need advise about the welding.

[mikechenry1]

So im about to start my reverse flow smoker that will eventually be put on a trailer. I have access to a good stick welder for all my welding. My question to yall, are stick welders good for these builds or do I need to try and go for a mig welder instead. 

 

[the big fella]

stick welding is just as strong and as good as mig welding. the only real differnce is theres nothing to clean off slag wise with a mig welder.

if you've got it use it and be happy

 

[kam59]

I love stick welding that is all I use. If you can weld with stick that is what I would use.

Here are some pics of a few I have done.

Back yard cooker for a friend.

HPIM2436.jpg

• kam59
• Jun 11, 2017

Reverse flow for my Son-in-law.

HPIM7094.jpg

• kam59
• Jun 11, 2017

My Hybrid cooker "Bahama Mama"

100_4649.JPG

• kam59
• Jun 11, 2017

My little cooker "Little Mama"

photo178.jpg

• kam59
• Jun 11, 2017

 

[motolife313]

Just make sure u know how to weld urself. Not a good idea to learn on ur first big project.

 

[chilerelleno]

I trained for Maritime welding with both stick and MIG, use whichever you have, but preferably use what you're best with.
If you're better with MIG, then rent a welder or time in a shop. You don't want a sloppy job.

@Kam59
Dang'it man!
Incredible meat burning machines.

 

[kam59]

I trained for Maritime welding with both stick and MIG, use whichever you have, but preferably use what you're best with.
If you're better with MIG, then rent a welder or time in a shop. You don't want a sloppy job.

@Kam59
Dang'it man!
Incredible meat burning machines.

Thank you ChileRelleno. There are more lol I just put up some to let Mike know that stick is a viable option if your'e efficient at it.

 

[lancep]

So my question is, what's easiest to learn? I used a stick welder in 8th grade shop class but only enough to get credit for learning it.

 

[motolife313]

one nice thing about stick is obviously no gas but also you can make ur electrode holder(stinger) as long as u want and u don't have to be pulling around the welder like on a mig a lot of the time. I do pretty much only tig myself, and my tig is also a stick welder and u can even control the amps with foot pedal

 

[kam59]

In my opinion you would be better off using Mig if you are pretty much just starting out. Without some serious practice with stick it may take the fun out of your cooker project.

 

[fatbastard09]

As a complete novice welder as of February of this year, I would have to suggest going with flux core mig welder if you are just learning.  A couple videos on youtube and I was on my way with my build (I just finished over the weekend).  Like Lance P, my only experience with welding was in 8th grade (a long time ago) and I found that single wire, no gas welding to be easy to learn and very strong on the structural pieces. 

 

[motolife313]

Flux core is not even mig and is much harder then welding with hard wire and gas. lol

 

[fatbastard09]

ML313, that would have been useful to know about 4 months ago!!!  In the end, price was a big factor for me.  The $100 price on the welder kinda made my decision, if I had known working with mig was easier I still might not have gone that route if the equipment was more expensive.

 

[motolife313]

Depends how often u wanna use it. I paid 2300$ for my welder 4 years ago.

 

[osiris]

Flux core (FCAW) without a shielding gas is very messy it works OK, but FCAW wires that require a seperate shielding gas as well, are easy as pie. But as with everything depends on allot of factors, the machine, the experience of the welder, the ground, if the metal is clean or dirty. Etc.