I'm finding that as I get further and further into the game I'm more and more in need of a welder. The majority of my welding would be split between the following: -Sheet metal modification (narrowing, sectioning, etc.) -Just welding little tabs and **** on I don't know jack about welders. What should I be looking at for this type of work? Gracias!
I started with a miller 110 volt, it was a good machine but I was afraid I would not get the penetration when it came time to do frame welding. I traded that in on a 220 160 AMP Hobart wire welder. It works for me not as nice as TIG but very easy to use. I have owned it about 10 years now and don't know how I got along without it. Once you start you will want more.
Check out HTP. I've been talking to those guys over there recently. They have some pretty good equipment at a good price. And I'm a Miller fan. www.usawelds.com
I have a Millermatic 135 (MIG) that does great for what you just mentioned. It struggles with anything over about 1/4" thickness, but I have welded some stuff about 3/8" with it, and it's doing okay. I have never outrun the duty cycle on it, either, even though it runs off 120V. If you can spare the extra, I'd highly recommend stepping up to the 175 version. It runs off 220/240, but can handle frame/ch***is work a lot better. Just be sure to leave room in your budget for a decent helmet and a bottle of Argon. MIGs are great case they are so easy to use. Once you get the hang of it, you can just hold stuff in place with one hand while you tack weld it with the other.
idealy you would want one of each I started with gas and stick and eventually bought a 220 mig and finally a tig. 99 percent of what I weld is done with the mig. there has been one time when a 110 mig would have been handy but I like my little red box just fine. Paul
Thinking about the 135 lincoln. whats better and why miller or lincoln. Mainly doing sheetmetal bodywork. some framework...
I wouldn't buy a 110 machine unless it's all you can buy. Don't get me wrong, some work fine, but people always get deeper into welding than they thought they would and end up wanting to move up when they discover the 110 machine won't blaze up any more than thin stuff. It always starts off with "just to weld sheetmetal" then after they buy the minimum machine it's not long til they want to build benches & engine stands & rotisseries & car trailers... Millermatic 251 is one to buy if possible, (about $1600.00) , you'd never have to upgrade or buy another one no matter what you got into really, building or modifying ch***is, etc....you'll never go wrong with "blue" (Miller) , although Hobarts are good as are many others, just don't buy an el cheapo Harbor Frieght junk or anything made in Italy (which is what all the cheap ones are). SHORT of all that.....here's a good link, just what you need, many others here will benefit from reading over there too.....all these guys are great, everyday pro welders as well as hobbists, they want to help people, especially newbies with no experience with welding, no smart ***es or newbie snubbing, etc....earch through the archives for "what to buy"..."need new"...."looking to buy"...& other keys you can think of. Try reading as much as you can, the debate over which welder to buy for what purpose, in what price range, has been hashed out a million times....it seems like this type thread starts about every 3 or 4 days there so it's in the archives repeatedly... Then if you still need to ask, sign up and post your situation, they'll give you the right answers. http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/forumdisplay.php?f=3 Lots of good ideas and project ideas also in the other two forums. Good luck, Brian
Miller is definately the way to go, but really the same can be said for any major name brand machine. The Millermatic 251 is a awesome machine but the benifits of this machine over a Millermatic 175 or 210 just dont outweigh the price difference. Light duty get a 175, if your going to use it everyday get a 210, you want to weld 1" plate in a single p*** get the 251 although I doubt very seriously that you will ever encounter a situation where that is necessary. As long as the machine runs on a 220 amp plug you will have all of the penetration you will ever need. I run a Millermatic 210 everyday and I love that machine although I am thinking about moving on up to something industrial duty and more welding intensive GMAW Mig is the best way to start welding because it doesn't take much practice to put down a decent weld. Miller comes with an instuction video, watch it and see if someone is willing to give you some pointers. Good Luck and you know you always have the advice of your fellow Hambers
[ QUOTE ] Miller is definately the way to go, but really the same can be said for any major name brand machine. The Millermatic 251 is a awesome machine but the benifits of this machine over a Millermatic 175 or 210 just dont outweigh the price difference. Light duty get a 175, if your going to use it everyday get a 210, you want to weld 1" plate in a single p*** get the 251 although I doubt very seriously that you will ever encounter a situation where that is necessary. As long as the machine runs on a 220 amp plug you will have all of the penetration you will ever need. I run a Millermatic 210 everyday and I love that machine although I am thinking about moving on up to something industrial duty and more welding intensive GMAW Mig is the best way to start welding because it doesn't take much practice to put down a decent weld. Miller comes with an instuction video, watch it and see if someone is willing to give you some pointers. Good Luck and you know you always have the advice of your fellow Hambers [/ QUOTE ] Hmm....why just today I decided to fix where my Sherman took that incoming German Jagdpanther 88, then I had to lapweld a bunch of manhole covers together......good thing I bought the 251
[/ QUOTE ] Hmm....why just today I decided to fix where my Sherman took that incoming German Jagdpanther 88, then I had to lapweld a bunch of manhole covers together......good thing I bought the 251 [/ QUOTE ]
I'll second Tinbender. Get a torch. If you learn how to weld with OA, everything else is pretty easy. I don't have a Henrob personally, but do have a swap meet Linde with several small tips. I bought it probably 25 yrs. ago, and have never seen another. And no it isn't for sale.
