What's the best welder ...

i also have a miller 185 and i love it........richie...........

 

Hey, funny you should mention the Stargon, I usually get C25, but last time they gave me a bottle of the Stargon (90% Argon, 8% CO2, and 2% Oxygen). All my welding is for my Model A, sheet metal is about 18 gauge so I just use .030" wire all the time. I only got to use it a couple times though, and that was just doing some "ugly" welding, before some dumb*** accidently left the bottle valve open when he knows there's a real slow leak somewhere and is too lazy to hunt for it.

I guess what I'm getting at, is what advantages, if any, are there using the Stargon? I'm only doing sheet metal welding as well as some thicker stuff (brackets and such, so 1/4" or 3/8") but I've never welded on anything except mild steel. I ***ume it costs more, they musta given it to me by accident... Makes me wonder if they'll swap it back for a C25 bottle, when I head up there, or if I'm stuck with a Stargon bottle all the time now. (They aren't the most pleasant people to deal with, but being the only game in town lets them get away with it and stay in business)

FYI, Lincoln SP-125+. Great welder, got the whole rig used with some big*** spools of wire, the bottle and regulator, a cart, the welder, barely used, for $400. The only downside is it's one of their "fancy" ones so it's painted up like Bobby Labonte's (spelling?) NASCAR

 

FWIW: You could use gasless flux for sheetmetal. Then you don't need gas.

 

Sidenote: I'd love to see where some of you get your information/opinions. :rollseyes:

 

Linde, L-tec or Esab, hands down. Millers feel like toys to me.

 

My first reply was to get you thinking about the loaded question you asked.

I too bought the 187, new model has 7 heat setting over 5 on the older one. I have used much bigger welders but this machine does an amazing job. Unit was under $600 at my local welding supply. Find your local one or several and talk to them and compare. I have one I order my gas, and bandsaw blades from.............it pays to patronize.

 

If you want to go low cost like it was done in the 60's, then get the smallest oxy acet rig you can find, aircraft style is the best. With it you can do all of the sheetmetal work. You will have to practice, keep the metal clean and make dead on fit ups.
For the ch***is and things 1/8" or larger use the Lincoln AC cracker box and 6013 or 7014 rods, again practice, clean metal and fit up.
Oh yea, use a saw as much as possible.
Mike

 

Thats for dawm sure! Spend a little now....get something good....and you'll still be using it in 10 or 15 years doing other cars.................

 

Are we just gonna see how long of a thread can be had here or what???????????

GET A GOOD INEXPENSIVE WELDER!.....................................

 

gasless flux! on sheet metal?! maybe on frame-work but even thats sloppy. i wouldn't do that if someone paid me to.

 

About as long as a hole is deep.

Bob

 

Funny, as a professional welder I do it all the time. Maybe you should read up on it if you don't understand what it's used for.

And if you knew how to weld it wouldn't be sloppy. Gasless can be a very decent clean weld if you know how to set up your machine.

 

I'm a big fan of TIG welding so ..... my machine & my machine of choice is aLincoln 275 Precision TIG. My other, if I had some sheetwelding & didn't want to spend as much time, would be my other machine ...... a Miller "Challanger 172" - a perfect machine.

In general .... the Miller would be a great machine for your project. You can even get a spool gun attachment for it if aluminum is desired.

My opinion .......

Paco

 

I use a millermatic 180 and I love it.
Cyberweld has decent prices no tax and free ship, get your bottle from them also
and a good helmet while you are at it

 

I was in your shoes not so long ago so I will happly share what I learned.
Please keep in mind my experience is in mig welding only.

1.Stick with a name brand. Miller or Lincoln. Theyr'e reliable and easy to get consumables for.

2. Try and get a 220 Machine if you can. You will be able to do ch***is work along with sheet metal. I wish I haed out for a 220 welder

3. Most important. The weldor (person welding) is just as important as the welder. Go to smart flix.com and check out some of the videos they have to rent. Find a local HAMBer or friend who welds that can give you some pointers and help you along. Get some s**** and practice, practice, practice. Mig is not hard but there is a learning curve. Todd

 

I am a Universal certified welder. Certified by AWS(my instructor James Greer, was the president of the AWS), I-CAR, and have been schooled by Fay Butler. I know how to weld.

the less heat and hammering you put into the panel, the better. sure, its a decent weld and is great for frame and structural but I would never use it for sheet metal!!!! not even as my last choice.

 

welders just like life " you get what you pay for" buy junk get junk. Gasless to me IS junk.

 

ESAB is the best

 

I use a Hobart Mig-man, it's a 110v machine. Some days it welds as good as I'd want other days it doesn't. I'm sure the inconsistancy is my fault not the machine. I had some 1/4 plate brackets to weld yesterday and took them to a real welding shop where a real welder using a real machine did a fine job for $10. Mines' mainly good for 1/8 and down.
I'd say get a good machine, use it for as long as needed and then sell it and recoup some of your money. When you sell a name machine you won't have to apologize to anyone and with luck the difference between what you paid and selling price will be pretty close to the price of a cheap welder.