Technical Anybody buy cheap mig for sheet metal?

I guess I’m lucky with bottles.
my place just swaps em out.
Had some bottles give to me at my local scrap yard.
Took em straight to the welding place and swapped em out.

I bought a Hobart 175 from the tractor store over 20 years ago.
Does a great job. I like a 220 machine even on thin stuff.
I’m in the opposite spot. Might look into getting a larger machine.

 

How much welding do you guys do? For me, this is just a hobby and I just use .035 wire for everything. For sheet metal, I usually just tack it and finish welding with the torch. My last gas bottle came with a defective shut off valve so I have left it on since I got it and it still hasn't leaked out and I'm sure that was at least five years ago.

 

At work I just bought a real nice miller 220v mig , not cheap but works great .

but to your point we have a northern star mig at work also , works on 120 and 220 works great and is a complete miller knock off .

slso have my old miller cricket welder I bought 20 years ago for 100 bucks works good on sheet metal .


Look at reviews on the cheap welders , if it’s just body and sheet metal , not frames or suspension why the heck not !

 

Years ago I bought a 120V mig from what I think was TIP tools. It was made in Italy. It was reasonably priced so I bought it for my first attempt at mig welding to see if I was any good at it. I had used a Lincoln 225 previously for frames and such. I am not a welder, no training, just experienced on the Lincoln. But the mig did a good job in my opinion on sheet metal. It welded up holes and butt welds good. Now my poor eyesight and hand tremors make my welds look like crap, but it did a good job when I was younger and more capable.

 

I bought a Miller multiprocess unit last year. I put .030 in it and it will do basically everything I need it to. The Miller is so easy to use that I can't imagine why I would want to struggle with a cheap unit just to avoid changing wire if I needed to.

 

A few 5 before I retired, I was working in a prison, teaching auto mechanics. I wanted a light duty mig to go along with my Miller SD 180 tig . I asked the welding Instructor what he would recommend. He said to buy a Lincoln 135 SP plus 110 outfit. He said he had 5 in use regularly for 6 hours a day, used by inmates, and the couldn't destroy any of them! I bought one and 15 years later, it performs perfectly for all light work I do. I use it with Flux core wire to be able to use it outside when I choose and not worry about wind blowing away my welding shied gas. It can out perform my welding abilities. Not the cheapest, but certainly worth well more than I paid for it!

 

If I was looking inexpensive, I’d see what HF has, buy the extended warranty.
I’m not sure how a warranty works on an eBay welder.

 

I do alot of welding, mostly 1/8" or thicker. Infact I'd say 90% of my welding is 3/16" or more. 3/16" is probably my most used thickness with me going all the way to 3/8" on occasion.

So a second cheap mig set up for sheet metal would be an advantage for me. As I stated I have the lincoln sp175 for the heavy work, which again I use alot.

Again it will be sheet metal only so I don't think a duty cycle will be a problem. And I doubt it will ever see over 35 amps or so, so again I shouldn't be taxing the machine.

Now 1 good point that's been brought up and interesting is its ability to feed consistently, that could be a problem...

Again thanks guys I appreciate the feedback!!

Oh a pic of my setup, homemade welding cart from painters cart.

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I used a cheap mig for sheet metal for about 30 years with very little problem other than the feed. I did finally give up on it a few years back and bought a better cheap 110 Lincoln mig. It does everything I need to do as far as sheet metal is concerned as long as I use it with gas. Neither one worked worth a crap without the gas.

 

First look on line and see what a Miller similar to yours is selling for. Its probably more than what you gave for yours, so buying another small NAME brand is an investment rather than just an expense.
Second thing is adjustability. When doing thin sheetmetal you want the .023 wire, but you also want a control knob that will allow continuously variable adjustment rather than a click knob that gives you steps.......too much and too little I don't feel you need a 100% duty cycle on one of these machines using only .023 wire. You will mostly be doing spot welds, tack welds, or short runs. My large mig has a fan that kicks on when doing a lot of welding. The smaller machine has a fan that runs continuously. (ESAB) The welding cable will normally be shorter and the gun smaller. The gun does make controlling the welds easier.

Good choice.........