I'm an advocate of the OA torch as well. You can not only weld, but you can heat things cherry red, and you can cut steel plate. It's a very helpful, very versatile tool.
I would buy a quality 220V Mig from Lincoln, Hobart, Miller or Thermal Arc. That way you can adjust for all working projects.
Just to throw in some insight on the 220 vs. 110 thing: I learned to MIG on a Century 145 amp machine running off 220. It wasn't a bad machine, but I have found that my 110-powered Millermatic 135 can burn every bit as hot as that Century machine did. I am having a hard time justifying the extra to "upgrade" to the 175, but I AM considering it. (Watch the cl***ifieds for my 135! ). At the time, I was needeing a welder pretty pronto and didn't have the time to gather the extra scratch to get the 175 that I would have preferred. Another way of looking at it: I have run about 2.5 two-pound spools of wire thru this thing, and I am already contemplating something heavier. Get the 175 (or 210) if you can swing it. Does anyone know of a place that takes trade-ins toward new welders?
Hmm....why just today I decided to fix where my Sherman took that incoming German Jagdpanther 88, then I had to lapweld a bunch of manhole covers together......good thing I bought the 251 [/ QUOTE ] Could also be done with the 210, Just do a multip*** and you have the same weld just as strong just as much penetration and probably better looking and not as hard on the machine. Even three foot beams are welded together, may take all day but there still welded. Your tank must have a lot of rust in it if you can dent it with a wristrocket
If you have some doubt about your welder having enough power for a job,preheat the metal you are about to weld. It makes a big difference in the amout of penetration your machine will get.
"If you have some doubt about your welder having enough power for a job,preheat the metal you are about to weld. It makes a big difference in the amout of penetration your machine will get. " Works for women, too, BUT; different technique. DON'T confuse the two!!!
i learned on a 110v machine and had trouble with some of the heavier stuff (frames), i finally bought my own 220v millermatic 175 and found it to be much better. i have yet to do any suspension or major structural welding, i leave that to the pros with tigs.
I've been playing around with a $120 harbor freight wirefeed for a coupla years. Havent done much that sees the road besides exhaust and a motorcycle luggage rack. JUST yesterday bought the Hobart 140 and a bottle, updated version of the 135, with a few more amps, also known as the stripped down version of the Millermatic 135, about to also be called the 140. I'll finally get to try it out tomorrow. 220? HA! I dont have a sherman tank either. When I have A) a house with 220, and B) someone brings me a whole bunch of 1" plate to play with, I'll giddily dash out and buy that 220 Mig. I expressly bought this cause theres a bike in my yard that needs to be hardtailed, and yeah, I figured my HF machine wasnt up to it, even though I've done 3/16" with it. I want pretty welds, not bird****. How think is the rect. tubing to make a T frame? .120 or .125" ? Oh, darn, I better get one of those engine-driven truckbed welders...
Anthony... Check out what I got me a little while ago... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=545729&Forum=UBB1&Words=tig%20welding&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=2&Limit=25&Old=3weeks&Main=544046&Search=true#Post545729
go blue!! made in america and has the best service reputation out there. that message board that roost posted has factory reps on it and they will give out their phone numbers to talk you thru your problem. the difference between the 135 cl*** and the 175 is only a hundred or so bucks and you'll be happier in the lomg run with the 175. later jim
The Jalopy Journal
