Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I am not a welder and have never tried my hand at it. However, I sometimes find a need for something simple that I need done. Today, it is my air compressor. The electric motor is shot. Rewinding it is too expensive. I cannot buy a motor that mounts the same way, so I need to fabricate a simple bracket. So, before I run out and buy me a welder and start trying to learn how to use it I figured I'd get some advice from you guys. It is very seldom that I need to weld. I would never plan to weld something that would put my life at stake, so I do not plan on becoming an expert. Any thoughts on what to buy and what to stay away from? I will need to learn on the fly as I don't have time to take classes. Any thoughts on practicing? Thanks.

_________________
You are not old until you have more regrets than dreams! - John Barrymore (rephrased)

75 H1
78 CB400II Hawk
78 KE175

I have a welder , some material, a metal saw, drill press plus a small mill. What kind of bracket could I make for you?

Here's some of the cub cadet parts I make



Jeff

Jeff, I think I recognize some of those parts... (deck hangers?)

what are the t-handle looking things in the top left corner??

Oh, and so as not to hijack.

Just buy a cheap flux-core wirefeed machine for "farm-type" repairs. With practice, you can actually lay down a pretty nice weld. $100 on craigslist should be all you need. I have a small Lincoln buzzbox (wirefeed) that I use more than I'd like to admit.

the only problem is once people find out you have one (and you sorta know how to use it), they will knock on your door.....
I just fixed the gear selector on my neighbors tractor.

Thanks for the replies. I think this is something I'd like to learn to add to my capabilities. I have always wanted to, but never gotten around to it I always had friends that could help me out, but 5 years ago I moved to another state and lost my connections.

_________________
You are not old until you have more regrets than dreams! - John Barrymore (rephrased)

75 H1
78 CB400II Hawk
78 KE175

Top pic L to R
(T) "T" are tiller adjustment handles with threaded rod the chain goes on. Precision 3/4" shafts for gear boxes. rear lift attachment brackets
(M) quick attach brackets , PTO pulley pullers, brass PTO buttons
(B) solid motor mounts w/ hardware, snow thrower belt adjustment bolts ( left hand 1/2-13NC ) , & Frankenstein bolts to attach rear lift
bottom pic is my design of a sleeve hitch adapter so you can use a mouldboard plow on your garden tractor

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I suggest getting a mig welder that uses gas. That way you can use both flux core ( and no shielding gas ) and regular wire. Not much price difference if looking at CL and makes a big difference is what you can do.

Steve, is there a vo tech school close by where you can take a welding course?

Jeff

edit
I also suggest a 220V single phase welder.

I've thought about this for awhile myself. The Hobart 140 looks like a good starter.

IMO you need to decide how thick the material you will weld will be.
I typically only weld thin stuff so I bought a Miller MIG machine with shielding gas, have oxy/acetylene for brazing and jive aluminum welding but have access to a big TIG machine as well as an arc welder.
Cody's recommendation for a flux coated wire MIG machine is a good one and many can be retrofitted later for shielding gas (which will offer the ability for cleaner welds).
OTOH if you think you might be welding thicker steel a used Lincoln stick welder can be a great tool for general repairs.

Not sure if the Harbor Freight offerings are good or crap.

_________________
There are only two types of motor sport racing:
Nitro and everything else
(Sometimes referred to as fast and slow)

I hate to admit it, but I have a harborfreight mig and they are great, with a few mods they run as well as the miller machines my old job used.

Just google harborfreight mig 151 mods. And if you get something with a crappy ground clamp toss it for a good one ASAP, world of difference

Been there/Done that - bought a Lincoln 15 years ago and use the dickens out of it. Knowing my use (no more than 1/8 thickness) I started with a WeldoPak 100 pro that you could buy a Mig Kit (minus tank) and add later - which I did.

Welders have a duty cycle, IMO the less expensive ones will stutter after a minute or under high settings.... Even the Lincoln and Millers do. Miller has an auto-sense out that's supposed to work great - no more adjusting current and wire feed. IMO you get what you pay for with welders. I don't buy any tools from HF unless I plan it for a backup to a backup or will destroy is on purpose - again IMO.

Back to the Lincoln I bought. The unit was 300 bucks if I remember, the MiG kit was another hundred (and you might just buy one that is MiG wirefeed anyway because you'll go that way..... The Argon/O2 tank was very expensive, don't cheap out here - get a big as you can afford, nothing worse than running out of gas when you need it most during a project... All told it will cost ya. Also a good auto-darkening mask is a MUST!

BUT ----- the convenience and breath of repairs, fixes and fabrication stuff you can do is freaking great! One of the best things I EVER did was buy a welder. Before I was bolting and hacking things together.....

PS - don't let anyone know you have one, it's like owning a truck - everyone will want you to help them move....

_________________
This is true. Where I grew up the hills were so steep and long, when your ball rolled down the hill you just said "screw it"...

Looks like a nice DC unit which is great for steel but not aluminum.

_________________
There are only two types of motor sport racing:
Nitro and everything else
(Sometimes referred to as fast and slow)