I want to learn to weld, then end up building my own rear bumper: Where do I start?

[96RedRunner]

Yea, I'll have to hang with my buddy that has a welder and learn from him.

Or I might just opt to pick up a HF welder and just go from there. haha

Something to look at when purchasing a welder is the Duty Cycle.
Duty Cycle is the amount of time you can weld before arc intensity starts to vary.
The cheaper welders will have a low duty cycle, expensive higher.
Most of the cheap welders have problems running a bead 3-4" long, arc intensity
drops off results in weak ugly weld that you won't be happy with.
Flux core only welders create a lot of spatter that has to be cleaned off for a good looking finish, Anti-spatter spray is not cheap. Spatter is a PITA to get off.
Gas only.

Again, my $.02, buy once cry once on this purchase.

 

[HELOTESTXTRD]

I learned to weld in the Army, over 20 years ago and recently started back up.
I started with a Northern Tool flux core welder ($100), then moved on to a Lincoln flux core, which was a huge improvement. Now that I am welding pretty much every other day I am using a Hobart mig welder with a 75/25 argon set up. It's the best way to mig weld in my opinion.
Projects I have worked on regularly are full length roof racks, and various led light brackets. This summer I am building the following within the next two months, ladder, rock sliders, ditch brackets and an overland trailer.
There is a company out of Canada selling weld together kits, here is the link
https://www.coastaloffroad.com/

 

[ndcent]

What's your budget for a mig machine?

You can rent or lease a bottle of gas so that could lighten upfront costs.

I've seen people use the HF welders with success but I dunno, I feel you'd be handicapping yourself from the get go with flux core and a bottom shelf machine.

Nothing wrong with buying used, tons of wire feeders on craigslist all the time. Currently using a Millermatic 251 I got for less than half the price of something comparable new like the 252.

Scrap yards are good places for cheap material to practice on. Grab some angle iron to practice fillet welds or see if nearby fab shops want to unload any of their offcuts for free or cheap. I know if an aspiring welder asked me for offcuts I'd gladly give them away.

 

[bob3dsf]

I've been wanting to learn welding for a while too. I agonized over whether to get MIG or stick, etc. My available budget held me back for a while. I was ready to get a HF welder but sooooo many people said that I'll just out grow it in a hurry and that I should just continue to sock away money. Once I got some nagging bills paid, I just stuck with patience and kept my eyes out for good deals. I like Lincoln (I guess the red color...??) for some reason but I'm not a brand snob by any stretch. I decided that to look for the power mig 180 dual. It runs on 120 and 240v, can do flux if I need that, etc. Seemed like a versatile machine. I considered the power mig 210 MP because it does stick and TIG as well, which would be nice to have all in one machine, and it gets good reviews. But, It's only 240v, I wanted the 120v option.

I recently build a garage/shop and had a 240v welder circuit put in so I'd be ready. The catch is they put in a 30A circuit, but I need 40A for 240v. Oh well, no biggie. I'll just re-do that circuit. So be aware of what you power needs will be.

I lucked out and found someone on CL selling the exact machine I was looking for. I was out of town when I saw it and it was still available several days later when I could get it. Yipee!

If you don't have any accessory gear (gloves, mask, etc.) consider that you can probably buy a welding package that includes some of that stuff. If you wind up buying new, that is. I know the Lincoln power mig machines come like that. Go to your welding supply and ask them. But keep your eyes on CL, it just takes time.

Also, I wanted to stay with lincoln or miler for ease of parts and repair. Any LWS shop will carry the reds and the blues. The vulcan welders from HF are getting decent reviews but they are more expensive and for what you pay, I feel like one should just put away a little more cash and get a well known brand pedigree, IMHO.

Once you have a machine to use, look up metal suppliers. There's one near me that sells beginner packs for $15. They have assortments of plate and tube to get some good practice. I'll bet most other metal suppliers do something similar, or would cut you a deal on small off-cuts for the same purpose. The guy who runs the "homesteadonomics" YT channel has access to an incredible industrial metal supplier (He's in AZ I think). It's like a metal grocery store.... so jealous...

 

[MN4runnerman]

[MENTION=77364]bob3dsf[/MENTION] the Lincoln 210mp is dual voltage

 

[ndcent]

True the HF Vulcan welders are getting good reviews but they’re priced in line with Hobart, so yeah.

Just picked up a second MIG this week, a brand new Millermatic 211 - gave $1050 and they’re $1200 new but this came with the Spoolgun ($200) a cart, regulator, and misc wire and bits. Nice to have a 110/220 machine for potential mobile work. Might sell the spool gun and get a 15’ whip for the 211, 10’ whips suck.

 

[bob3dsf]

[MENTION=77364]bob3dsf[/MENTION] the Lincoln 210mp is dual voltage

Really?? Well I'll be a.... I must have forgotten or just read the specs wrong, oh well, I found the machine I was originally looking for. That's good to know if I decide to get change machines down the road. I'm fairly certain that once I get into it I'll want to learn stick and TIG. I so want to make my own cargo rack, Just like Whitson made his. Then I'll take photos and send them to GOBI and tell them to screw off!! ...(evil Mr. Burns laugh)...

 

[WallyP]

I always thought HazardFactory looked interesting. You'd have to come to Seattle though.