Guys I am starting to look for a welder so I can repair body panels. Does anyone suggest a good wire feed MIG gas/nogas welder for around 300-400 bucks? I was looking at this Craftman Welder will this be enough for body repair?
You can run gas no/gas with the craftsman unit. You will have to purchase a tank or rent one and that is another $100-150. I would go with the big 3 like miller, lincoln or hobart. Miller or lincoln 135 goes for about $525-575 + If you have a 220 power source you might want to save some more $$ and get a welder that will handle more than just body panels. (Since you did say body panels, Ideally TIG so you can hammer the welds. ) You may also be able to save some $$ by getting a used welder.
That craftsman doesn't have infinte power settings which Miller and Lincolin do. You need both infinte power and wire settings to fine tune your welding. Especially doing body panels. I have the lincolin SP135+ and I really like it.
I think I definatly want gas and the more I think about it I will want to do some frame welding. When I had my house built I had a 220v outlet installed just for this reason. I have actually about 750 to spend but i was trying to get an air compressor and a welder. Going used may be the way for me to go in order to get both.
Check out this thread....pretty good... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45450&highlight=welder Also, do a "search" for "welder." It will come up with more information than you can imagine......
Thanks, a lot of good info on there. I am definatly going to try and get a Hobart new or a used Miller. Just have to find someone who sells them around here.
I agree with looking at previous threads on this. The subject comes up at least a couple times a month here! Here is something I'll mention, though: Seriously consider getting a welder from a company/store that specializes in them. You might do better this way, since you can typically talk them into a package deal with welder, gas bottle, a decent helmet, etc. than you would if you got the welder from Sears, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, etc. It might be a little far for you to drive, but I have heard good things about Mitchell Welding in Terrell and Seagoville. The dudes at Airgas in Mesquite are pompous jerks... but I bought my Millermatic 135 from them anyways.
One other thing.....those that suggest you get the 220v one, listen to them. I bought the Lincoln SP125+ and love it! But, I'd like to have a bit more umph! However, if I want to weld something heavy, I'll break out the ole' stick......a lot of people don't know how or don't like a stick....
I have a Craftsman I bought many years ago at a close out price, like $250. I've got a new Lincoln 135, but I love my old Craftsman the best. It's what I learned on so it just feels right. It's super beat up but I use it all the time. It's got a live torch too, I kinda like that even though everybody thinks dead ones are better.
Well there is a welder shop here in town that I noticed the other day. I think I am going to give them a call or stop by and see what they can do fo me.
Do a forum search on welders, as this comes up about once a week, so there's a few threads to read through. The general concensus is Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart, and the bigger the better. It's like a garage, noone ever says " I wish I had a smaller garage" or " I'm glad I bought a wimpy welder so I'd have to pay someone to weld up this frame"
Do yourself a favor, learn to gas weld ( Oxygen and Acetylene ) or TIG weld your body panels. Save the MIG for ch***is.
If all you want to do is body panels go with the 110 volts. They will weld anything as far as a car goes. I have built a couples of ch***is with my 110 Miller. If you have any plans on doing anything else like a trailer maybe get something bigger. Miller makes a nice mig I believe it's the 225 volt. I run two big Lincolns. SP 250 and SP255 never had any trouble. Hobart Is owned by Miller. Miller is not doing a lot with repair parts as far as Hobart goes. My guy at the welding supply house was telling me that Miller was going to make Hobart go away,but they changed there mind. Stay away from off brands if it breaks you might have trouble getting repair parts.
I'm not trying to be a smart ***, not cutting but welding. Mig welding seams to work harden the material. You have a hard time to hammer and dolly your welds. Than the only answer is lots of bondo. With the torch or TIG you can work your welds to the point you use little or no filler. A big problem I see with guys trying to use a torch is to large of a tip. You need a small hadle and tip. If you try to cut back your flame with a large tip it pops back and you blow out your puddle.
Oh yeah, no problem, I know you aren't. I just forgot you could weld that way. But you are right, my Grandad has welded that way for years.
I noticed that the Sears link also has a link to a Hobart & Lincoln welders. (if you really want to shop at Sears) I asked a similar question a while back and from all the great advise I decided to devote my time to learning O/A welding. Seems that if given the choice everyone would go to TIG ... and the advise given to me was that learning O/A would be the best foundation for TIG. I was given a free Victor torch and gauge set up by my bro-in-law so the decision was easy for me. I'll learn and practice A/O while I save the money for quality TIG set up. PLUS: using a torch just looks ****ING COOL!
I will get one of those too but I really want to learn how to MIG. I picked Sears because I can get a $100 giftcard there from my Citi Mastercard. You "Get your rewards quicker"
Does nobody read past threads or search? This question seems to come up at least once a week, with the same answers!
how come no one has mentioned the Henrob. if your wanting it for body work spend the same money on a nice henrob set up learn to gas weld with less gas. i've talked several people into them and haven't gotten one myself because i always hasd access to one but since i changed jobs i don't any more. i'm ordering one i just haven't gotten off my *** and done so. to cold to work in my ba*****t shop so i haven't been buying anything. spring is coming so i guess i need to order one...ken....
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