newbie after info

Date 07-11-2017 19:21

A Hobart 140 or 190 would be a good place to start. The 140 is a 115v machine, and I believe the 190 is 115v or 230v.
These are small wire feeder machines that can run either solid mig wire (with gas shielding) or flux-cored wire with or without gas shielding. I think these would lend to welding alot of different materials without too much start up expense.

Ideally a GTAW (Tig) machine with high frequency A/C and D/C would be the machine of choice, but it takes a little more skill and coordination to operate and is more expensive to get off the ground running.

There are a few combination machines out now that can stick weld, wire weld (Mig and flux-core), and also scratch start D/C Tig....all wrapped up in one machine. Miller, Hobart, ESAB, Lincoln and a few others that are name brand equipment that will take a beating and work everyday of the week with minimal maintenance.

Look around on the net and see what's in your price range and get busy welding stuff together.

By mostyn harvey Date 07-13-2017 10:09

thanks for the advice, il look into it, be welding stuff together in no time hopefully!

By Tyrone

Date 07-13-2017 10:51

Welcome to the AWS Forum!

Good luck with your welded art endeavor! There are some folks here with the artistic flare, so don't be shy about asking for more advice as you progress.

By 357max

Date 07-13-2017 16:26

115 volt MIG machines will usually produce 90 amps weld output with a 20 amp breaker/fuse, receptacle and 12 gauge primary wire. for each 1 thousands of an inch metal thickness a sound weld may be produced with 1 amp of current. Therefore metal that is 1/8 inch is 0.125 thousands of an inch and requiring 125 amps of weld output. Therefore wire a dedicated circuit, receptacle and breaker with 10 gauge wire and a 30 amp breaker. If extension cords are utilized. use 10 gauge minimum size.
Carbon dioxide gas may be a good shielding gas, providing a bit more voltage at the arc. More tolerant of mill scale.
0.030 wire diameter will concentrated the arc in a smaller area and for the same amperage provide a deeper fusion into the base metal than the 0.035.
Sculpture may require welding vertical and overhead, therefore a less fluid weld pool will be achieved with the ER70S-3 wire versus the ER70S-6 wire.

By mostyn harvey Date 07-17-2017 13:39

thanks for the info! Its technical but im sure il find it useful as i learn a bit more! Nice one!

By 357max

Date 07-18-2017 15:15

A number of notable sculptures are welded with acetylene & oxygen. This system permits soldering, brazing, welding, cutting and heating. Therefore shaping, bending and joining with one system. And a very important tool is a grinder for removing rust - for sound welds do not weld or try to weld through it. If, in rust you trust - after the sculpture is fabricated - rust it with muriatic acid. Very fast rust.