Stick welder for rig building

XJsavage

XJsavage

CounterCulture
Joined
Aug 15, 2009
Location
Lyle's Ford SC
Does anybody use a stick welder to say weld up Axle brackets, link brackets, perches and what not? I'm thinking about picking one up that'll burn up to 1/4" (hopefully). What's a good one to get that'll run on 110 power? I've gotten really good at it and want one around the house.
 
I used my totally awesome and free 200amp Northern tool stick welder to weld perches and such on the 8.8

Granted, it's not a great duty cycle... but it got the job done.
 
I don't use one, nor would I really want to if I had a choice.
I think you would be pushing Any 110 machine trying to do that kind of work.
But if your set on a 110v check out thermal dynamics (actually tweco now) they have some decent stuff. Pretty sure they have some that are dual voltage (110 or 240). Be sure you get one that will run DC.
 
Last edited:
Of course I also have my trusty Hobart handler I've used for years sitting here too. I just think it'll be fun to burn some 7018s every now and then.
 
The first axle swap I did had stick welded brackets and held up for the 10 years I had it. A good stick weld is a good weld. I had a Lincoln tombstone 250amp machine, and did most of the welding at 90 amps with 3/32" rod if I remember right. The welds on the axle were strong enough to rip a factory upper control arm mount off the frame :burnout:
 
You might get away with 3/32" on a 110v machine but I would be worried with it. I don't think it would have enough amps to penetrate as needed.

I use my buzz box for heavy gauge welding, especially on the axle. I'm a much better stick welder than mig, so I trust my stick welds on heavy steel much more than my mig welds.
 
A 110v Stick Welder doesn't seem like a very good investment. I've just recently got a MIG welder and have always sticked everything. They are very useful. Any particular reason you can't run a 220v welder?
 
An AC/DC unit is better than just an AC but I have used my Lincoln 220V (Buzzbox) flawlessly for a lot of shit. Was the best $50 investment I ever made. I saw Lowes carried them for around like $200 new? But if looks is what you are after, it's not the greatest. And not too many people are proud to say they have one for there's so much superior options. But I'll guarantee anything I weld from 1/8 up to 1/2 under bench conditions. I fall back on my 110 Mig for smaller stuff.
As mentioned, I'd weld anything but a cage especially. And of course upside down isn't great. Better with DC than AC but still not there.
They are perfect for making anything on a bench.
There's a reason every farm with alot of equipment has one on hand...
 
I've decided I'll go with a bigger machine( 220), when I get one. Definitely a skill I don't want to lose.
 
Back
Top