a bigger machine right off the bat.
Skip that and get the bigger one.
 

Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
How's this for a starting point for up to 1/4" steel? I'd go 75/25View attachment 78818

This review video expalins how on the upper settings the wire feed can’t keep up with the voltage on .030 wire and once he changed to .035 it handled much more voltage with the maxed out wire speed. I think for a 120v/ 140a welder bang for the buck it’s tough to beat. Especially because it also comes with a regulator and associated solid wire, roller etc. so it’s bottle ready.

I don’t know if the Vulcan wire is worth a damn though. I run either Hobart or Lincoln wire in my machine because of their known quality. I’ve read that the best thing to get better welds with a Harbor Freight welder is to get better wire. That was from the Chicago Electric days up until a few years ago, but this Vulcan stuff is possibly better.
 

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
2,440
This review video expalins how on the upper settings the wire feed can’t keep up with the voltage on .030 wire and once he changed to .035 it handled much more voltage with the maxed out wire speed. I think for a 120v/ 140a welder bang for the buck it’s tough to beat. Especially because it also comes with a regulator and associated solid wire, roller etc. so it’s bottle ready.

I don’t know if the Vulcan wire is worth a damn though. I run either Hobart or Lincoln wire in my machine because of their known quality. I’ve read that the best thing to get better welds with a Harbor Freight welder is to get better wire. That was from the Chicago Electric days up until a few years ago, but this Vulcan stuff is possibly be
I have run more than a few spools of Vulcan wire as well as the filler rod with TIG. No issues with any of it.

My MIG has the same issue. The wire feed speed is limited so to run higher arc voltage you do need to switch to .035.
One of my only real complaints and its not much of a complaint.
 

Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
To your point, I think a dual voltage machine with higher output will always be the answer if you can afford it. That’s why I got the Miller 211 vs the 140 when it came time to buy.
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Messages
119
Location
dirtyjerz
If you have patience and attention to detail, buying a TIG only machine can be a sneaky way to get more machine for the money up front. Gonna have to spend a little more time learning. A lot more time prepping the weld and doing the weld, but the versatility and quality is unbeatable by a long shot unless you spend a few grand extra for the next best multi-process/mig that can keep up
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
I can't comment on Vulcan, but I'd steer away from Hobart.
Hobart is the same company as Miller and from my knowledge many of the machines are just about exactly the same. I don't personally have any experience with Hobart machines but I've worked with many Miller machines (including the 211 I currently own). Miller has always treated me well. I can't compare to Everlast though as I have never used one of their machines that I can remember.
 

Arcticelf

Head BFH Operator at Gray Man Fab
Joined
Apr 23, 2019
Messages
1,167
Location
DelCo PA
Hobart is the same company as Miller and from my knowledge many of the machines are just about exactly the same. I don't personally have any experience with Hobart machines but I've worked with many Miller machines (including the 211 I currently own). Miller has always treated me well. I can't compare to Everlast though as I have never used one of their machines that I can remember.
Miller makes good stuff for sure, I've used several of their machines (mig and Tig).

Hobart may have miller reliability, but they definitely don't lay as nice a weld.
 

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
2,440
20220526_195811.jpg
If you own any model Optrel good I highly recommend replacing the headgear with this. So damn comfy. Easy on/off and tension adjustment.
And it you don't have an Optrel, you should. And then you should get this lol
 
Joined
May 2, 2019
Messages
1,857
Location
SI NY
Yeah, I'm back to about 75%. Still have to be careful of the repair, and limited to a couple hours work at a time in tht shop.

How's your recovery going?
I'm better. Things have stabilized, now I can slowly try to get myself into a better physical shape.
The low everything diet sucks, but I dropped ~10lbs because of it.




Still can't weld for shit though:anon:
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
15,887
Location
OC
I'm better. Things have stabilized, now I can slowly try to get myself into a better physical shape.
The low everything diet sucks, but I dropped ~10lbs because of it.




Still can't weld for shit though:anon:

Mediterranean diet and no beer helped me drop 20 lbs over 3 months. I'm back up 10 though because I started eating like shit again.
 
Top Bottom