[Glenn]

Hi,

I'm looking for a welder.
What is the difference between and arc welder and gas or gasless welder.
How are they rated? Some are capable of welding either 1/8" or 1/4". Is this based on amperage? 220v is better than 110v?

Thanks,

Glenn

[labman]

If you are going to weld heavy stuff, you need a welder that draws a lot of power. When I do 1/8'' stuff with my 110v welder, I kick out the 20 amp breaker sometimes. If you are going to be doing big jobs, better go with the 220. The older style arc welders that use rods are easier to use and less bother to set up for occasional jobs. They work fine on heavier metal. You must match rod diameter to work thickness. The thicker the metal, the higher the amperage. It is much easier to work with Metal Works rod by Lincoln Electric than the stuff Lowe's and other s sell.

The gas and gas less wire feed welders ar more expensive and harder to learn to use. They are much more convenient if you are doing much welding at a time. They also work much better on thinner metals.

[Stan_The_Welder]

It depends on the job and the thickness of the metal. As far as which one is better they all do the same job if you can weld. But arc welding is usually done with metal thicker than 1/4" and less than that you would want a MIG welder and a 110v is big enough for 1/8" steel. The more amps that you are running the hotter the material gets. They aren't really rated, however Lincoln does make a good welder. And there are a lot of good brands out there. Just make sure you know what you want and that you are paying the right price for it.