What Welder for Staircase?

[plexus]

Hi there. I do not own a welder and want to perhaps make a steel staircase for my house. i am an experienced do-it-yourselfer and i have experience welding with gas. I was wondering about this welder:

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=42419

its a lincoln mig-pak 140T. they are for sale here at a national large hardware store. would this be sufficient to weld together a steel staircase?

i talked to a friend who bought something similar and brought it back. he's a "toy" nut and i think he just bought it because it seemed like a cool tool to have. he returned it. he seems to think i'll need a 230V system and something more serious.

let me know what you think. i dont want to spend a pile of money on a welder just for this project. although i may have use for a welder in the future, i am more comfortable doing this project with the small mig-pak if it will work.

the staircase i have in mind would be made from typical stock - i havent scoped it all out but i think thicker walled square tubes, possible round and maybe 3/16" sheet for the steps. nothing outrageous but i would want it to be strong.

thanks for your help

brett

 

[shenion]

140A would do about 1/8". Anything above 140A will need to be 220V.

A Lincoln 170 or Clarke 180EN would be better for the job.

You would want a GAS MIG for the best looking welds. Gasless will work, but need cleanup of spatter and flux.

You could use an arc welder, probably 140A or more. Arc would take a lot of practice to do decent welds.

I got my Clarke from weldingdepot rather than use the local stores. Even with shipping, I got it at a good price.

 

[irondarren]

When you say staircase, do you mean the staircase complete with stair treads etc, or just the hand rail that goes up the side

 

[firephoto]

Lincoln has the 'big hardware chain' line that is similar in model name/number but is a different machine. There's Pro-MIGs and Power MIGs and they're different.

This is the retail line.

These are the better quality models sold through welding suppliers usually.

The higher quality line is going to cost you more for the similar thing but I think you would have an easier time selling it if you wanted to do that after your project was done and recoup some cost. The retail store versions have plastic drive mechanisms and I'm not sure but they might use aluminum transformers too. My power mig 180c has copper transformers and a solid metal drive mechanism.

 

[firephoto]

Here's some pics the differences in the drive mechanisms between the consumer and prosumer models.

Building a staircase is a lot of fabrication but if it's the only big project then the pro-mig might be the way to go. Compairing the pro-mig 140 from Lowes online to a power mig 140t on ebay they're both the same price but that probably doesn't apply for you in canada.

Like others said you might be better off with a 180 amp class machine too if you're working with some thicker material.

 

[plexus]

thanks guys thats useful to know. i have never built anything like this and i have only welded years ago. but i am enthusiastic and able. i would practice of course until i make a reliable weld. i cant specifically tell you exactly what the material will be etc but you can imagine. just good solid steel for both the rails and steps both of which i would weld together. i havent really put much thought to the process - maybe i'd make a wooden or metal jig and just weld the pieces together as i go. most likely i would do the design on paper and work out what materials i need, what cuts etc. but i also need to select a welder.

there is a lot of motivation to get a 120V system (mains in canada) just because its more portable. 230V means coming off the stove circuit which means a 230V extension cord ($$) and its not as useful or portable. if you really think i absolutely need a 230V system then thats the way i'll go (if i do this).

thanks
brett

 

[irondarren]

when you are constructing the stairs its self you can get away with almost no welding at all, by designing it so the structure is bolt together, if designed well then it saves on the problem of structural critical welds

 

[cobminor]

You don't always need the stove circuit. Canadian houses are usually supplied with 230v, probably because it is needed for the cooker line. The 230v is split into two 115v in the main fuse unit. From the main unit the circuits are wired from both halves of the 230v. Anywhere that 230v may be needed there is two 115v sockets side by side. One of these sockets will be wired to each side of the 230v. You can get adaptor plugs to join the circuits and give you 230v. Your garage may well have 230v in it already, wired as I have said. At worst you can find two separate circuits and make your own lead up.

 

[Drains]

If you want to stick to 115v, have a budget, and only have the one project, i'd suggest buying a small SMAW (stick) inverter. You'll have to learn to use it, but once you have, the welds will be sound. You can buy a 100A inverter for less than £100 in the UK, so I guess under US$200, maybe. ( I wouldn't vouch for their longevity though).
Others on your side of the pond will be able to advise better than me if you wanted to go that way.