Welder Suggestions

[wndsnd]

I would like to learn enough about welding to do my own sheet metal repairs to the 72 I just bought. Is there a 120V 60hz type of welder that would be preferenced? Or should I just hire a pro to do it right! What Guage and type of sheet should I practice on? All your help is appreciated.

[luskesq]

If you have no welding experience, I'd suggest a MIG but make sure to get the complete setup with the gas. A 120 v version is fairly reasonable even for a name brand. I happen to have a Lincoln but there are several other good brands (Miller for one) out there as well. Even with little experience with a mig you can do decent job on thin metal but yes, practice and research before going after body panels. With the 110 you can even weld reasonably thick metal. I made a swinging tire rack for my '57 Willys out of 2" thick wall tubing holding a 33" tire & rim and it worked out well (it didn't break off!).

I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions but if you get one, I'm sure you'll have fun.

Good luck,

Keith

[wndsnd]

Thanks Keith,

I didn't know that the electric welders used gas as well. I will start my research. If anyone else has comments or suggestions please post.

Thank You

[luskesq]

You don't necessarily need to use gas with a MIG, if not you use a flux core welding wire but with the gas you get a much cleaner weld. I started without gas but wasn't happy with the appearance of my welds. Adding gas made a huge improvement.

Keith

[wndsnd]

What type of gas do you use

[mcfoo]

You use a combination of Argon and Carbon Dioxide.

Go to a local welding shop and they will have what you need.


Tom B.

[infraredcalvin]

Originally Posted by mcfoo

You use a combination of Argon and Carbon Dioxide.

Go to a local welding shop and they will have what you need.


Tom B.

+1

I got a welder from Eastwood, the 175, and although I'm no expert, I'm pretty impressed with it, great warranty and customer service (wife got it for me). The reason I got the 175 over the smaller 135 is because I want to learn how to weld aluminum, and it came with a spool gun. I also have 220 at the shop, so I also installed in my garage. If I was just using at home I would have gone for the 135 (110v). Gas is pretty easy and cheap to find, I "bought" the bottle from airgas, and you take it in and they'll swap out for a full bottle for $30. I bought a size 80 ($150) tank, could have gone with the 60. use 75% argon, 25% co2. The guys at the gas/weld shop are really helpful to newbies, they seem to get excited that people want to learn. Get an auto dim helmet ($40 on sale at northern tool) makes a world of difference of what you can see, also pick up some extra tips, I'm finding the more I experiment I toast a few tips in the process.

Search for "welding tips and tricks" on the net, guy is kind of a no bs type and posts lots of free advice, just have to deal with the ads. Good luck!

[speedemon666]

Millermatic is a good brand. You set the metal gauge and wire diameter and the welder automatically feeds the wire at the correct speed making ametuer welds more professional.

I've been using mine for 3 years now and have had no problems with it.

I would recommend talking to a local welding shop for equipment. But welders-direct.com has really good pricing.

[Schwarzeritter]

My suggestion is perhaps one you will dislike, but to be honest. Firstly you should start off with some welding classes, just biting the bullet and doing it is doable, but if you ever plan on touching anything of value I recommend a few classes or have an experinced welder who can guid you thru the trials of welding or fabricating its worth it.

In terms of welding, equipment it all depends on what you are welding and the complexity of what you are welding and alloys etc. Good luck ~

[Traveller]

Originally Posted by wndsnd

I didn't know that the electric welders used gas as well.

Well gas is not used in the same manner as used in oxy-acteylene welding where it is used in the combustion process.

In MIG and TIG welding, gas is used as a shielding gas to keep oxygen away. That is my understanding.

One day, I will have a nice TIG set-up; at the moment, my oxy-acetylene set-up is a good all around tool to have.