Buy a bottle at an auction or from an individual. Just make sure that the local refiller will service that bottle. Best if you buy one that has their refill label already on it....they also may be someone who just exchanges the bottle instead of keeping that exact bottle. Let me say that I don't reccomend that anyone deal with Holston gases for anything. The corporate site used to talk about their roots and grat service and valued customer service. Can't find that verbage anywhere on their site any more and a talk with their upper management confirmed that they aren't interested in refilling personally owned bottles........too much trouble. (I have large bottles) I now use Air Gas who simply exchanges the bottles each time. There are supposed to be national laws about refilling bottles but usually that only applies to the large bottles. 10 year recertification isn't that expensive, but if a company swaps bottles you don't have that problem.

I'd still look for getting your own bottles. It helps to have extra ones on weekends.

Agree.......

Is this the voice of experience speaking ?




These are two nicely done compact and efficient set ups. I'd look into doing something similar. Further, when you buy the smaller lighter duty stuff, its not just the electronics that fail. The guns are usually poorly made and you have to be sure you can get replacement tips. Feeding .023 wire requires a smooth feed or it will "birdnest" very easily. The rollers used to feed the wire wear and replacements for them may be needed. Are they available for the Mig you choose? They try to save money on every part, and you may own junk in a short while. Its better to get a reasonably decent machine that holds its value. My Miller Mig and Tig and my sons Miller 212 are all worth as much (or more) today than we paid for them. Lincoln,Esab, Hobart (made by Miller) etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3618355169...Eol/ko4giB+dl1SfreSNznBg==|tkp:Bk9SR7aokbueYg

 

I bought the SP 100 32 years ago, hasn't failed me yet !

 

I have the harbor freight 220v the Chicago Electric one, no issues do everything from 3/8 steel plate to body panels on gas and 23-35 wire

 

Love the PrimeWeld TIG for the money once you have a TIG the MIG gets pushed to the side. If all you can afford is a cheaper MIG then go for it , its still better then nothing.

 

HF 175

 

this is priced right https://www.ebay.com/itm/3347118803...6&brand=Miller&_trksid=p3650466.c101465.m3507

 

@Heavy Old Steel how do you set voltage on it? I'm not seeing a dial ?

@HOTRODNORSKIE yeah I love my primeweld! Best bang for the buck. Now if I could get really good with it.

@sunbeam I wish that one was alot closer to me !

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I used to buy Lincoln welders years ago and liked them very much. As far as I know they are still well made. The last one I bought was a 175 Tig for a never done airplane project. Attended an EAA class on Tig welding tubing and Lincoln offered a discount to the class. Nice machine and I resold it later to get a little larger machine. It kinda came down to the way the controls were set up, and I went with a Miller. Both are good choices. I also have to agree that Miller has gotten too expensive for the average guy to buy a larger machine. I have heard nothing but good things about the Primeweld and my son bought one. I like the individual controls on it rather than the multi-purpose readout that my Miller has. There may be some decent welders out there that don't have the name recognition, but I think the bulk of them are short term junk. You have to luck out and find that one that rises above the rest. I know there is one called Everlast that was doing well a few years ago. Then I heard people began to have problems with getting them repaired. They don't seem to be as popular these days, but I really haven't kept up with them. The problem most of them have is that you must ship them to Kalifornia or somewhere and the shipping is expensive. So, its a crapshoot at best with the unknown brands. Most everything works well right out of the box. Its a year or two later thats a problem.

 

I have 3 Millers,1 Econo-tig (love it) a 110 MIG, and an older Millermatic 250. The big 250 was a recon from a welder repair/sales place...back in 1994. Still runs n works like new, ½ price. The others I bought on sale. Here's the thing, they're all now worth more than I paid back in the day, AND they're Millers. Some tools and equipment actually take on "investment" status but the biggest investment is YOU. Can't go wrong buying the absolute best you can afford at the time. Off brand is what I call 1-job shit. If it lasts and the job is done you win. Some don't. Choose accordingly.

 

@ekimneirbo we have the same here, no places want to work on anything foreign as far as welders go but I also had a guy tell me the biggest reason is because they don't sell them.

Kind of like like having the dodge dealership work on your newer gm product.

He told me they figured if it were unrepairable the person would just buy another import model instead of buying a new lincoln or miller from them anyway.

Finding good quality tools, especially power tools is getting harder every year. I remember my grandfather, a carpenter by trade, complain the today's commercial tools were the same quality as the do-it-yourselfers tools in his day. I've got several late 50's early 60's power tools and I think he's right. My old 3/8 electric drill will eat your lunch if you stick the drill bit, my newer black and decker won't.

