anyone know of a good welder to stick weld with. I'm gonna start a program soon and would like to buy one to practice at home. I want to be able to weld 10" pipe in hotels on chillers (multi-pass welds). Anyone a welder full time? How is it as a career, good wage, benefits, security? Thanks

 

I love it make a good lving pays for my cummins habbit lol evry welder down here including myself uses Miller but i know up north some of my buddys say you get lauphed at unless you use lincon i love my trailblazer and my syncowave if your only stick welding bobcat is good and there are many others Your best Bet is to go on Both Web sites and look at the specs but im deff a miller man were rite on the water salt on evrything been using milers for 8 years. minimal problems Im sure somone will have other opinions just my 2 cents tho

 

one thing I forgot to add if its possible I like a machine that I can carry off the truck to a cart and wheel it around.

 

We use millers offshore. They havent let us down yet with all the salt water splashing all over it.

 

From my experience in Texas. (so take that has far as you want or not)
If you are ever going to be on a pipe line it's a must that you have a Lincoln sa-200 or better
any other type of machine and they will laugh at ya or sometimes not even let ya come on board. If you are ever going to be working in a plant they are going to require you to have a diesel machine.
Far as brand type I used to be a Lincoln only guy but Miller has grown on me.
I would not go with any other brands stick with Lincoln or Miller
IMO they are just like our trucks no matter what brand it is it's all in how you maintain them.

 

what are your other requirement?

10" pipe can be welded multipass with a 110 volt portable welder using 1/8" rod, but its gonna take a while.

If your doing purely field welding, a dedicated SMAW will be fine, if your going to do any fabrication in a shop or other sheltered area, I would recommend a power supply capable of 400 amps at 100% duty cycle and learn to GMAW. Mig is alot faster.

Miller and Lincoln are both good machines. We use Miller power supplies in our shop. They stand up to the grinding dust and constant use.

 

I don't weld for a living, but our shop at work has 4 different Miller welders. Haven't had any problems with any of them.

 

I have a Miller Bobcat, and love it. As good as any Lincoln I've used. I also have two Lincolns (Good machines also).

 

I second the trailblazer for overall use, its a great machine on trailer and runs all three processes. I have also used the synchrowave and the aerowave for stick/tig applications. My dad aways had a lincoln in the shop for odds and ends. Dont know what he used when he was doing grain elevator work. Maybe you can find some folks that own some different welders and run some beads and see which machine you prefer as far as adjustability and overall features and make your decision from there.

 

We've used Millers and Lincolns. We've also run Pro-Arcs but only the plasma cutter seems to work really good by them. If it were my choice I'd be looking at a Lincoln.

 

I've got a Miller Roughneck in my truck.
Bought it new in 1981, and although I'm not a welder by trade, I've burned my share of 6011, and this machine stills runs well.

 

anyone order supplies online like resp. mask, safety glasses, clothes for welding etc., my local store never has anything in stock and I need the basic stuff right away for work. Thanks

 

I get my stuff through NAPA, mainly because they can get most the stuff through their DC overnite.

 

We order all of our safety equipment from companies like Grainger because they have a huge selection in their catalogs.

 

Can't arque with that. My dad teaches welding at a local tech school and they have both Miller and Lincoln. He has a real nice Miller supply that will do spray arc mig

At home we have 4 or 5 millers, Bobcat 225, Millermatic 210, Millermatic 135, Dialarc 250 (2 of those and we don't use them, I use the bobcat to keep it running) Also have the 375 extreme plasma cutter, I don't know how I ever did without it.