I do not know how to weld. But I've been scouring craigslist for cheap welders so I can learn. I picked up this beauty for $30. Its a Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft 110V, 50amp stick welder. It has zero adjustment. You just turn it on and go to town. It'll weld up to 1/4" metal using 1/16 rods.
Side note: Powr Kraft? Nothing instills confidence in a tool that can seriously harm you like a brand name that includes misspellings on purpose.
Vintage.
Yep, its basically just two big coils of wire.
I bought some gloves.
And a cheap welding mask. The mask was extremely lame so I decided to paint it.
Thats more like it. Primer red.
With the proper protection, a box of electrodes, and zero skills I found a simple non-structural project to start on. When I cut the chain guard mount off of the swingarm I left a couple of grooves. I decided to try laying a couple of welds in the grooves so I could grind them smooth.
This thing leaves some dirty welds.
A whole bunch of grinding and sanding later this is what I have. Not perfect, but certainly better. After powder coating it should look OK.
My Harbor Freight welding experience was boogering together a Spitfire floorpan, unimpeded by skills, knowledge or aptitude. For some reason I was repeatedly stung by bees while working outside. The floorpan traced the unmistakeable development of my welding methodology from blobs to ... less blobby blobs. I blame the bees.
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