4 types of welding.
- Stick Welding (ARC) uses a sacrificial rod that melts into the joint, usually covered with an anti oxidizing coating that turns to gas with heat.
- MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Welding uses a wire feed with a shielding gas (usually Argon), the wire melts into the joint and the gas stop oxidizing.
- TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding uses a tungsten rod that causes an arc with a shielding gas (usually Argon), and in the other hand you use an uncoated sacrificial rod to melt into the joint.
- Torch Welding using a mix of Oxygen and Acetylene the metal is heated till it is almost molten a sacrificial rod of the same metal as is being welded will fuse with the base and create the bond. Torches are normally used to cut rather then weld.
In the shop I currently have my MIG welder that I bought in the early 90’s at Home Depot, and two items I picked up from the estate of my ex’s grandfather. A Stick Welder and an Oxy/Acetylene Gas torch setup.
The Craftsman Stick Welder is a huge beast I think it is from some time between the 50’s and the 60’s. It is 2′ X2′ x3′ and must weigh 100 lbs. It has some tiny metal wheels on it that are completely useless and a handle like you are going to drag it around.
The previous owner had made a rod holder on top of it that was filled with different rods all of which were useless since the coatings were rotting off them. I will replace this with something that can be sealed to keep them fresh.
The welding cables are so old that the casing on the copper cores has broken in most places and fallen off. I am considering recycling it but it is some really nice thin copper strands that make up a significantly thick twisted braid. I would rather get it re-coated if that is even a thing.
The Gas rig is almost the same thing they sell today. The hoses are not wonderful, but Tres brought over some much longer replacements and I need to get them re-rapped around the back of the cart. The two tanks still have pressure but I doubt they will ever be re-filled due to their age. The manifold has issues and when I tried to use it for the first time it made a loud rhythmic hiss pop sound until I turned it off. The torch is fine and so are the extra heads. I just need to get another manifold if I ever plan on using it.
The MIG Welder was my first real venture into welding and I learned quickly that it was very difficult to do something that looks very easy as a spectator. One of the first projects i did was to build the welding cart.
the cart ended up being two pieces since I did not have the gas tank to begin with. I was using the flux core wire that had the shielding gas as a solid core. Unfortunately that wire spits a lot so I got the gas bottle and regulator and changed out the gun lining and tip for the correct smaller ones. This made it work significantly better. Also since we now have a good power connection in the shop it runs much better.
On a related note i also have a Plasma cutter, that is possibly the coolest tool I have ever bought. It will cut through plate aluminum like paper and steel almost as fast. I love that thing. I have half built a welding table but the wheels on it are way too tall and need to be removed. I need some old filing cabinets for drawers on it and a couple of slide outs for holding the grinder and vice and a plasma cutting water filled table. That is going to be a sweet project. I think I have some old metal shelving parts that will work for the sacrificial slats on the table. I just need to get it going.
