Best Welder for Me?

Hey guys, I am in the market for a welder. My question is, what one type of welder would be the best choice to have for building a hot rod project, or would I just be better off with an Oxy-Acet. rig? I am new to welding, but have a solid base knowledge/ability of it.

P.S. I dont think i have the funds for a TIG Welder.

 

Comon guys.

 

I need your help guys

 

I would buy a MIG welder. Easy to learn to use.

 

You should try for a oxy/acetylene outfit,plus a welder.Basic gas rig won't cost too much,and you'll use it for more than welding.You can't do frames with it,and you can't hammerweld all your sheetmetal,either.Mig is easy for most people to master,with some practice,and a little instruction,but try to scrape up enough money to get a 220 welder,instead of a little girly 110 POS toy.

 

For the versatility and the price, Henrob is tough to beat. Cuts like a plasma, brazes like an Oxy/acet, welds alloys like a TIG, costs like a cheap buzz-box. Here's the setup I have, you don't need more than this unless you have a production shop...

 

I love my Henrob!

This has been covered a zillion times here so maybe thats why minimal replys. Check the archives.

A quick recap on Mig's. You got the big 3; Miller, Lincoln and Hobart. All a bit pricey but made more for daily shop use. For the next tier of the occasional use shop or garage hobbyyist look at the Astro and Firepower; both have decent products at nice prices and are long established companies.

I'd stay away from the box store names and other Asian **** that shows up at auto shows, etc.

Unless you absolutely have to weld outside in the wind stay away from flux core. It makes a mess and penetration is poor compared to the same amperage with shielding gas.

 

Thanks for the help guys, A henrob looks good. How much are tanks?
should I lease? buy? rent? How much is a Henrob? I was thinking maybe an oxy-acet rig and a maybe a 220 lincoln stick welder. What are your thoughts on that combonation? I have around 650 bucks, and i am going on a tool buying frenzy, i also need some body hammers and dollys.any input is welcome.

 

Sorry i didn't search the archives.

 

I bought my Henrob kit for $339 delivered from Rob McDermid, www.henrob2000.com. Rob's a good guy and has the best prices....
BTW - the portable tanks were bought on ebay for $315 delivered and came with a set of Victor torches.

 

Thanks man, but it looks like i cant really afford a henrob, maybe someday. I know sheet metal is not the Stick's forte, but i might be able to get a free lincoln stick welder. Can they be used for body work? or is that just a rediculous notion?

 

what do ya think they used before mig and tig welders were around? You can use stick, you just have to be careful not to warp the **** outta the sheetmetal.

 

Thankyasir

 

but is it practical?

 

I'm by far not the best welder around,but years ago when I took welding courses,we had one instructor who could weld sheetmetal with stick,the other instructors thought the idea was funny as hell.The one who could do it would strike the arc for a second,then jerk the rod a few inches sideways,keeping the arc going,then go back to the spot,and do it again.The machine was turned down so low,it wouldn't hardly run.When he was done,the weld looked like ****,and all the burn marks/slag from where he jerked it sideways were a mess.Since that was a few years ago,there might be better rods for very low amp work now,but as I remember,he was using pretty small diameter rods then.But this was a guy who could weld pipe upside down,with his eyes closed,while jerking off.....Sadly,I only MASTERED one of those skills,which explains why I don't weld for a living.. ..Stick for frame work,gas for thin stuff might be your best bet on a budget....

 

thats what i was thinkin

 

my question now is, what is the cheapest way to get oxy acet/tanks.

 

Here is a little weld comparison I did for the hell of it between mig and gas:

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980156295554

Used a Victor junior with a 000 tip for the gas welding.

Arc welding sheet metal is like straightening a dent with a sledge hammer.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

 

[ QUOTE ]
You should try for a oxy/acetylene outfit,plus a welder.Basic gas rig won't cost too much,and you'll use it for more than welding.You can't do frames with it,and you can't hammerweld all your sheetmetal,either.Mig is easy for most people to master,with some practice,and a little instruction,but try to scrape up enough money to get a 220 welder,instead of a little girly 110 POS toy.

[/ QUOTE ]


eh? you cant weld frames with an oxy/acetlyne setup??

someone correct me if im wrong, but you can do sheetmetal AND frames with a gas setup... granted, you need to excercise some patience and it wont be pro welds, but it is possible... what did people use in their garages 40-50 yrs ago, and beyond that?

you should look at what type of power your house can take... factor in lights, radio, house appliances. at my friends place its crap and shuts the power off every 10-15min or less. we got a small rig that can weld up to 1/4in metal, should be plenty for a hotrod, me thinks... miller 135.