How to Weld Metal for Beginners

If you searched for “how to weld metal for beginners” 

I have several videos that I made just for beginners like you.

Some say that flux core is the easiest to learn.  

First off, there are a bunch of options for you and so I will try to boil things down in a way that won’t overwhelm you.

Obviously, you will need a welding machine.

But what type?  this can get confusing for the beginner.

There are 4 main types of welding processes and lots of different types of welding machines.

TIG, MIG, STICK, Flux core

Some machines do more than one process and some do all processes.

Welding machines are also sometimes just referred to as “welders” and some just do one type of welding while others do multiple types of welding.

A very basic welder that almost every farmer had is also sometimes called a buzz box.

If you dont already have a welding machine, you might want to read further for some help in deciding what type of welder to get.

A lot depends on what type of power you have in your garage or shop.

If you already have 230 volt power, you have lots of options.

The good old Lincoln AC stick welder also known as the Lincoln tombstone welder is a great choice. Those welders are practically bulletproof so if you can find one at a yard sale for under 200 bucks, that’s a great choice.

Stick welding machines are more versatile than you might think because stick electrodes are available as small as 1/16” diameter ( a little know fact) and those tiny little 1/16” rods can weld thin sheet metal in a pinch.

And of course with over 200 amps, you are not limited in the thickness of metal you can weld.

230volt power is a must have for tig welding aluminum thicker than around 1/8”.  My tig welders that run off 115volt power only go up to 120-145 amps on AC and you really need around 1 amp per thousandths of thickness up to around 1/4” .250” thick. After that the 1 amp rule changes a bit.

 

If you only have 115volt standard household current you need a welding machine that will work with 115 volt power.

There are some small inverter stick welding power sources that will work and also a several 115 volt mig welders that work on 115 volt…and also some dual voltage machines that will work on either 115 volt or 230 volt power. 

You might find a used 115 volt mig welder on either craigslist, Facebook marketplace, or apps like offer up, next-door, or letgo.

If you have a strong 20 amp breaker in your garage or shop, a used Hobart 140 handler mig welder is a good choice but will usually cost upwards of $400 even used. 

I have been using a primeweld mig180 for a while now that is a mig welder that also does flux core and stick welding.

The mig180 is a dual voltage welder that runs well off of 115 volt power.  Its not a bad option for someone just getting started with welding because you have lots of options and can grow into it if you every decide to run 230volt power to your shop.

My garage shop only has 115volt power but my laundry room is only about 40 feet away so I sometimes use a couple of 25 ft extension cords to be able to weld thicker metal.

For a used 115volt welder, I would recommend sticking with a brand name that has a decent reputation .  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Lincoln, miller, or Hobart but should at least be a brand you have heard of like maybe forney, klutch, or the titanium series from harbor freight.

Personally, I like primeweld as a brand because of the very few problems we have had, primeweld has helped us make the customer happy very quickly with not hassle.