[larrym]

first - buy yourself a copy of Welder's Handbook HP Books 1264

I have a millermatic 130 - 110volt - with gas setups for both steel & aluminum - bought it new back in 1993 to use on a race car project

- nice thing is that it is portable and can be used almost anywhere - I kept it at our local college auto-body-shop-program for 2 yrs of night-school where i worked on the race car

- 90% of the time i use flux core for repairs and work on rusty old car bodies - and on overhead jobs - gas-shielded is not worth a damn on rusty bodies and/or where there is paint & other gook in the area,

gas-shielded with solid wire is best on bare and new panels - and aluminum of course

I also have a Smiths Oxy-Acetylene setup which is very useful for overhead work on sheet metal and lots of general weldiing, plus you can cut stuff up with it & easily make bolt holes in thick metal - bought it new in 1968

I have a Miller 225AC 220volt machine for the heavy metal - bought it new in 1970

fwiw - . 2 friends with no welding training have cheap 110v migs (like from Harbor) and use exclusively flux core - and they are very happy with em on their car projects

.

[Fud]

I have a lincoln sp100 mig welder that I am going to be selling. It uses 110 volt. I'm less than an hour from you. Come up and try it and see if you like it.

FUD

[wndsnd]

I will do that. Might be over the weekend. Will that work?

[wndsnd]

Do you have a number in mind yet? Is there a sas set up?

[rfuerst911sc]

Miller , Hobart, Lincoln are all good quality welders you should purchase what you can afford and get local service/parts for. I went with a 130 Hobart because at the time I started looking it went on sale at a local farm store and had the quality/features I was looking for. It has done everything I have asked it to do I have no regrets. Mine has the gas rig and that really works well for items like welding wheel flares. I have also use flux core wire ( no gas ) and that works well in windy conditions and on rusty metal. Mig is quite versatile but like anything else takes practice. You have to develop the " feel " , this is knowing how long to stay in one spot along with move rate of the tip. If you are a clod with no feel/touch in your hands you may be disappointed in the results. Excellent suggestion was made on taking a welding class, this is a great way to be taught by someone that knows what they are doing and hopefully can teach . Once you learn the skill you will be amazed what can be done with just some practice. Good luck.

[Chaznaster]

I run a Hobart 210MPV. I like it quite a bit.
It runs on 220 or 110 with a simple change of the plug.
Hobart is owned by Miller. I think of it as a baby Miller.

[Mark44]

Originally Posted by placestrateg

I am a novice welder, I can lay beads with some skill using MIG, stick, and Oxy-Acetylene. Looking at using this skill in building myself a small aluminum boat. Can anyone recommend what type of welder I should consider in purchasing to do this? I hope this doesn't start a "red is better than blue" war, but if there is a specific model/set up, please let me know and I will take it under advisement.

It's possible to weld aluminum with a MIG setup, but probably the best is a TIG welder. I'm pretty much a novice welder myself, but have a couple friends who have welded professionally for many years, and who have tutored me a lot.
One problem with wire-feed MIG welders is that they have a difficult time pushing the aluminum wire out the whip. A spool gun at the end of the whip solves this problem.
Since you're planning to build an aluminum boat, my advice is to get in a lot of practice laying beads on aluminum, as it's much more difficult to weld than steel, as it's so easy to get the aluminum so hot it just blows right out.

[rfuerst911sc]

Has anyone on here used the " seen on TV " stuff like Alumaloy or similar ? A fairly low temp flame ( propane ) and they show it welding/joining a variety of aluminum . I have always wanted to try it but never have .

[tdskip]

Spend the money on a good mid-range MIG with a proper gas feed. You will find all sorts of uses for it and the first project you do will more than pay for it.

TIG for aluminum, totally different kettle of fish.

[jess p]

I purchased my mig unit from Home Depot, $430.00 and it is more then enough to do the job on automotive body work that you need. Make sure you get the attachment for argon gas, Argon not included. You can pick up a small bottle at any gas welding store for $80.00. Your welds will be soo much better with the Argon. I went to welding school many years ago and so my advice is this:
1) don’t over spend on a mig unit
2) do not buy any welding unit from harbor freight.
3) for a decent mig unit expect to spend $450-600