air compressor or welder?
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From: Long Island, NY
air compressor or welder? i have some money to spend (~200) and ive been saying my next big investment will be a welder or an air compressor
now which one should i get???
i can get a new 90amp flux/ gas welder for around 200 (should be good for up to 1/4" on 2-3 passes)
OR an air compressor capable of 5cfm for around 180 and tell my parents and gf to get me air tools for the holidays
which one would better suite me for the time being???
now which one should i get???
i can get a new 90amp flux/ gas welder for around 200 (should be good for up to 1/4" on 2-3 passes)
OR an air compressor capable of 5cfm for around 180 and tell my parents and gf to get me air tools for the holidays
which one would better suite me for the time being???
Last edited by greatskiiiier; Oct 28, 2009 at 08:24 PM.
Ouch... $200 isnt a great budget for either of those items honestly. What are the name brands you're looking at? The only 90amp welder I know of for less than $200 is a Chicago, and its only a flux wire welder, not mig.
When it comes to air compressors, forget all about PSI. If you're talking about 110v or 220v compressors they'll all make the PSI you'll use. Its CFM that you have to shop. 5cfm at 90psi isnt that great, as in it will be close to the threshold of making average air tools barely work with the compressor running constantly. 12cfm at 90psi, on the other hand could run a sandblaster.
It all boils down to what you want to use it for. If you plan on not running any air tools other than stuff to air up your tires and maybe an air wrench for split seconds, then you'll be okay. If you've got plans for an air compressor for your shop then you need to keep shopping... something 220v that turns at a low RPM and puts out a high Cubic Feet per Minute.
Both the welder and compressor could be lifetime investments...
When it comes to air compressors, forget all about PSI. If you're talking about 110v or 220v compressors they'll all make the PSI you'll use. Its CFM that you have to shop. 5cfm at 90psi isnt that great, as in it will be close to the threshold of making average air tools barely work with the compressor running constantly. 12cfm at 90psi, on the other hand could run a sandblaster.
It all boils down to what you want to use it for. If you plan on not running any air tools other than stuff to air up your tires and maybe an air wrench for split seconds, then you'll be okay. If you've got plans for an air compressor for your shop then you need to keep shopping... something 220v that turns at a low RPM and puts out a high Cubic Feet per Minute.
Both the welder and compressor could be lifetime investments...
FWIW, I've got about $400 in a Rol-Air 80 gallon compressor off govdeals. Thats including the cost of another 5hp motor and the electrician hooking it up. And about ~300 in a 110v lincoln 135amp mig welder from home depot (closeout).
Only buy the truly smokin deals!
Only buy the truly smokin deals!
Almost everything that you use a compressor for can by done manually, the only way to weld without a welder is gas welding (oxy-acetylene). Anybody who learns to gas weld first is much ahead of the curve as far as skills go. You also have the ability to cut steel with oxy-acetylene. For $200 you can get a nice, used torch outfit. For the same money, a compressor or welder will be a piece of poop, even used.
Good point on the torch outfit. A cutting torch is a great excuse to go that route 
The ol' heat wrench has come in handy a time or too for me, lol. I've never tried to weld with one, but its definitely a tried and true method.
To the OP, you can get a haynes manual (same dudes that makes car books) on welding that spells out all the different types of welding and it gives good techniques on them too.
On the other hand though, a nice little mig setup sure does make you feel like pro in about 30 minutes...
The ol' heat wrench has come in handy a time or too for me, lol. I've never tried to weld with one, but its definitely a tried and true method. To the OP, you can get a haynes manual (same dudes that makes car books) on welding that spells out all the different types of welding and it gives good techniques on them too.
On the other hand though, a nice little mig setup sure does make you feel like pro in about 30 minutes...
Dont ever buy a cheap weldler, You WILL regret it.
Buy an air compressor. You will use it every day you work on your car. a welder you may not use it ever.
A compressor is a must
Buy an air compressor. You will use it every day you work on your car. a welder you may not use it ever.
A compressor is a must
i say go with compressor. if 200 dollar budget look on craigslist as i have seen some nice home setups for that price. i socred a 7.5hp one of ebay years ago for very reasonable. infact still using it. but that is probaably overkill for home shop.
you will need an air compressor if you get a welder. chances are you will run grinders cut off wheels etc with air.
you will need an air compressor if you get a welder. chances are you will run grinders cut off wheels etc with air.
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Save your money until you have enough for a good quality item. Nothing worse then buying a cheap product that is unable to do the job. Very frustrating when you need a good quality, strong weld and when your life depends on the welding. Or a compressor that wont run a air tool more then 3 seconds and the you wait 1 minute for the unit to catch up before it will run another 3 seconds. Been there and it's a real pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yep chicago makes a 90 amp and I have one its a piece of crap save some more money and buy a real welder or air compressor
I like my compressor set up 2 150psi portercable pancake's conected together and atached to a 30 gal tank(my dad downsized his carpentry biz) its ghetto but it works and its red so its gotta be high performance
Almost everything that you use a compressor for can by done manually, the only way to weld without a welder is gas welding (oxy-acetylene). Anybody who learns to gas weld first is much ahead of the curve as far as skills go. You also have the ability to cut steel with oxy-acetylene. For $200 you can get a nice, used torch outfit. For the same money, a compressor or welder will be a piece of poop, even used.
Thread Starter
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From: Long Island, NY
i got the welder- 140amp 110V clarke mig/fluxcore... i can weld decent with a mig as is and figured anything i could do with air i can do manually/ use electric... as stated, you can wrench without air, you cant fuse metal without a welder
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: C/S, colorado
My 2 cents is to get the hand tools you don't have. Ive got a pretty good compressor but I don't use it much, as far a a welder there's a lot more to buy than just the box itself.
Mask $50-300
Gas ~$200 the first time ~$40 after that
wire ~$50-100 depending on the size type ect
clamps As much as you can spend
Mask $50-300
Gas ~$200 the first time ~$40 after that
wire ~$50-100 depending on the size type ect
clamps As much as you can spend
I will sell you a good welder for not much more https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...lder-fast.html but i would vote an air comp first also I love my air tools
