AD helmet or Lincoln 225 stick?

[cmac]

Hmmmmm,

I have about $250 in my pocket and I was wondering if I should go with picking up a AD helmet or a Lincoln 225 stick welder. I am new to welding, recently purchased a HH 180, and am taking some classes to practice burning beads. I need the advice of all you experts, what do you think would serve me better as a venture more deeply into the world of welding, the AD helmet or the stick welder?

Any advice?

[MigManiac]

You can find a decent stick welder used for 50.00 to a 100.00 just look in the classifieds.But if you want a new one then go for it,But i would ask myself "will i keep using it or will it just sit there?"I havent touched my stick welder since i got my HH180.Matter of fact i am trying to GIVE it away to some kid any kid who would like to learn to weld.

[cmac]

yeah, I saw your giveaway posting.... I think that it is great, and if anyone from your neck of the woods is traveling towards Northern VA, I will gladly take it off your hands.....ANd I will gladly take the lessons too

[It's a dry heat]

I gave my brother my lincoln 225 ac/dc. Got to go over and do his out let for him. Once I got my sp175 plus. Never used 225 for half inch. and sp's work great.
vern

[Tug]

If you can forsee having to weld anything dirty or rusty or thicker than 1/4 " then I'd go with the stick. If your work will be clean and thinner than1/4" then the auto darks are very nice.It's really you're call.
Tug

[Slant Six 225]

Save $50 more. Buy a $140 AD, like a Jackon Journeyman and find a used stick welder for $100-150. After using an AD helmet for a minute you'll wonder why you didn't buy one a long time ago. Save your old helmet for observers to use.

[Planet X]

depends, are you planning on making things? then assess the rest of your fabrication tools- melting metal is only the fun part

[hankj]

cmac,

Kinda depends on you. If you're a youngster with good hand-eye coordination and good eyesight, an AD hat may not be as usefull to you as a stick machine.

On the other hand, if you're a half-blind, shaky old fart like me, an AD hat is a very big asset. It allows me to see exactly where I'm gonna start the arc, and lets me get both hands in there to hold the gun or stick steady where it needs to be.

Hank

[Trent Combs]

I did a lot of stick welding with my Lincoln AC/DC tombstone and a helmet with a small flip-up shield, then got one with a big fixed window - made a real difference. Then I bought a HH135 and a Hobart Hood A/D helmet - and wish I'd done it 10 years earlier. Unless you have a pressing need for a stick welder, buy the A/D first. You'll often run across killer deals on used stick machines, but a good used A/D is a very rare thing.

[david_r]

cmac,
Just to add a little more confusion to the mix, I wouldn't buy a lincoln. I'd buy a hobart, and I own a lincoln! I sure would like to run 3/32" 6011 at about 65-70 amps. I don't have that option with my lincoln. Then again, I'm doing maintenance welding where par for the course is 1/2" to 16 gauge or something at least as interesting.

[W8KI]

My 2 cents -
Get the AD first!!! makes a world of difference to "new eyes" or... old-tired-eyes like mine.
Save for a used or new AC/DC stick. DC has a very nice arc and I think it is easier.
Ditto the Hobart/Miller choice for infinite adjustment.
OR if ya ever wanna play with scratch tig on mild steel, the DC variable will make all the difference.
have fun!