Welder advice - where to start
I'm in a similar circumstance looking for a first welder. I too a basic welding class this spring so I know enough to be dangerous now - lol, and I used a section of frame rail I bought off a member here and some 20 gauge steel to practice in the class. I'm looking to be able to start with welding floor pans in my 64 dart.
I found a welder just this week on cl that is only 10 minutes from my house. The guys day passed and he just wants to sell it. Through initial discussions, I think I can get it for $600. It's a Miller 135, and from the pics and what he told me it looks in pristine condition although an older machine. I'm going there tonight to try it out and probably buy it. My understanding from what I have read here and elsewhere is that Miller is real good about parts availability for older machines. I attached some pics.
Couple questions:
1) Anyone know when they stopped making this model, I found a post that had a chart where you could look up the first 2 digits of the serial number to get the year.
2) What do you think? From what I've read in forums and seen on cl ads, it sounds like a pretty good deal on a machine that will probably outlast me for what I will be using it for.
I'm in a similar circumstance looking for a first welder. I too a basic welding class this spring so I know enough to be dangerous now - lol, and I used a section of frame rail I bought off a member here and some 20 gauge steel to practice in the class. I'm looking to be able to start with welding floor pans in my 64 dart.
I found a welder just this week on cl that is only 10 minutes from my house. The guys day passed and he just wants to sell it. Through initial discussions, I think I can get it for $600. It's a Miller 135, and from the pics and what he told me it looks in pristine condition although an older machine. I'm going there tonight to try it out and probably buy it. My understanding from what I have read here and elsewhere is that Miller is real good about parts availability for older machines. I attached some pics.
Couple questions:
1) Anyone know when they stopped making this model, I found a post that had a chart where you could look up the first 2 digits of the serial number to get the year.
2) What do you think? From what I've read in forums and seen on cl ads, it sounds like a pretty good deal on a machine that will probably outlast me for what I will be using it for.
