Allrighty, I have a question for all y'all. What I hear most often is "MIG this, MIG that," and while it is all and well, I am flat broke (college student), and coughing up for a $500+ MIG is a bit much.. I am an engineering student, and that means that I am lucky enough to experience all types of welding; and I have long ago decided that my preferred method is stick welding. MIG is fine, but the skill it takes to be a good stick welder is far higher, and I find it more pleasureable to actually weld with it.

Here is my question: What would you reccomend in the way of a stick welder? I am looking at doing all of my fabrication with it: f/r bumpers, sliders, and a SAS way off into the future. Any help here?

 

You can get a decent 220V/225amp AC/DC arc welder for not a lot of money. I got a used one with all sorts of extra stuff for under $200. I too like stick welding, probably built 25 pair of sliders with mine. I use MIG almost all the time now for the speed, but stick is more fun and if you have to weld thick steel, it is the way to go. I use DC almost all the time, the cheaper welders only have AC.

 

Like 4crawler said go get a used one. AC/DC if you can swing it. You may have to buy a new holder or clamp but its just a heavy transformer with only two moving parts... Make sure the dial clicks into each setting and the power switch is ok then you should be good to go. Wires are easy enough to replace if they look worn/craked/cut or if you want them to be longer.

I would stay away from ones that have a crank to adjust the amperage... in my experience they never seemed to be that consistent....