OT: Welder questions: Update 2/3/09

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys...

I am thinking about gettin' a welder... don't know nothin' about weldin' and wanted some input... before layin' down any cash.
Mostly, I want to be able to do body repair and light fabrication... Like welding in floor pans, patch panels etc..
What type of welder would be the easiest to opperate?
What would kind would be the least expensive, but would still do a quality job?
All I have ever done is run a cutting torch that someone else set up... and that was years ago.

Thanks guys...
KaptnKA S

[1971ford]

I am looking for the same thing right now, a small welder to do mainly body work and build bumpers and stuff.
i dont know much about welding either, but get a small MIG welder, preferrably Miller or Lincoln (most popular, good welders) but others will do. If you want better quality get one setup with gas but fluxcore non-gas will do.
Keep an eye out on craigslist for good deals.

other smarter people will chime in

[papabug71]

Well, take it for what its worth. If your going to spend cash on a welder, you might as well get a good one.

For body panels, a MIG welder is a must. No flux core or ARC welders.

I would look into a good MIG welder. Lincoln or Miller. Stay away from the cheepie brands like Atwoods & Harbor freight sells.

My welding instructor use to tell us: "Flux core is the hot glue of the welding world".

[fordman]

a mig welder that uses gas. that is the best bet. money wise i dont know around 200.00 or more i am guessing.

[td]

mine is the perfect set-up (size) best suited to do the work your talking about kapt. i bought it to do exactly that, mostly sheet metal and some light fab work. its set-up on gas but you can run it with flux-core if you so choose, but the finishing work with sheet metal is enough work with out making it more with the flux. it requires multiple passes on 3/16th or heavier materials. i bought it off the bay for $600, it came with the cart and everthing you need to weld with right out of the box but i had to buy the bottle and all the accessories

its a miller matic 140 with auto set.

[MadMaxetc]

I got a Hobart 140 form TSC for around $400. I got a bottle at Licolin Welding supply for $50 and refills are $10-$15. It does great, and is realy easy to use.

I learned how to use it when I made my welding cart. The steel cost me about $15 so it was no big deal if I didn't do a great job.

Flux core is good for working in the wind, but it doesn't make that great of a weld because the are a lot of voids in it.

[suavematt]

Mig. I'd got with a Lincoln or Hobart (no beef with miller, just my pref' )
Later!

~ Suave'

[1967AceStroker]

DO NOT get a Harbor Freight welder! They are complete crap, trust me I know from experience. Now I have a Millermatic 180 with Auto-set, its 220v, its gas with regular wire. If you don't have a 220v plug-in then the one like td has is 110v, I think, but will do just as good. If you get a miller, you probably wouldn't need more than the 180.

[fourtss]

Kaptn, you will want a mig with gas, I have a fluxcore type, bought from tractor supply store, does a good job for general welding, but a slow (pia) process from body panels all you can do is spot weld it's a pain

[MaxKlinger]

Kapt'n,

Before you go out and buy a welder, I suggest you go out and take a class at a local tech school. In a class, you get to spend time on various different machines and get the feel of what YOU like and don't like. You'll also learn about what kinds of welds are used for what applications and materials. Most important of all, you learn a lot of the proper ways to weld SAFELY, which is important since you can easily get hurt if you're not careful. At the very least, you get a lot of practice in before you start welding on stuff you care about.

Over the fall I took a 12-week welding course where I learned how to MIG and TIG weld both carbon steel and stainless steel. It was four hours one night a week at a local vo-tech. I am taking this class again starting in two weeks so I can learn to TIG weld aluminum. I have been encouraging my friends to take this course.

Good luck!

[kaptnkaos]

Thanks Guys....

That's alot of good advice...
There isn't a welding tech school anywhere near me, but I was thinking about taking a class at the local community college.
Looking back, welding is one thing I wish I had learned long ago...

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[MaxKlinger]

Thanks Guys....

That's alot of good advice...
There isn't a welding tech school anywhere near me, but I was thinking about taking a class at the local community college.
Looking back, welding is one thing I wish I had learned long ago...

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

It's never too late to learn something! if your community college offers it, go for it!

[oldschoolrods]

katpn: Taking a welding class is a great idea, if you can take one that covers a couple weeks on all the major processes, MIG, Stick, TIG, O/A .The skills you will learn will help you in any process you chose. I recommend a MIG for your house though. http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/w ... andler140/ is a great one for the money.

[FordTruck]

Kapt I would go with a lincoln 110 my brother has one I really like using it its good for small stuff. His is intersheild witch really sucks!! Make shure witch ever one you get its a gas welder. I made the mistake of buying a harbor freight mig and its really crappy and the worst $200 i ever spent personally I like stick welding over mig.
I'm taking welding classes at the local community college through my high school and I really like it. To me welding is kinda fun since most people don't really know much about it also going to the college I met a bunch of new people but I'm the olny one there that i've seen driving an old F100

[kaptnkaos]

I've been doing some pre-taxreturn shopping on craigslist...
I found a couple of mig welders, and a few Lincoln arc welders...
I am guessing that an arc welder would burn through sheet metal, and is more for big stuff like frames and stuff
I found this Lincoln w/o tank
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/tls/1004582626.html
and this Hobart w/the tank
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/tls/1003720253.html
I did my taxes last week and should get $445 back within 10 working days, so that's pretty much my budget plus possibly another $100...

KaptnKA S