Posted by admin on Friday, November 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I'm planning on building a go-cart and possibly a mini chopper from scratch. I understand all the work that goes into such a project except for the welding portion. I keep getting conflicting views as to whether I should use use arc, tig, or mig and the voltage/amps required. I'd basically be welding together aluminum and/or steel.
I also don't want to spend an insane amount of money. I'd be willing to drop a couple hundred dollars, but no much more.
The materials I need to weld are:
1) 14 gauge aluminum square tubing
2) Flat stock aluminum
3) Angle iron
4) Bearing bracket (not sure what metal)
The thickest metal I'd be welding is about 1/4" thick.
If you are welding just steel than it would have to be a mig. mig welders are easy to use, they don't cost too much, and they make fairly good beads. However you want something to weld aluminum. Aluminum is not an easy metal to weld as there is a very delicate balance between it being hot enough and turning the whole area to a puddle(because of how well aluminum transfers heat). They sell spools for mig welders that can let them handle Aluminum but they are usually only one the more expanicive models. tig welders give you the most control over your weld, they make the strongest welds, and they will also weld just about everything however they are alot harder to use. I don't have too much experience with them so i don't really know things like how much they cost. Arc welders are cheep but they are harder to use. Especially for doing off angle welds like a vertical weld. or at least that is how it was for me. I have never used an ark welder for aluminum.
You just need to decide how much use the welder will get for each type of weld. if you need control and the ability to weld everything get a tig. if you mainly will use it for steel then the mig will be something that is very easy to learn,the hardest part is adjusting the settings. if cost is your main problem than pick up an ark but if you are doing some serous welding then i would get one of the others.
As for the voltage, look at the ratings for how much it can handle. it will usually say it can do a 1/4 inch or so.
Esab 353CV Welder welding machine - 460V - 3 Phase - With cart - MIG Stick Flux , Welding Cart W/ Tank Storage MIG TIG ARC Plasma Cutter 28"x12"x28" 3 Shelves HD, HD Welding Cart With Tank Storage MIG TIG ARC Plasma Cutter 3 Shelves Portable, 90 AMP FLUX CORE WIRE MIG WELDER FREE WELDING CART, COMBO MIG-100 90AMP FLUX CORE WIRE MIG WELDING MACHINE NO GAS + WELDING CART, Welding Cart Universal For Mig 100 131 135 MAG ARC 100 200 250 Welding Machine , NEW Welding Mig Oxygen Acetylene Cylinder Tank Cart Dolly, Metal Man TTWC1 Three Tier MIG Welding Cart, NEW MIG - Flux Welding Cart, Powerweld® 180 AMP 220V MIG Welder c/w Flowmeter & Cart, Industrial MIG, TIG, PLASMA or ARC Welding Cart / Bench, Dual Welding Mig Oxygen Acetylene Cylinder Tank Cart Dolly, Large - Welding Mig Oxygen Acetylene Cylinder Tank Cart Dolly, Miller ALT 304 CC/CV MIG Welder with S-74D Feeder on Cart, Lincoln Nascar Licensed MIG Welder SP-135 Plus /w Cart and Bottle + Wire, Powerweld® 130 AMP 120V MIG Welder c/w Flowmeter & Cart, Mig 175 Welder & Spool Gun, Welding Cart and Helmet Kit, New Hot Max Mobile cart and 175 Amp MIG Welding Gloves Helmet Kit Free Shipping , Heavy Duty Welding / Torch Tank Cart - Mig Tig Welder, NEW! MIG TIG WELDING CART! FREE SHIPPING!!, Welding Cart Universal MIG MAG ARC TIG Machine Welders Home Garage Portable Tool, 3 Trays Mig Tig Welding Service Cart w/ 1 Drawer, 3 Trays Flat Top Utility Tool Service Cart Mig Tig Weld, Snap-On Muscle Mig Wire Feed Welder MM140SL with Bonus Cart!, Mid - Welding Mig Oxy Oxygen Acetylene Cylinder Tank Cart Dolly - FREE SHIPPING, Small Welding Mig Oxy Oxygen Acetylene Cylinder Tank Cart Dolly - FREE SHIPPING, Eastwood 135 amp Mig Welder Cart & Helmet Welding Kit, MIG140 Welder, Cart, Cover, Helmet & Gloves Package NEW, RealGear® MIG - TIG - PLASMA CART!!! *NEW*, RealGear® MIG - TIG - Plasma Low Profile Welding Cart, NEW MIG WELDER WELDING CART 200LB CAPACITY 3 SHELVES, Heavy Duty Mobile Mig Welder Welding Cart Mig Tig, MIG Fllux Welding Cart, Miller Economy Cart Mig- Tig - Plasma Cart # 300425, Miller Deltaweld 451 MIG Welder & S-64 Feeder on Cart, MILLER MILLERMATIC 140 AS MIG WELDER & CART 951373, MILLERMATIC 180 AS MIG 907312 & DELUXE CART -COVER, MILLERMATIC 140 AS MIG # 907335 & DELUXE CART 770187, Small Cylinder Cart Dolly Welding Mig Oxy Oxygen Acetylene Cart Free Shipping, Mobile Heavy Duty WELDING Welder CART- Flux Mig Tig, HOBART HANDLER 140 MIG WELDER & CART NEW 500500 - , HOBART HANDLER 140 MIG WELDER WITH CART & COVER NEW, NEW Hot Max Welding Mig Plasma Cutter Cart Safety Chains for Tanks Free Shipping, Miller Deltaweld 451 MIG Welder & S-74 Feeder on Cart, Saf-T-Cart Running Gear Series Carts -sf mc-81 mig welding cart, Mig Welder Welding Cart, NEW HIGH QUALITY UNIVERSAL WELDING CART FOR MIG MAG ARC TIG MACHINE WELDERS, HOBART HANDLER 190 MIG WELDER with Cart - NEW 230V, HOBART HANDLER 190 MIG WELDER w/ Cart & Cover- NEW 230V, NEW MIG WELDER WELDING CART 200LB CAPACITY 3 SHELVES,