Here are the specs on the Lincoln:
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e240.pdf

Not sure when I am going to buy the TIG, though, so I am not sure when I'd be selling the stick welder. My sister lives in Jersey, just east of Philly, so I get over that way every now and then.

Wire feed - 24 ga. to 1/4"
Stick - 16 ga. to plate

Light work and sheetmetal I pick up the wirefeed. If I am working with heavier stuff it is a lot faster to use the stick than wait for the wire feed to build up a big enough bead.

Dang... the high tech Silicon Valley (San Jose) area is so high tech, I can't find any welding classes near by. The closest one I've found so far is 20+ miles away in Oakland.

You can take it from a "Tech College" for like $1k per semester. No thanks.

Wish I could help ya out there Offroader but all the places I know of are here in sac-of-tomatoes or points more north, or waaayy south. LOL Silicon Valley is so high tech it makes welding low tech. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

FYI there is a 175 amp Lincon buzz box in the pennysaver for 75 bux. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Or if ya want a cheapy FCAW (flux core mig) unit Harbor has a little Chicago 100 amp for 120bux. It wont do more than 1/4" single pass but might work for ya if ya have little projects. They have a GMAW (gas mig) for 200 or so I think. I believe that would be better for you because you can see the arc better and plus ya dont have to chip slag. But I'm gettin way off subject as my mind wonders.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
BTW I ditto what SD said farther up the thread <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the advice. I'll be checking the local swap boards. For those who haven't heard of it, Craig's list is a great place to find good deals on all sorts of things.

craigslist.org

i'd definitely say it's worth it. i started welding in high school, but when i took up welding at the local community college(2 quarters, 4 hours a day) i got much, much better. got rid of all my bad habits, i can fab just about anything now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Nice little row of nickels there Jedi! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I also agree with Superdawg. Am waiting on our votech school to finish with its overhaul so as to sign up.

On welders, I'm looking at the Miller line; Air Liquide carries them, and they're nationwide, so you can get parts/service anywhere.

Good luck down around the corner on your endeavors. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Check out B&R Welder:
http://www.brwelder.com/indexTemplate.cfm

They have decent prices, free shipping to the 48 states, and are pretty decent to work with. The local places did not seem to want to be bothered with my business, so I went looking for alternatives.

First business I did with them was for under $25 worth of resistors for a Century wirefeed welder I was trying to fix for a friend. The guy at B&R shipped me the resistors promptly and talked me through the repair. That clinched the deal for me. Been doing business with them ever since and will probably order my Syncrowave from them when the time comes. Still have to get my shielding gas locally, though.

Sweet, thanks for the tip. I was browsing at home depot the other day and they had quite a few different kinds to pick from, mostly lincolns too. They're not on their site so it must be a local thing. Anyway I was wondering what your guys take was on Arc vs MIG and 110 vs 220.

If I got MIG I don't think I would spring for the gas yet anyway so the only difference seems to be the feeder vs just replacing rods which doesn't really seem like a big deal to me considering the price difference. How does the cost of a flux spool compare to flux rods?

And although I've read in a ton of places that if you plan on doing heavy stuff get a 220, but a few friends of mine that have done welding insist that is overkill and I should just get a 110 and crank it up when I need to do something 1/4" thick.

Opinions? Experiences?

If you are doin 1/4" the 110v will be ok. If doin 3/8" and up go 220. Your consumables are more expensive for SMAW-stick per foot than MIG(wire). If ya do go stick get yourself a mix of rods- 7010, 7011, 7018, and 7028 in 1/8 and 1/4" variety. Ya can do most general things with those. Personally I like the 7010 and 7018 for g.p. but I'm goin on a rant- sorry. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I asked my sons high school ag/shop teacher where I could learn to weld. He said that part of his job description is to help/advise farmers over the summer, so if I'd stop in he'd spend a little time and show me a few basics. Schools out next week, I'll be asking him when I can stop by the week after.

If you live near where you went to school, or like me you're old enough to have kids in school, ask the shop or ag teachers, they might be able to steer you in a good direction.