@theHIGHLANDER I understand name brand tools hold value better but I'm not looking to sell any of mine, infact I'm still trying to figure out how to take them all with me when I go !! Seriously if my kids were into building things I'd take it just a little more seriously but they have no interest so passing anything on basically means either a garage sale or auction when I go. So all I need is something to last long enough for me and at my age it's getting were even buying an extended warranty is a waste of money!

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@lostone you set the volts with switch’s 1/2 high/low so 4 possible choices sometimes I wish for the dial to get a finer setting but I get by with it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078V852S2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I GREW UP ON LINCOLN EQUIPMENT, there factory was close to were I grew up, old man jimmy Lincoln would take the high schools kids on a plant tour every friday, learned a lot about welding from those guys, always bought Lincoln equipment, but when my 110 volt welder died. I needed to finish a floor pan and could not wait the 4-6 weeks for a new Lincoln welder so bought this off of amazon. all I can say WOW it is a great sheet metal welder. and it will also do stick welding

 

I had no idea Forney was still in business. As a kid, Forney Arc welders were everywhere, repair shops, farms, and gas stations. I heard the company had pitchmen all over the country holding seminars, and stopping at larger farms along the way. Quite the promotion !

 

I had heard of them and that they were a good machine but had never pursued them.

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@lostone , yeah, no, maybe, yeah, sure, I get it.

I won't have anyone to pass down to, so if my card gets pulled in an untimely moment Mrs Highlander will have that much more value. My shit isn't for sale probably ever but it's nice to know she won't have I-can-get-it-on-sale stuff that nets .20c on the dollar. Can't help it, always know what I got, and it is a bit of background calm knowing that. Then you nearly take the performance for granted and have a hard time understanding when someone has issues with their stuff. I won't even get into the vintage shit I just like looking at

 

One thing @ELpolacko and I have mentioned in the past is the NEED to learn how to use flux core in your MIG. Many of the smaller machines come set up for FLUX CORE. DO NOT look down upon this! I use a Hobart 187 and the first thing I did to practice with it was build a Fab table with the Flux core. Super handy to have when you have to weld in odd conditions as in work in a breeze outside or at midnight on Saturday when your gas runs out!. It is a great safety net to have around.

 

@Tman I've used Flux core in the past but I do agree with you, it's always nice to have experience using different materials.

It's been a long time since I've used it but I've never used it on sheet metal, it's been 3/16" thick stuff. I may have to play with it again and familiarize with it on sheet metal.

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I was taught to gas weld (oxy/acet) at 13 yrs of age, by a bodyman that used nearly NO lead. (1955)
Arc welded the big stuff, (Lincoln 'buzz box') finally bought a 200 amp MiG (Miller) in '76.
I still have my Victor Aircraft set, (smaller than automotive) and use it for light sheet metal work. Easy hand file after, nice finish.
Wife bought me a Miller 175 (220 V.) last year, for small fabrication jobs (.030" wire) 75/25 gas. Perfect for bracket fab, etc.
Still like my aircraft oxy/acet. Period.

 

I would not use it on any bodywork but for those last minute shop projects, broken trailer, ranch work etc it is great.

 

I agree Fluxcore had a bad reputation because you’ll usually find it on small mig machines. I have one. The small machines don’t provide enough voltage and amperage to provide enough fusion for heavy materials larger than 1/8” without preheating beforehand.
But it can be done easily.
I’ve also used it with bodywork.
It’s great for running low current with the small Diameter wire. The slag does cause some issues.
Working for Babcock &Wilcox as a certified pressure vessel welder. We used small diameter fluxcore
(vertical up)!
X-ray’d
We also used 1/8” diameter fluxcore on gearboxes that were 8ft high and made of 1” plate. These machines also ran Co2 with fluxcore.
Bottom line.
You can actually properly weld with a small machine on any size material as long as you preheat the big stuff and keep it clean.

 

Maybe it was the flux core wire I used to make some panels with,
Was
.035 wire, but didn’t get any slag, like my Lincoln or Miller buss boxes make, was more of a powder kind of residue that wire brushed of easily. I think it was a 10lb roll from tractor supply, maybe Hobart wire?