So I got a free welder...

But I haven’t welded since high school school class which was...20+...years ago.   All I see at the local trade school is a full welder course at $5k.  

How do I learn how to use this specific one?

That there is a stick welder. If you are a farmer and got some 6011 or 6013 rod you can weld anything anywhere with no prep.

Can be used for frames and roll cages, but not much use on automotive sheet-metal. But hang around, Crackers might be along to prove me wrong!

Pete

I have almost the exact same welder, you can make a ton of stuff stick together in no time. 

Now you can make really big stuff

Be careful n not to get the stick stuck, it's not fun when they explode. 

RevRico said:

Be careful n not to get the stick stuck, it's not fun when they explode. 

That's a good rule for everything in life. 

 Get The Book for that model, you can do more than Farm Eqpt. with that one. The ONLY down fall is no Gas Shielding But wire brush cleans up nicely.

So it was a fried of mine's grandfathers.  There is a letter from the Lincoln District Manager from 1963 where the grandfather mailed the company asking them a question.  It also has the owners manual and sales brochure.  

I also think I found local group that can teach me how to use this thing.  https://knoxmakers.org/

And what your saying is this would be good for fabricating bumpers and trailers?  Like Jeep bumpers and off-road trailers?  Cause I need both of those. lol.

Yeah, bumpers and trailers with that welder, known in welding circles as a "crackerbox welder," would be no problem.  Get some scrap to practice on and have at it with some 6011 rod.

Good welding helmet? 

Good welding gloves?

Good coat?  

I have none of that stuff either

AKA buzz box

Have fun widdit

NOHOME said:

Can be used for frames and roll cages,

Most sanctioning bodies do not like stick welded roll cages. I found that out AFTER I bought my old stick welder.

octavious said:

Good welding helmet? 

 

Good welding gloves?

 

Good coat?  

 

I have none of that stuff either

I wouldn't be scared to use any of the items from Harbor Freight as far as helmet Etc but they're your eyes. You can buy a better quality at your local welding supply house. I would suggest a good pair of leather boots, nothing gets your attention like a hot piece of slag between your toes. That looks like a good quality machine probably lightly-used, congratulations!

On the down side, there's no shield gas.  On the upside, you won't drop an 80CF cylinder of C25 on your foot like I did two weeks ago.

When it comes to welding, I ALWAYS weld like a farmer, no matter the welder I'm using.  I'm trying to fix stuff, not fix it up for date night.

Not as handy as a MIG, certainly, but when it absolutely has to stick together, a SMAW welder like that is what I use.  I have a Miller 230 amp AC only with the crank on top.  I've welded stainless, carbon steel, and cast iron with it.  It's all held together.  I've even done 16ga 304 with it.  That gets a tad bit tricky.  The difference between no arc, stuck together, and 'oops' is pretty small.

Dr. Hess said:

The difference between no arc, stuck together, and 'oops' is pretty small.

So true and so funny.

TRoglodyte said:

 

I wouldn't be scared to use any of the items from Harbor Freight as far as helmet Etc but they're your eyes. You can buy a better quality at your local welding supply house....

I bought one of the cheap HF auto helmets, then later bought one of he less fancy ones from a welding supply house (worrying the HF might be a bit too low price).  Well, guess which one broke first... the welding supply one.  I am pretty certain they where both made in the same factory anyway (despite being about $30 more)

Great find on that old buzz box. I started out on one a bit newer than that one, but it's the same machine. I'll say one thing, those things will teach you how to weld! You can't just go over and make little tweaks and adjustments, so you have to learn to control the weld puddle with things like rod motion, rod angle, travel speed etc.

You don't have to spend an arm and leg on a good hood, (I've heard the Harbor Freight Auto Dark hood is ok, I've never used it)  Welding gloves and a coat from there will work for getting started as well. Go to a welding supply store if you want to get some ideas on premium gear. Get yourself a fire extinguisher as well.

Get you some 1/8" 6011 and 6013 Rods, some 1/8th and 1/4" steel scrap and start running beads. Burn some holes! Lig

This guy has helped me a lot in my journey in learning to weld, here he is welding up a Jeep bumper with a buzz box like yours. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy5GC1zOatA

He has quite a few videos regarding stick welding, here's a more general one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6yunnJUUK4

Good luck!

I think I have that same welder in my garage.  I need to get the garage plumbed for 220 and build a welding table at some point...

I recently upgraded from a Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet to a Miller Classic Series and IMO it's totally worth it to spend a bit more ($80 vs $40.) The HF has just the slightest bit of delay that will leave you seeing stars after a day of welding.

I prefer to wear TIG gloves, which are thinner and uninsulated. The protection isn't as good, but the added dexterity makes using tools so much easier. Tillmans are nice for like $12-15.

I've never owned any other PPE specifically for welding. Just wear long sleeves, pants, and closed toed shoes and don't be a dumbass.

Lincoln Tombstone, I had one for years.

I learned to weld on one of those and a Miller Thunderbolt.

As was said, they teach you how to work the puddle and control your heat, you'll be a better welder for learning with one of those. Even Mikey from OCC can use a hot metal glue gun (MIG).

• That welder is the Miata of stick welders.  

As far as gloves go, I hold out for genuine welding supply store gloves, gauntlet, insulated, and I add a (welding supply store sourced) hand shield to my posterior left hand glove, as that seems to catch more heat when I'm welding.

I learned on one of those when I was 12. By the time I was 15, I was the designated welder on my grandfathers farm. I still have the machine but haven't used it in 15 years. A friend is "storing" it for me. Reliable as an anvil. A little tricky to use at first but with practice you can lay down some beautiful welds. That machine will actually work better on thick metals than most mig machines. 

Great way to start welding. Learn the harder way first then you appreciate MIG more. It took me a while to take to my MiG. I liked stick welding for the control in your hand. 

Now i havent used my stick welder in probably 15 years. One thing that would have helped me get started is when your trying to strike an arc, just practice by skidding/dragging the stick on some scrap. I kept trying with a stabbing motion and had the power too low so it didnt want to strike an arc but it did love to stick.